Editing Alps SKFL series

{{infobox dswitch
| image name        = Alps SKFL.jpg
| manufacturer      = [[Alps Electric]]
| product code      = SKFL or SKFLxx
| switch type       = Linear
| actuation force   = 
| discontinued      = 
| contact mechanism = Metal leaf
| travel            = ca. 3.7 mm
| switch mount      = [[PCB mount]]
| keycap mount      = [[Alps mount]] (variation)
}}

'''Alps SKFL'''<ref name="TT-name" /> (formerly '''Alps low-profile oval slider''') is a fairly [[low-profile]] Alps switch. It uses a variation of [[Alps mount]] in that it features a peg that fits inside the larger peg in the [[keycap]] (which limits the available keycaps that fit it).

==Description==
Alps SKFL switches are around 25% shorter than [[Alps SKCL/SKCM series|SKCL/SKCM]] switches, at circa 8.6–8.8 mm tall, instead of 11.6 mm tall. Depth is approximately 13 mm, and width is approximately 15 mm (approximately 14 mm excluding the legs, which protrude from the sides). The slider has around 3.7 mm of travel.

The switch is [[switch mount#PCB mount|PCB mount]] only. The base of the switch is grey moulded plastic (which is sometimes mistaken for metal), above which is a sheet steel lid with folded-down sides. The Alps logo is stamped into the lid. The sides of the lid lock into place into the plastic base with small lugs stamped into the metal. The ends of the sides then protrude through the PCB and are soldered alongside the legs from the electrical contacts. It is likely that the switch can only be opened when de-soldered, and even then opening the switch without causing damage is extremely difficult. The electrical contact legs protrude sideways from holes in the side of the switch, instead of from the bottom of the switch.

The switch contains an internal recess for an LED, which is covered by the lid. The LED version of the switch has a different lid with a hole for the LED. The base of the switch contains a slot for the LED, with a retention clip to hold the LED in place. There are also two further holes present, possibly intended for a [[jumper]] or [[diode]]; there is also a bay under the rear of the switch to allow for a diode or jumper to be placed beneath the switch instead of outside. There is no difference between the normal and LED versions of the switch apart from the cutout in the lid to accommodate the LED.

The switch has a compact-sized companion, [[Alps SKFL Compact]], which is not keycap-compatible.

===Contact mechanism===
The switch contacts are held by a plastic frame that appears to be moulded around them. A flat sheet is mounted onto the front of the contact frame, into which a leaf spring is cut, with a curled portion at the top. A ramp on the slider presses against this curled portion of the spring, which in turn pushes the movable contact away from the stationary contact. When the slider is depressed, the leaf spring returns to its rest position and the movable contact connects with the stationary contact.

==Variants==
{| class="wikitable"
! !!Switch!!Model!!Notes
|-
|[[File:Alps SKFL -- angled.jpg|175px]]||Alps SKFL||—||Standard weight; slider is pale grey, not white; the LED hole may be present but left empty
|-
|[[File:Alps SKFL LED -- angled view.jpg|175px]]||[[Alps SKFL LED]]||—||Slider is pale grey
|-
|[[File:No photograph.svg|175px]]||[[Alps SKFL Cyan]]||—||Pale cyan slider;<ref name="Heavy_Pale_Cyan" /> heavier weight{{citation needed}}
|-
|[[File:Alps SKFL Lock -- infobox.jpg|175px]]||[[Alps SKFL Lock]]||—||
|-
|[[File:No photograph.svg|175px]]||[[Alps SKFL dummy]]||—||Apparent stabiliser dummy switch; dark green slider<ref>Deskthority — [https://deskthority.net/photos-f62/my-biggest-keyboard-shipment-receiving-t9821-30.html#p208521 my biggest keyboard shipment receiving..]</ref>
|}

==Keyboards==
*[[Atari 800|Atari 600XL & 800XL]] keyboards
*Canon AS KEY JIS A-1110<ref>Imgur — https://imgur.com/gallery/Q2HsK Retrieved 2019-11-25.
[[Alps SKFL series#cite%20ref-3|Jump up↑]]</ref>
*Kyocera Kyotronic 85 (& Re-Brands:)<ref name="TRS_80_100" />
**[[NEC PC-8201]] & PC-8300
**Olivetti M10<ref name="DT_Olivetti_M10" />
**Radio Shack TRS-80 Model 100
*Mitsubishi MP286L portable
*Sharp MZ-1K03
*Toshiba Home Computer HX-10D keyboard<ref name="MF-HX-10D"/>
*Toshiba T1100 Plus Portable<ref name="T3100-TRS80"/>
*Toshiba T3100 portable<ref name="T3100-TRS80"/>
*Toshiba T3200 portable<ref name="DT_T3200"/>
*Tosword JW-1 <ref name="tosword"/>
*Xerox 855JWP<ref name="xerox"/>
*Zenith ZFL-181-93

