Car project that involves about 5ish buttons. I want to make it look/feel profesh-ish.
Do you have any ideas about where to find small, decent buttons?
digi-key or mouser or newark.
search term: tactile switch
Recently picked up these sub mini push buttons
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0752RMB7Q/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_NNjMDbA2ZDP97
They work well for small areas
200mV:
Recently picked up these sub mini push buttons
They work well for small areas
But may not have a very good "feel" by and large.
Note though that these are the ones where the cap goes over a collar on the shaft. They are in my perception better than this older and apparently obsolete design as there is less sideways movement:
These look not too bad:
Thanks for the help!
200mv: Yeah I have some of those and they're great for a lot of prototyping / utility uses. Maybe I can disguise them or re-cap them so they look decent enough in my dashboard.
Oh man, I love Digi-Key! But, I feel like I've gotta know exactly what I'm after before ordering from there. I order a lot of Adafruit stuff from there because shipping is cheap and quick.
dougp:
Marquardt Produktkatalog
Ooh that's an impressive selection of buttons! That looks promising.
Paul__B:
But may not have a very good "feel" by and large.Note though that these are the ones where the cap goes over a collar on the shaft. They are in my perception better than this older and apparently obsolete design as there is less sideways movement:
Yeah Paul I echo your thoughts about feel and the sideways-movement that buttons frequently have.
I'm typing on a Bluetooth keyboard that has nice soft chicklet style keys. Short throw, soft feel, no side-to-side movement. Nice, matte finish. Why can't they make little momentary switches in this style?
keith204:
I'm typing on a Bluetooth keyboard that has nice soft chiclet style keys. Short throw, soft feel, no side-to-side movement. Nice, matte finish. Why can't they make little momentary switches in this style?
Because individual switches require individual mounting hardware.
If you want to solder them directly to a PCB and craft an escutcheon surround to match, there are many surface-mount button styles available that would give that effect.
Paul__B:
Because individual switches require individual mounting hardware.If you want to solder them directly to a PCB and craft an escutcheon surround to match, there are many surface-mount button styles available that would give that effect.
I'm quite happy to solder/fabricate!
if you can spot the difference: the top switches in post 4 have chrome plated solder connectors, a Radio Shack trick. chrome plating solder connectors is on a par with fish bicycles in the no common sense arena. like Radio Shack headphone and Dc power connectors, you can't solder to them. you build up a ball of solder around them
the lower picture shows cadmium plated connectors. the matte gray finish is the clue. indicative of quality materials inside also. solder likes cadmium
What about 3D printing better looking tops to go on the cheap push-buttons?
Why can't they make little momentary switches in this style?
There wouldn't be enough demand for them. Once you move away from the cheap common switch styles everyone will want a customised look - which is what your keyboard has.
...R
Very insightful. I have soldered a lot of things and have observed huge differences in the way various connectors take solder. I'll start looking at the finish more closely.
Robin2:
What about 3D printing better looking tops to go on the cheap push-buttons?
There wouldn't be enough demand for them. Once you move away from the cheap common switch styles everyone will want a customised look - which is what your keyboard has....R
That makes sense. And 3D printing is a good point. I have some tactile-like switches that have a soft feel and are rubbery. I'll try to design a cap for those and let you know if I come up with anything interesting.
