Editing Alps SKCL/SKCM series (section)

===Slider===
The [[slider]] (Chinese and Japanese, "軸") is the moving connector between the keycap and [[return spring]]. The slider colour helps to identify the switch variant, in combination with other details such as the upper shell design.

Alps sliders are horizontally symmetrical (the right side mirrors the left side), but in most cases they are not rotationally symmetrical: the back is not a mirror of the front, and the slider is not considered to be reversible. In particular, there is a small notch cut into the base at the rear; this side always faces the switchplate. The notched side also has a rounded edge, presumably to ensure smooth actuation and minimize [[Chatter|contact bounce]]. The front side of the slider has a sharp edge which minimizes drag against the tactile leaf. Because of this, reversing the slider will make the switch feel heavier and less crisp. This design was maintained with [[Alps SKBL/SKBM series]] "simplified" Alps, but no Alps clone switches are known to have copied this characteristic, as they all have reversible sliders.

[[Alps SKCL Green]] is an exception here in that the slider is reversible, has a longer spring support stem, and equally-sized small notches on both sides. The change was not retained for [[Alps SKCL Yellow]].

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File:Alps SKC -- non-reversible slider.jpg                                     | Front and rear view of Alps sliders
File:Alps SKCL -- reversible and non-reversible sliders.jpg                    | Green and yellow linear Alps sliders: green is an exception to this characteristic
File:Alps SKC -- slider orientation.jpg                                        | Slider orientation guide: notch side faces the switchplate
File:Alps SKCM -- difference between bottom edges on non-reversible slider.jpg | Side view of SKCM Ivory slider. Note the differences between the front (left) and rear bottom corners
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