Editing Alps SKCC series

{{infobox dswitch
| image name          = Alps SKCC series -- infobox.jpg
| manufacturer        = [[Alps Electric]]
| product code        = 
| switch type         = Linear
| actuation force     = 
| introduced          = 1980 or earlier
| discontinued        = 
| precedes            = [[Alps SKCL/SKCM series]]
| contact mechanism   = [[Metal leaf]]
| switch mount        = [[Plate mount]]
| lifetime            = 3–20 M
| travel              = 3.5±0.5 mm
| bounce time         = 5 ms
}}

'''Alps SKCC series''' (formerly known as '''Alps vintage tee mount''') is the forerunner of the [[Alps SKCL/SKCM series]], and shares the same [[switchplate]] design. The switch uses a tee mount, while keycaps use a cruciform slot. See also the virtually identical [[General Instrument Series S950]]. Production dates back to 1980 or earlier, and appears to have run to at least 1989.

==Nomenclature==
The series name of "SKCC" was deduced via [[Alps keyboard codes]]. The [[Apple III]] service manual was since found to cite these switches as "KCC". They remain listed here as SKCC until Alps's apparent inconsistent naming is better understood.

==Description==
Conventionally, the pins are to the side of the switch instead of the front/back.<ref name="P700" /> Some keyboards have the switches rotated by 90° with the same pin orientation as SKCL/SKCM,<ref name="M011A" /> and at least one keyboard used mixed orientations.<ref name="IBM5954339" /> While the switch may appear rotationally symmetrical, and with a bit of force a cap can be pressed onto a switch in any orientation, the switch is not rotationally symmetrical. There are nubs on the sliders (the exact location of which can vary depending on the variant) that mate with indentations inside the keycap mount. Thus keyboards that have mixed orientation for their switches do not do so arbitrarily but rotate the switches to ensure that the nubs are properly aligned with the indentations inside the keycap mount. Plate mounting holes are 14 mm square.

The series dates back at least as far as 1979. Cream switches have been found in both a [[Radio Shack TRS-80 Model I]] and an [[Alps AKB-3420]] with ICs dating from 1979, and the grey switches have been found in a Monroe calculator with ICs dating from 1979.

The switch bears the oval Alps logo on the bottom.

===Specification===
The specifications for the [[Alps AKB-3420]] keyboard includes the switches, which are [[Alps SKCC Cream]]. The specification included with an older example of this keyboard from ca. 1979 gives the switch lifetime as 3×10⁶ cycles; while a later example from ca. 1988 gives a much higher rating of 2×10⁷ cycles. Bounce time is given as 5 ms in both cases, and full travel as 3.5±0.5 mm.

==Evolution==
The design of SKCC series changed with time. Manufacturing lifetime appears to have had a substantial overlap with [[Alps SKCL/SKCM series]]: SKCC has been found with black, grey, tall white and short white switchplates. This implies that SKCC series was still in production in 1989.

<gallery widths="250" heights="187">
File:Alps SKCC Side-Angled Cream -- disassembled.jpg | [[Alps SKCC Side-Angled Cream|Side-Angled Cream]] with black switchplate and terminal sealant
File:Alps SKCCAF -- disassembled, top views.jpg      | [[Alps SKCC Tall Cream|Tall Cream]] with grey switchplate (1987 batch)
File:Alps SKCCBJ0001 -- disassembled, top views.jpg  | [[Alps SKCC Cream|Cream]] with short white switchplate; the redundant switchplate ridge is clearly visible
</gallery>

Changes include:

*Addition of a chamfer to either side at the bottom; this appears to be a very early change
*The exterior recess in the base enclosing the terminals has had both straight and semicircular ends, as well being unbroken and later divided
*Some batches used [[terminal sealant]], of a red or translucent orange colour, which appears to be one reason for the recess in the base
*Newer revisions featured a ridge in the base to hold the switchplate; this was retained after the change to short switchplates, when the switchplate no longer reached down to the bottom of the switch

==Disassembly==
The side tabs are much harder to unlatch than SKCL/SKCM series, and noticeably thinner, and consequently face a much greater risk of snapping clean off when trying to lever them open. When opening a switch, it helps to insert a thin object underneath the tab on one side, prior to opening the tab on the other side, to stop the tab on the other side from closing again. The cocktail stick method used with [[Alps SKCL/SKCM series]] is not possible with SKCC, as the ledge that rests on the [[mounting plate]] overhangs the tabs.

