Translucent CP Buttons?

[SpamMe]

The only ones I've found are the leaf buttons from Bob Roberts. Does anybody make translucent horizontal microswitch buttons (pref red and/or blue)?

[spidermonkey]

They were never made in a microswitch version. I back lit my cp so using those was the only authentic looking choice for me since I went for the classic look. Some folks around here just don't want to be bothered with the less reliable leaf switch push buttons so they put leds into the solid colored microswitch buttons in hopes of creating a similar effect but in my opinion they just don't look half as good as the old school translucent buttons when lit up. If you do decide to go the leaf button route just remember they require more space on your cp since they have a rather large odd shaped footprint but once you have em in and all lit up you'll be glad you used them.

[SpamMe]

That's a shame. I have yet to order the control panel parts for my cabinet, so I dont have any buttons, etc. to look at, but would it be impossible to replace the top of a microswitch button with a translucent top from a leaf button?

[armad1ll0]

the new pelican arcade control pannel has them so maybe they will make them available.

[Kitbasher]

I have wondered if these style of button mount would work with translucent CP buttons. There are described as  ORIGINAL NINTENDO BUTTON MICRO SWITCHES in the ebay auctions.  I have not seen them anywhere else.  Does anyone know anything about these microswitch button mounts?

[spidermonkey]

Nope, Ebay is your best bet but I wish Oscar or someboby would reproduce those unique nintendo button holders again as they would solve alot of peoples problems.

[Xiaou2]

Please see my post :  New Transparent Buttons Poll...
(probably should have said translucent)

 and vote.   Thanks : )

[SirPoonga]

Nope, Ebay is your best bet but I wish Oscar or someboby would reproduce those unique nintendo button holders again as they would solve alot of peoples problems.

See the other post, I talked to Kelsey a few months ago about reproducing those holder.s  Yes, the holders handle leaf switch buttons.  So you could easily make it translucent.

[Xiaou2]

 Well.. yes, you might be able to get the metal brackets made.. but how many of the clear leaf buttons are still arround?  And what kinda shape are they in?

  I think its best to make a new set rather than using the older possibly brittel plactic of 20 yrs ago.

  Save the older decent shape buttons for the classics arcade owners I say.

 

 

[SirPoonga]

I see them all the time.  You can get them at bob roberts too.  Or from Wico http://www.wicothesource.com/new2/pages/page87.htm


So there isn't an issue of where to get translucent leaf buttons.

[Apollo]

I have wondered if these style of button mount would work with translucent CP buttons. There are described as  ORIGINAL NINTENDO BUTTON MICRO SWITCHES in the ebay auctions.  I have not seen them anywhere else.  Does anyone know anything about these microswitch button mounts?

Yes I have about 20 of these mounts and they have original leaf switch buttons in them but use microswitches. They can be used with the translucent leaf switch buttons and microswitches with actuators.

[Xiaou2]

 Actuator lever micro switches dont hold up as long as regular ones.

 I used to work in the arcade and they broke down 5 times as fast.

[SirPoonga]

And?

Leaf switches need re-adjusting all the time?

Point?  No point, just pointing it out

[Xiaou2]

And?

Leaf switches need re-adjusting all the time?

Point?  No point, just pointing it out

  And so do leaf based micros...  Point that they both suck and its better to use regular happ buttons with a new button rather than using the older leafs or metal plate adapters with leaf micros.


  If you have nothing constructive to say other than being a smart --I'm attempting to get by the auto-censor and should be beaten after I re-read the rules--... then maybe you be quiet.    Your wasting precious bandwidth and making people suffer through your childish attiude.  

  We are here to explore and advance gaming playability... Why are you here?

 
 

[SirPoonga]

 And so do leaf based micros...  Point that they both suck and its better to use regular happ buttons with a new button rather than using the older leafs or metal plate adapters with leaf micros.

Childish?  I just wanted more of an explaination.  And you explained it well.  It is an opinion thing.  You think they suck.  There are people are are diehard leaf switch fans and will only put leaf switches in their cabinets.  Even if it does mean more maintenance .

It's only better in maintenance , but that doesn't mean it is a better button over all.  To some people the feel or look is more important.  If maintenance is the only thing everyone uses to decide what buttons they want to use then there would ONLY be happ microswitches.  There would be no Atari Volcanos, no Midway red swtiches, No leaf switches, No Radio Shack special on peoples cabinets.

So, to explore and advance gaming playability, all these options are available to the benefit of the consumer to choose which style he or she prefers.

[SpamMe]

better to use regular happ buttons with a new button  

how?

[SirPeale]

And?

Leaf switches need re-adjusting all the time?

Point?  No point, just pointing it out

  And so do leaf based micros...  Point that they both suck and its better to use regular happ buttons with a new button rather than using the older leafs or metal plate adapters with leaf micros.


  If you have nothing constructive to say other than being a smart --I'm attempting to get by the auto-censor and should be beaten after I re-read the rules--... then maybe you be quiet.    Your wasting precious bandwidth and making people suffer through your childish attiude.  

  We are here to explore and advance gaming playability... Why are you here?

WTF crawled up your butt and died?  There wasn't anything of malice in his post at all.

In anyone is wasting bandwidth here, it's posts like this one.

[SirPoonga]

WTF crawled up your butt and died?  There wasn't anything of malice in his post at all.

In anyone is wasting bandwidth here, it's posts like this one.

Just stop this now before the post goes off on a tangent.

I was just trying to point out to Xiaou2 that selecting a button isn't based on just ease of maintenance.

[Xiaou2]

 My point was to rally support for 'new' translucent buttons.
 
Your point was to say they are already avaiable IF you only want leaf style - or leaf actuators with an adapter.


