Welcome!!I have been working on a project since the beginning of the year to make alps sliders with an MX compatible stem, so you can convert all alps variants to a MX cap mount and use your favorite MX keycap sets.
Product Information:- What is an alps slider? It is the part of the switch that moves with the cap to actuate the switch, the part is also how you identify which variant of switch it is by color (blue alps, amber, brown, etc.).
- Is it compatible with ____ Alps switch? Yes it is compatible with all variants of alps, including Browns, as well as all matias switches. Only exception is SKCL Green as the top housing will interfere because of the LED cutout, will explain how to work around this below.
- What keycap profiles can I use? I have personally tested OEM, DCS, DSA, SA, G20, Cherry/GMK, and MIX. And the answer is Yes, but Cherry/GMK is the only ones that have a slight issue.
- Are the alps housings directly compatible with MX caps? Sadly, no. Basically SKCM/SKCL and matias top housings need to be filed in order to be compatible with MX mount caps, If you wish to use GMK you have to further mod the top housings on the side to allow them to fully seat on the slider because they hit the top housing before the last 0.5mm of travel for R3 GMK profile. If you use SKCL/SKCM switches you don't have to modify if you buy the top housings I am selling, as they will be premade to work with MX caps, and with Cherry/GMK caps. For matias switches, sadly you can't use my top housings as the matias ones are based off of SKBM housings, which are different due to the switch plate mechanism, meaning you will have to modify yours. For SKCL Green you will have to either modify your housing in order to keep the LED compatibility or buy my top housings, and lose the LEDs. Follow the video guide to understand what all is need to be done to modify your switches.(Will be up soonish)
- I heard these don't work with clicky switches? That was true of the early prototypes, the issue was the keycap would crush the clicky leaf when it moved towards the slider in the top of the keystroke, I solved this by adding a small bump on the side of the slider that prevents the click leaf from getting caught under the keycap stem. So there is no issue with the final version, and no this problem never affected tactile switches, and still has no effect. For SKCL Green LED top housings the bump can either be cut off or used as a guide to let you know if you removed enough material from the top housing to fit.
- Does the bump affect the clicky switch sound? It will technically as it shortens the distance the leaf can move, but only by 0.2mm, so almost no change at all.
- What is the stab insert used for? It is for using the Alps stab wires on MX keycaps, as the MX caps location to mount the inserts are in different locations than the alps ones are. Alps are pushed to one side of the cap, While cherry are centered on the cap and can be farther or closer together than alps. So I made an insert that allows you to use your current alps stabs without modification. These will be 3D printed on very high end printers using Material Jetting(PolyJet) with a 16 micron layer height, so very high accuracy. I have tested them and they are very smooth when lubed.
- What material are the sliders and top housings made of? They will both be made of POM, and will be injection molded.
- Can the top housings fix scratchy alps? They should, yes. If the reason they are scratchy is due to the top housing, then they can but if the slider is the reason, then no it can't unless you use the slider I am making or a undamaged alps slider.
Product Render:The slider:
The Top Housing: (actual color will be black)
The Stab Insert: (actual color may vary)
Pricing:Note: These prices do not include final shipping or paypal fees. Shipping is dependent on number ordered and location, will be sent in bubble mailers, so pricing should be quite low.
- Sliders: $0.55 each (MOQ of 11,000)
- Top housings:
- QTY 6,000: $1.20
- QTY 8,000: $1.00
- QTY 10,000: $0.80
- QTY 12,000: $0.70
- QTY 16,000: $0.60
- QTY 20,000: $0.50
- Stab Inserts: $5 - $8
- not sure how many will be ordered so price will vary and I can't say for sure until the order is placed, but it will be in this range.
Schedule:- Orders: 14 days
- Invoice/Payment: 7 days
- Manufacturing and shipping: 15 - 35 days (depends on manufacturers shipping speed)
- Sorting and Final shipment: 7 - 14 days
Total: 43 to 70 days
Order Form:https://goo.gl/forms/UZnoNALyV55q2f7F3 Orders will be open until next friday 4/13 and midnight central time, All invoices will be sent out once orders are receive and are due on receipt.
Live Quantity:- Sliders - 14,570
- Top Housings - 10,000
- Stab Inserts - 160