<gallery widths="250" heights="187">
File:Alps SKCCAF -- fragile side tabs.jpg | Fragile side tabs
File:Alps SKCC -- opening.jpg             | Opening a switch
</gallery>

==Variants==
Few part numbers have been recovered. To date, there is tentative evidence to suggest that subseries "A" comprises the tall momentary switches, and subseries "B" comprises the standard height momentary switches. More data is required to confirm this theory.

The height of the black and grey variants have not been measured, and are unclear.

Slider and keystem height measurements are approximate and averaged from multiple switches, rather than being taken from any specifications. The keystem height is measured from the circular base through which it protrudes to the top of the slider. The keystem height is measured in the axis relative to the keycap, not to the slider motion (only different for side-angled cream).

{| class="wikitable variants-table"
! !!Name!!Model!!Type!!Weight!!Slider height!!Keystem height
|-
|[[File:Alps SKCC Brown 3.jpg|175px]]
|[[Alps SKCC Brown]]
|
|Momentary
|-
|[[File:ALPS SKCC grey.jpg|175px]]
|[[Alps SKCC Grey]]
|
|Momentary
|
|ca. 9 mm
|ca. 4 mm
|-
|[[File:alps_skcc_black.jpg|175px]]
|[[Alps SKCC Tall Black]]
|
|Momentary
|
|
|
|-
|[[File:Alps SKCC Cream -- variants table.jpg|175px]]
|[[Alps SKCC Cream]]
|SKCCBJ
|Momentary
|70 gf
|9.7 mm
|5.0–5.3 mm
|-
|[[File:Alps SKCC Green -- variants table.jpg|175px]]
|[[Alps SKCC Green]]
|SKCCBK
|Momentary
|~60 gf
|9.7 mm
|5.1 mm
|-
|[[File:Alps SKCC Tall Cream -- variants table.jpg|175px]]
|[[Alps SKCC Tall Cream]]
|SKCCAF
|Momentary
|70 gf
|13.4 mm
|4.7 mm
|-
|[[File:Alps SKCC Lock -- variants table.jpg|175px]]
|[[Alps SKCC Lock]]
|
|Alternate action
|
|9.6 mm
|5.1 mm
|-
|[[File:Alps SKCC Cream LED.jpg|175px]]
|[[Alps SKCC Cream LED]]
|
|Momentary illuminated
|70 gf?
|
|
|-
|[[File:Alps SKCC Side-Angled Cream -- variants table.jpg|175px]]
|[[Alps SKCC Side-Angled Cream]]
|
|Momentary
|
|13.0 mm
|5.5 mm
|}

===Unmapped part numbers===
The following part numbers are known to exist (surplus stock no longer available), but no photograph exists of them and they have not been assigned to a moniker above:

*SKCCAC

==References==
<references>
<ref name="P700">Mousefan — [http://mousefan.telcontar.net/image/paso700.htm TOSHIBA PASOPIA700 '85] Retrieved 2015-07-23.</ref>
<ref name="M011A">KBTalking — [http://kbtalking.cool3c.com/article/29717 ■鍵盤史的遺跡Apple M0110A (ALPS凸軸)■] Dated 2010-12-03. Retrieved 2015-07-23.</ref>
<ref name="IBM5954339">Deskthority — [http://deskthority.net/photos-videos-f8/ibm-5954339-t4564.html IBM 5954339]</ref>
</references>

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