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Cherry MX Keyswitches are top-of-the-line mechanical keyboard switches. They’re satisfyingly “clicky”, reliable up to tens-of-millions of key presses, and a standard in gaming and programming keyboards across the globe. This 'blue' version Cherry MX Switch is favored by most due to its secondary internal actuator making it less likely to "double-tap." If you are looking for a noticeably audible and high-quality key switch, this is the perfect option for you!
Most Cherry MX Switches – including this blue, MX1A-E1NW switch we carry – have a recess in their body designed to fit a small 3mm LED. Additionally, the weighting for this switch is just around 50cN (centi-Newtons).
Note: If you are looking for an easy way to incorporate this switch to your project, be sure to check out or breakout board! CLICK HERE!
- Contact Form: SPST
- Current Rating: 10mA
- Voltage Rating: 12V
- Switch Weighting: 50cN
- 3mm LED Slot
- Datasheet (MX1A-E1NW)
- Cherry MX Switch Breakout Guide
Cherry MX Switch Product Help and Resources
Button and Switch Basics
May 7, 2013
A tutorial on electronics' most overlooked and underappreciated component: the switch! Here we explain the difference between momentary and maintained switches and what all those acronyms (NO, NC, SPDT, SPST, ...) stand for.
Cherry MX Switch Breakout Hookup Guide
April 21, 2016
How to assemble and use the Cherry MX Switch Breakout, allowing you to turn a matrix of mechanical switches into a full-size keyboard!
Resources and Going Further
For a project idea using these buttons and a SparkFun 3.3V/8MHz Pro Micro, check out the Enginursday blog post:
Core Skill: Soldering
This skill defines how difficult the soldering is on a particular product. It might be a couple simple solder joints, or require special reflow tools.
Skill Level: Noob - Some basic soldering is required, but it is limited to a just a few pins, basic through-hole soldering, and couple (if any) polarized components. A basic soldering iron is all you should need.
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Customer Reviews
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Would SparkFun carry other models of Cherry MX and ML switches? I mean, not everybody love the Blue ones. And other models like the ML are useful for non-keyboard uses.
Where are the keycaps for this switch? Can you please post a link.
Good question since the keycaps for the Cherry MX vary by color, translucence, height, labels, and size we didn't specifically call out just one place in the description.That being said, Jimb0 (the engineer who designed the breakout) recommends WASD Keyboards and MechanicalKeyboards.com. Additionally, our hookup guide also goes into a little detail as well.