==Other Equipment==
*Roland TR-909<ref name="Roland_TR909" />
*Texas Instruments TI Silent 700<ref name="Silent"/>

==Gallery==
The loose switches below were part of a Technology Transplant Roland TR-909 Red Switch Set purchased from Musikhaus Korn in Germany.

<gallery widths="250" heights="187">
File:Alps SKFL -- in situ.jpg                  | SKFL switches in an [[NEC PC-8201A]]
File:Alps SKFL -- assorted.jpg                 | SKFL switches
File:Alps SKFL -- angled.jpg                   | Top
File:Alps SKFL -- side.jpg                     | Side
File:Alps SKFL -- rear.jpg                     | Rear
File:Alps SKFL -- bottom.jpg                   | Bottom
File:Alps SKFL -- bottom, side.jpg             | Bottom, side view
File:Alps SKFL -- contact frame, front.jpg     | Contact frame, front view
File:Alps SKFL -- contact frame, front top.jpg | Contact frame, front view, top
File:Alps SKFL -- contact frame, rear.jpg      | Contact frame, rear
File:Alps SKFL -- diode bay.jpg                | Diode bays with diodes present
</gallery>

==See also==

*[[Alps SKFL Compact]]
*[[Alps SKFL Lock]]

==References==
<references>
<ref name="Heavy_Pale_Cyan">Imgur — [http://i.imgur.com/vZ6IcPF.jpg Picture of heavy weight Alps switch with pale cyan slider] Retrieved 2015-07-22.</ref>
<ref name="TRS_80_100">Wikipedia — [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TRS-80_Model_100 TRS-80 Model 100] Last updated 2015-07-08. Retrieved 2015-07-22.</ref>
<ref name="DT_Olivetti_M10">Deskthority — [http://deskthority.net/marketplace-f11/vintage-laptop-with-old-alps-switches-double-shot-keycaps-t1318.html Vintage laptop with old Alps switches & double-shot keycaps<sup><nowiki>[Broken Link]</nowiki></sup>]</ref>
<ref name="TT-name">Technology Transplant — [http://www.technologytransplant.com/product_info.php?products_id=113 Alps SKFL Full Switch Set (2 + 17 RED LED) {{sq|TR-909}} {{sq|X7RQ1}}]</ref>
<ref name="T3100-TRS80">Deskthority — [http://deskthority.net/photos-videos-f8/toshiba-t3100-t5200-t4711.html Toshiba T3100 & T5200]</ref>
<ref name="DT_T3200">Deskthority — [http://deskthority.net/photos-videos-f8/toshiba-t3200-keyboard-t603.html Toshiba T3200 Keyboard]</ref>
<ref name="MF-HX-10D">MouseFan — [http://mousefan.telcontar.net/image/hx10d.htm TOSHIBA HX-10D MSX] Retrieved 2015-07-22.</ref>
<ref name="Roland_TR909">{{volatile|Musikhaus Korn — [https://www.musikhaus-korn.de/de/technology-transplant-roland-tr-909-red-switch-set/pd/50874 Technology Transplant Roland TR-909 Red Switch Set]}} Retrieved 2019-09-10.</ref>
<ref name="Silent">Deskthority — [https://deskthority.net/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=25735&p=504339 Various resto-mods] Posted 2021-05-06.</ref>
<ref name="xerox">Twitter — [https://twitter.com/Beamspring/status/1239149582837100545?cxt=HHwWgsChyd7-q7IiAAAA] Posted 2020-03-15.</ref>
<ref name="tosword">Twitter — [https://twitter.com/Beamspring/status/1528314728707043328/photo/1] Posted 2022-05-22.</ref>
</references>

[[Category:Alps switches]]
[[Category:Metal contact switches]]
[[Category:Keyboard switches with Alps mount]]
[[Category:Linear switches]]
[[Category:List of all keyboard switches]]