(Simple?) Joystick Question

[Ren Hoek]

I got all my parts in the mail (joysticks, buttons etc.) and made myself a mock CP out of cardbaord as everyone suggests.  All is good.  However, the CP is likely to be at least 15mm thick, a lot thicker than cardboard.  The joystick, when moved, clicks the microswitches.  However, when a hole is drilled in the wood, the joystick is put through it from underneath, so without recessing the stick length is going to be reduced.  With the small black protective disc that is placed on top of the CP around the metal stick to protect the hole and neaten the finish (I assume this is glued or double-sided taped onto the CP, please correct me here if I'm wrong) how does the joystick register on the microswitches?  Isn't the joystick restricted to the point that it is immovable because of the flush finish due to the disc and the fact that the base of the joystick is well under the CP wood?  Obviously I'm not getting my head around something because there a a hundred successful CPs being built every week.  The only explanation I can think of is that the black protective disc is left loose on top of the CP, enabling successful movement of the stick.  Please explain so that I may stop complicating things for myself.

[paigeoliver]

Yes, the black plastic disc is left loose.

And TECHNICALLY it is supposed to go UNDER a metal control panel. But hardly anybody makes metal panels anymore, so everyone sticks them on top.