  These are 2 differnt points completely.  

 If one wanted leaf buttons, then one would get them.


 Its like your arguing an opinon - which cant be done.




 

[SirPoonga]

this sounds like you were saying that you should not use those at all costs.

Actuator lever micro switches dont hold up as long as regular ones.

I used to work in the arcade and they broke down 5 times as fast.

My point is that you can easily have a microswitch translucent button with what is already out there.


Edit: ok, I see where the misunderstanding took place.

You point: Actuator levers don't hold up like a regular microswitch.  This is true.
How I percieved it:  That just because it uses an actuator arm you shouldn't use it.  
So I then wanted to make the point that people will use what is available to achieve a look or feel they want.  Like people use leaf switches because of the feel.  

Yes, it would be cool if translucent microswitches existed from a source.  However if that does happen, unless other markets than DIYers demand such a product, they will not be as cheap as normal buttons.

[spidermonkey]

Xiaou2, before you turn on your air raid siren just let me say that you and I seem to have alot in common when it comes to control panels. We both like lighting up stuff on our cp's and we both went crazy trying to reproduce an accurate sinistar joystick for playing one of our favorite games. But I have to second guess your statement that lever actuated microswitches are so prone to breakage. If they are so bad then why would Happ use them on there top of the line microswitch joystick ? That being the Happ Super. Niether the comp or the ultimate have them and the ultimate is a peice of garbage. They claim that the super is there strongest joystick and the reliability test is rated at 10'000'000 cycles which is the same amount of cycles as the non lever microswitches used on the comp and ultimate. If adjusted correctly from the get go those actuator levers should last just as long as a leverless microswitch. Microswitch sticks and buttons are designed so that no matter how hard you push the actuator will bottom out before it exerts any further pressure then is required to activate the switch so why would the levers fail 5 times as fast? It doesn't receive any more pressure then a leverless microswitch would. Now I know that this doesnt apply to leaf switches since they are constantly being bent in order to make contact so naturally they require more adjusting and cleaning of the leaf tabs but I'm not talking about leaf switches. Just because the lever actuated microswitches look kinda similar to leaf switches doesn't mean they share the same reliability problems. There is no bending force on a lever actuated microswitch like there is on a leaf switch because lever actuated microswitches have that tiny spring inside the switch that allows them to return to the open position when the joystick or button is released. That little spring is designed to compress long before the lever would ever receive enough pressure to cause it to bend so I can't see why they would break that often. Maybe I'm wrong and the only reason the supers use lever micro's is because they are 8/4-way switchable but I can't imagine that its the only reason Happ uses them on there best stick. Seems to me that if the lever type switches were that crappy then they would figure out a way incorperate leverless micro's to work with there 8/4 way flagship joystick. If I am wrong please correct me because if I claimed to know everything then I would never learn anything. Lastly, I know somebody is going to say that the Happ super isn't there flagship stick. The p-360 is. I know that but I'm talking strictly microswitch controls here.

[Xiaou2]

 Some would call this a matter of opinion... but the supers are not the top of the line  IMOP.

  I found they are harder to pull off diagnol movments correctly.  

  This is because those thin metal levels that are on the super micros are easily bent.   Once youve hit the stick hard enuff... the micros start to bend out of position, thus causing poor diagnols - and then worse - to poor all arround response.

  The worst part is that they do not bend back.   Well, if you try to bend them back.. they might break in the process...
 
  If you do manage to get them bent without breaking them... but go too far...  they loosen up and can not be tightened again.. thus permanent damage.

  I know thi because I used to work with them for 3 yrs as an arcade manager / tech.   I had 42 machines to service on a constant basis... and believe me I saw and fixed it all.

  I also stupidly bought them for my home-made shiter project  (thought that was the only solution)... and managed to break 3 of them with ease! : (


  Happs supers were designed for SF where circular motions were used constantly.    They have a better 'round-ness'  due to the way the leafs do not have to be accurate.  As well as the round spacer difference.

  The competitions have a move box feel because of the square actuator and more accurate allignment needed to meet the switches.    This coupled with a poor design of the way the spacer rest - caused a few probs.  The spacer is prone to faster wear than the super.

  The spacer will file down into little flakes... and soon the spacer wont operate correctly - thus the stick wont move right.   The square actuator made componded the problem for people who Cranked really hard on the stick - as they had trouble making the circles... and the wear was even worsened.

 However... In my opionion... I like to feel the square.   That way I know exactly where the diagnols are - and can hit them with ease and confidence.    I could not so easily do this with supers... esp after about a month of play.

  The spacers in the Ultimates and Competitions lasted about 6 months in an arcade setting before having to be flipped over - to last another 6,  before finally needing replacement.

  The spacers are pretty cheap - so are not that bad to replace... and if you arent hard on your sticks... then you may take years to kill them.  

  However... the Lever Micros on the supers only lasted a few months (3 max) tops without diagnol probs.   Of course the switches needed replacing because you cant fix them.

 They are co$tly to replace... esp for the amt of times I needed to replace them.

  So this is not just opionion here.. but pure fact from having to fix the damn things all the time.  

 
  I ended up replacing leafs (like on simpsons 4 player)  with standard happs micros.   As well as replacing some of the supers on select machines due to the control issues that kept springing up.


 And to add to this - i notice your comment about switch longjevity.  Its not the switch itself thats the problem.... rather the thin tin like actuator that cant be replaced after warpage.


 Leafs did also bend out of whack... but with leafs the metal used was "Spring - Steel "   where it bounces back very well.   The metal used on the supers are some sorta aluminum or tin.  They dont have good resiliancy.


 BTW  -  Wheres your sinistick?  I didnt see a pic or link : )