Looking for translucent buttons

[AlanS17]

Does anybody out there know where to buy good-quality translucent buttons? I saw some on a mame machine (even though I lost the address) and I think I may want to use some in my up-coming project. I want them to glow red from underneath. Anyways, Please get back to me. They aren't an emergency, but they would make everything look a hell of a lot better...

[rampy]

http://www.therealbobroberts.com/ has some but only has green or amber left.... does wico have em?

*shrug*

rampy

[MrToasty]

Yep, Wico has them - orange, green and blue in long, red and orange in short.  $0.49 each for just the button, i.e. doesn't include leaf switch, pal nut, button holder, etc.  I've been tempted to grab some myself.  I think Videoconnect had some but they are sold out right now.  Bob Roberts only has the short ones.

[AlanS17]

By "short ones" and "long ones", do you mean for mounting in metal and wood (respectively)?

[MrToasty]

Exactly right - short = metal, long = wood.  Most sites that sell them, Wico for example, will refer to them as long or short.

[AlanS17]

I hear alot of compliments for Happ controls, but I don't know much about Wico. I hear them mentioned, but never actually praised. How do they compare? As long as they aren't too "loose in the socket" I don't think I care, but how resilient are they?

(I play fighting games.)

[rampy]

I hear alot of compliments for Happ controls, but I don't know much about Wico. I hear them mentioned, but never actually praised. How do they compare? As long as they aren't too "loose in the socket" I don't think I care, but how resilient are they?

(I play fighting games.)

I can't speak to the quality of Wico products... but I'm wondering if you'll be satisified (someone else feel free to speak up and clarify if I'm wrong) with leaf switches (unless the translucent cosmetic is more important)...

What I mean is this: Most purists/old school arcade enthusiasts prefer the leaf switch style as it's what they are used to/grew up with... and possibly performs better for the old style games (?) ...

Since you are interested in fighters maybe you'd be better off with microswitch buttons as that's what most modern fighter cabs had...

I could be slightly off base... but that's my understanding... so you may need to weigh cosmetics vs. preferred button switch style....

YMMV

Rampy

[MameFan]

It's more than just "matching" what the original cabinet had.

Leaf switches have advantanges, So do microswitches.

Here's a quick run down. You need to decide what you want for your particular preferences, regardless of the game being played/etc..:


Leaf:
+ Relatively quiet.  Only quiet tap of leaves meeting, more noise in plunger/spring usually themselves.

+ Smooth movement into and through point of contact (e.g. like a good golf swing! )

+ What you "grew up with" if you're into Pre-1986 type games.

+ (or -) Special lengths for wood vs metal control panels.. pick the right type to use otherwise you'll be routing or building up.

- Needs to be cleaned/polished periodically which can affect "contact"

- Bends from use/heavy use.. Doesn't stay in same position. You must press harder, or push joystick more in that direction to receive "contact". Hard to realign "exactly" without buying new switch.

- More expensive ($4 + per button + holder + leaf)

- More parts (Housing, Plunger, Spring, nut, Holder, Leaf assembly (and if old style, multiple little parts in the leaf assembly instead of molded into plastic, but allowed for better repairs)


Microswitch:
- Noiser than leaf. Hear (and feel) it "grab" when it clicks the switch (feel point of contact in some cases). Cabinet/panel top can mask some of the sound, but not all of it

- Pretty much stops at point of contact ("click"), no smooth follow through if you like that.

- Never translucent.. can't "ideally" light from behind like leaf switches. However many people are now mounting colored or white, high brightness LED's in the center of the switch under the plunger to get a glowing effect. Not the same as translucent, but a nice "neon" effect if you're into lighted panels.

- Typically only 1 length (long) though some short ones have been used.

+ Consistent, identical points of contact (within a SMALL range anyway).

+ No chance of bending/breaking due to use/heavy use (save for a mallet pressed against a button, of course, but the button will break before the switch typically, or switch just pop out of the button holder)

+ Cheaper (Nylon button housing, plunger, spring, nut and micro switch..usually 90 cents to $1.50 in quantity.)

+ Less parts, easily swapable for repair/replacement if you ever need to

[AlanS17]

Well I am more accustomed to microswitches. That's what I have in my KI machine, and that's what the fighting games use. Lately I make it a point to lean over and "listen" to the games when I play them. (Aren't I a dork?)

The "click" doesn't concern me much unless it's a REALLY bad one (like this Die Hard Arcade I saw). I'm usually pounding the buttons anyways, so the sound and feel of the click is masked by the sound of my banging. I have a habit of forming blisters on my left hand and bruises on my right fingertips. The only clicking that bothers me is the clicking of the joystick, but that's not usually a big deal (unless your'e a crappy Die Hard Arcade).

Considering how I play, I think I should probably stick with microswitches and give up on leaf switches. I don't think they could take my beating! I'll settle for a translucent trackball or something...

I also saw a website for:
www.glowire.com

I may use that for some pizazz instead. I don't know yet. It all depends on budget (which seems to get smaller and smaller).

[MrToasty]

You might consider lightstrips instead of glowire:
http://www.tweakmonster.com/products/lightstrip_page1.htm
http://www.thinkgeek.com/stuff/fun-stuff/5752.shtml
http://www.elcustomshop.com/ccsproducts.html

Looks a little better and brighter and might be easier to work with in your cab, depending on where you put it.

This place even does EL sheets:
http://www.beingseen.com/sheets.html