Leaf Switch Button Assembly

[andrewonawall]

therealbobroberts site has plastic/nylon and fiberboard replacement leaf switches. what is the difference between the two?

also, i noticed that wico has silver contact and tungsten contact leaf switches. again, what is the difference between the two?

i don't recall seeing the button assembly for sale at therealbobroberts site, so i would rather order from one vender to save on shipping. so i was wondering how people like the assemblies that wico sells. the wico site also says that the assembly has a lamp holder, is it possible to use an led in the holder?

[paigeoliver]

Egad, complicated issues.

Ok, the BEST leaf switches are the kind that were in the original Wico leaf joys (Ok, technically the BEST ones are in pinball targets, but anyway). The worst ones I have seen are integrated (non-removable) into the holder, and don't have a true "contact" just a raised dimple on the leaf itself.

Now for the good news, none of this matters when it comes to home use. The fact is that you simply aren't going to wear out your new leaf switches on a home use machine.

So basically my advice is to order away, and use any vendor you would like.

Also (I may be wrong on this), but I believe the plastic/nylon ones are for joysticks and the fiberboard ones are for buttons, or the fiberboard ones might be for pinball applications, you might want to ask bob. I myself would probably just order the complete sets from whatever vendor I wanted to use, I seem to recall someplace having nice translucent sets for like $3 each.

[NoOne=NBA=]

I'm pretty sure Bob Roberts has holder/switch assemblies for sale.
IIRC, they are right above the replacement leaf switches, but don't have a pic linked to them.

I ordered mine from Centsible Amusements because they were $1.00 cheaper, which paid for the extra shipping.
I ordered the translucent buttons from Bob Roberts though because Centsible Amusement didn't have translucents.

[andrewonawall]

Thanks guys. I figured that for home use it really wouldn't matter, but I just wanted to be sure. I actually have almost all of my buttons, even some hard finds. They are all translucent and for wood pannels. I even found some old long  red ones that have never been used!!!   From the same person, I also got a bunch of long and short dark blue buttons!   I have been searching all of the current venders for these and couldn't find them anywhere. I did find all of the current offerings that I will be incorporating into my massive CP: orange, green, and light blue. Now I just need the assembly and pal nut for each of them and I'm set to go.
One thing, if I go with Wico, should I get the 'small silver contact points' or 'heavy 0.18" tungsten points' leaf switch? The tungsten sounds like it is just for durability, which a home machine wouldn't really need, right? Or is this another pinball and arcade designated design?

[Anadultmale]

Got old Wico leaf switches from never used track balls. Former Wico R&D guy. Of course leaf's are molded into the holder, and not having a true "contact" it's just a raised dimple on the leaf itself. Also push buttons.
Got to clean up the house. Parts are from 1982 design of Wico track ball.
Oh, and 626ZZ bearings for most trackballs. Hope u needs these parts.
Would love to help any new designer with future arcade ideas.
see http://www.moneymachines.com/wicoswitch2.jpg

[Ginsu Victim]

Why did you bump a five year old thread in an attempt to sell your junk?

[BASS!]

Chill out ginsu, he isn't hurting anyone.

Got old Wico leaf switches from never used track balls. Former Wico R&D guy. Of course leaf's are molded into the holder, and not having a true "contact" it's just a raised dimple on the leaf itself. Also push buttons.
Got to clean up the house. Parts are from 1982 design of Wico track ball.
Oh, and 626ZZ bearings for most trackballs. Hope u needs these parts.
Would love to help any new designer with future arcade ideas.
see http://www.moneymachines.com/wicoswitch2.jpg

If you would like to sell this, a new post in the buy sell trade section would be just fine

[Ginsu Victim]

Well, he didn't have enough posts to make a new thread in B/S/T. I'm not sure how many you need to post there.