Editing Cherry M8

{{TODO photo|reason=clear, cropped photos illustrating a selection of the Hirose Cherry and (German) Cherry variants (from above and below)}}

{{Infobox dswitch
| image name        = Cherry M8.jpg
| manufacturer      = [[Cherry]], [[Hirose]]
| product code      = M8xx-xxxx
| contact mechanism = [[Metal leaf]]
| switch type       = Linear, tactile
| switch mount      = [[PCB mount]]
| discontinued      = 2013
| lifetime          = 10M
| travel            = 2.5 mm
| bounce time       = 2 ms
}}

'''Cherry M8''' refers to several switch families that predated [[Cherry MX]] switches. They are rare, low profile switches that were made in a multitude of variants. Cherry issued a final-buy notification for the M8 series in October 2013; it is now discontinued.


==Mechanism== 
Cherry M8 switches use a gold-silver contact mechanism. When at rest, the [[slider]] separates the two contacts, with one bent outward against the slider, under tension. As the slider enters the housing, the contact under tension approaches the second contact, following the grooves on the upper portion of the slider. When pressure has been removed from the switch, the spring pushes upwards, overcoming the force provided by the contact and returning the slider to its start position.

The contact mechanism is the same as that of the [[Cherry M9]] switch.

==Variants==
In part numbers, the first character after ''M8'' indicates the switch's rating, including the contact plating material and its permissible loads. The switches are sometimes divided into sub-series based on rating:

{| class="wikitable"
! Characteristic || M81 || M82 || M84
|-
| '''Voltage min/max''' || 28 V AC/DC || 60 V AC/DC || 12 V AC/DC max
|-
| '''Current min/max''' || 100 mA max || 100 mA max || 10 mA max
|-
| '''Contacts material''' || AuAg26Ni3 || AgPd30 || AuAg10
|}

Other variations include:

;LED
:Optional fitment of an integrated LED
;DPST
:Double-pole, single-throw operation
;Tactile operation
:The switches could be ordered with linear, tactile or German Postal Service tactile specification force curves
;Cover
:Covered and uncovered versions were available; covered switches are significantly rarer than the uncovered versions
;Keycap mount
:Multiple [[keycap mount]]s were available

Typically, switches in European keyboards are SPST but have a DPST slider, and have space for an integrated LED. Japanese keyboards have all been sighted with a variant design, using an SPST-only slider and no LED space. This variant design has also been used in a German keyboard.<ref name="basis" />

Covered switches are largely identical to uncovered switches. The cover adds to the height, and requires a taller keystem on the slider. The cover from a covered switch fits on an uncovered switch, but the keystem does not protrude through its hole.

===Cherry M85===
The Cherry [[:File:Keymodule M8.pdf|Keymodule M8]] brochure includes a section on the M85 sub-series. M85 switches have a hollow slider designed to support a central LED. The shell is visibly different from other M8 switches, but the internals are assumed to be largely the same. M85 switches are not intended for use in computer or typewriter keyboards.

===Hirose Cherry M8===
[[Hirose]] in Japan manufactured a variant of this switch, branded HIROSE CHERRY on the base.{{citation needed}} All Hirose Cherry M8 switches found to date have been of the SPST-only, uncovered (open) type.

It is not clear whether the Hirose Cherry M8 is [[Keycap mount#Hirose Cherry mount|Hirose Cherry mount]].

===Recognition===
<div style="text-align: center">
<gallery widths=175 heights=175>
File:Switch recognition--Cherry M8 open, German.svg   | Typical uncovered switch
File:Switch recognition--Cherry M8 open, Japanese.svg | SPST-only switch
</gallery>
</div>

==Keyboards==
*Some [[Atari 800]] keyboards (covered version with bar mount slider)<ref name="AtariAge" />
*[[Basis 108]] keyboard (uncovered; standard white, and black SPST-only)
*Bondwell 8T portable (semi-Cherry MX-compatible sliders; uncovered; used for the [[numeric keypad]])<ref name="GH" />
*[[Cherry G80-0431]]
*[[Cherry G80-0662]] (uncovered)
*Epson HC-20 (white stems)<ref name="HC-20" />
*[[Epson PX-8]] keyboard (white and black stems)
*Genest Technologies Numerikeys (uncovered)<ref name="EFX6BBNUMKEY" />

==Gallery==
<gallery widths=250 heights=187>
File:Img1090y.jpg                                       | Various
File:CherryM81Specsheet.PNG                             | A diagram of a Cherry M81 switch
File:Cherry G80-0662 -- M8 switches (1).jpg             | G80-0662 switches #1
File:Cherry G80-0662 -- switches and label.jpg          | G80-0662 switches #2
File:Basis 108 white 1u key switch.jpg                  | Open-top DPST-capable design switch
File:Basis 108 key switch with LED.jpg                  | Open-top switch with LED fitted
File:Basis 108 black 1+u key switch.jpg                 | SPST-only design with black slider, from a German keyboard
File:Hirose Cherry M8 -- detail.jpg                     | SPST-only version in a Japanese keyboard
</gallery>

===M84A-0100===
The depicted switches are from Cherry's last ever batch of M8 switches, made in late 2013 or early 2014.

<gallery widths=250 heights=187>
File:Cherry M84A-0100 -- assorted.jpg                   | Assorted switches
File:Cherry M84A-0100 -- DPST base.jpg                  | DPST-ready base, with provision for dual contacts and terminals
File:Cherry M84A-0100 -- top, angled.jpg                | Top, angled
File:Cherry M84A-0100 -- top, front.jpg                 | Top, front
File:Cherry M84A-0100 -- rear, angled.jpg               | Rear, angled
File:Cherry M84A-0100 -- top, side.jpg                  | Top, side
File:Cherry M84A-0100 -- disassembled, top views.jpg    | Disassembled; top views of components
File:Cherry M84A-0100 -- disassembled, bottom views.jpg | Disassembled; bottom views of components
</gallery>

===Covered===
The switches depicted are NOS from AliExpress, of unknown part number.

<gallery widths=250 heights=187>
File:Cherry M8 (covered) -- assorted.jpg             | Assorted
File:Cherry M8 (covered) -- base.jpg                 | Base detail
File:Cherry M8 covered vs open slider comparison.jpg | Slider comparison with uncovered switch

</gallery>

==References==
<references>
<ref name="HC-20">MouseFan — [http://mousefan.telcontar.net/image/hc20.htm EPSON HC-20 '83 JAPAN] Retrieved 2015-07-23.</ref>
<ref name="AtariAge">AtariAge Forums — [http://atariage.com/forums/topic/105170-600800xl-keyboard-variants/page-2 600/800XL Keyboard variants]</ref>
<ref name="GH">Geekhack — [http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=54255.0 SKCL (complicated linear) with cream colored sliders?] Posted 2014-02-02. Retrieved 2015-07-23.</ref>
<ref name="EFX6BBNUMKEY">ちゃたりたいね — [http://kbd.rzw.jp/cherry/genest_technologies_numerikeys_efx6bbnumkey/ GENEST TECHNOLOGIES NUMERIKEYS EFX6BBNUMKEY JAPAN] Dated 2014-08-25. Retrieved 2015-07-23.</ref>
<ref name="basis">Deskthority — [https://deskthority.net/photos-f62/basis-108-cherry-m8-low-profile-t13942.html Basis 108 - Cherry M8 low profile]</ref>
</references>

[[Category:Cherry M8]]
[[Category:Metal contact switches]]
[[Category:DPST switches]]
[[Category:Linear switches]]
[[Category:Tactile switches]]
[[Category:List of all keyboard switches]]