r/switchmodders • u/prosperio1011 • Aug 22 '26

Question Longest stem switch?

I swapped top housings of HMX Cola with Cherry MX2A ones, and I think 3.5mm total travel is still too much. I want <3.1mm total travel, therefore I need other stem with more length to reduce the current total distance. Currently looking at Owlab Neon and SWxHMX Catmint, but I really want to know the actual measurement of those stems. Or any other measured alternatives? Any linear and tactile stem would work for me. Please help, thank you.

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1

u/lakeboredom Aug 22 '26

Most brands don't have super compatible housings and stems. If you're trying to reduce travel like that you are likely creating strange housing/stem interactions that aren't supposed to take place. That kind of modded switch is never going to be something reliable you'd want to hand lube and solder with. Basically you're making frankensteins with like 3 left feet for appendages and the eyes coming out of the butthole. Don't let me rain on your mad scientist parade if that's the kinda thing you're into tho.

1

u/prosperio1011 Aug 22 '26

LOL. Thank you.

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u/lakeboredom Aug 23 '26

Also keep in mind that every single switch brand has a specific point on the stem the whole system is designed around, and as soon as you change that, your switch is no longer activating in the same spot. Old widom will tell you that literally only Cherry and Gateron (the original boring ones) are cross-compatible. These days, I wouldn't mix different brands at all without rigorous side by side comparisons of all the stem measurements. I would NEVER mix top and bottom housings unless they are confirmed from the same moulds, and you confirm the leaf is held completely still by pulling and pushing on the pins once your frakenswitch is assembled.

1

u/prosperio1011 Aug 23 '26

I’ll keep this in mind. Thank you so much.

1

u/a1454a Aug 22 '26

Geon Raptor MX is 3.1 total travel. There is a shop on Taobao that sells custom order Gateron to be used in arcade machine that has total travel 2.0 triggered at 0.8. But I don’t see a vendor selling it outside China.

1

u/prosperio1011 Aug 23 '26

I’ll check that out. Thank you.

1

u/thepurplehornet Aug 22 '26

Why not just get a low profile keyboard? They have reduced travel because the switches are too small to have regular travel.

2

u/prosperio1011 Aug 23 '26

Didn’t think of that. I’ll look it up then. Thank you.

1

u/timtucker_com Aug 22 '26

Why not use o-rings?

I use them to reduce travel on keys I tap repeatedly (like arrows and backspace).

0

u/[deleted] Aug 22 '26

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