Author Topic: Translucent Microswitch Buttons www.fxbuttons.com (Read 93895 times)

Buddabing · « **Reply #160 on:** March 03, 2005, 08:01:06 pm »

I had a thought today.

I took a button apart and there are four pieces. Two of them are the spring and the lock nut. For lack of better, more accurate words, I'll call the other two pieces the "housing" and the "plunger". The plunger is the piece of the button that moves when you press it, and the microswitch and nut attach to the housing.

My thought was this. Wouldn't it be easier to get an injection mold company to make duplicates of just the plungers? After all, most of the housing is below the surface of the panel. That way, there would be just one simple piece to reproduce.

The downside is that the ring of plastic surrounding the plunger would still be visible. It would be okay if it was black or roughly the same color as the plunger, but we wouldn't want a mishmash of colors.

This also lends itself well to people wanting to retrofit their panels with lit buttons without the cost of all new buttons.

There is an injection molding company,Globecorp, just a few miles from my house. I wonder if they would do just the plungers and what they would charge for a small run of a few thousand.

shawnzilla · « **Reply #161 on:** March 03, 2005, 08:30:58 pm »

I went to the source of the buttons and they are producing them for me. Right now, I'm waiting on a sample set from them (they're working hard to match the color samples that I sent).

As always, I'll keep everyone posted on the progress. I hope to have pics for everyone very soon!

Quote from: Buddabing on March 03, 2005, 08:01:06 pm

I had a thought today.

I took a button apart and there are four pieces. Two of them are the spring and the lock nut. For lack of better, more accurate words, I'll call the other two pieces the "housing" and the "plunger". The plunger is the piece of the button that moves when you press it, and the microswitch and nut attach to the housing.

My thought was this. Wouldn't it be easier to get an injection mold company to make duplicates of just the plungers? After all, most of the housing is below the surface of the panel. That way, there would be just one simple piece to reproduce.

The downside is that the ring of plastic surrounding the plunger would still be visible. It would be okay if it was black or roughly the same color as the plunger, but we wouldn't want a mishmash of colors.

This also lends itself well to people wanting to retrofit their panels with lit buttons without the cost of all new buttons.

There is an injection molding company,Globecorp, just a few miles from my house. I wonder if they would do just the plungers and what they would charge for a small run of a few thousand.

SOAPboy · « **Reply #162 on:** March 03, 2005, 09:13:27 pm »

black smoke..

White frost..

True Blue..

mr.Curmudgeon · « **Reply #163 on:** March 04, 2005, 11:30:06 am »

Quote from: SOAPboy on March 03, 2005, 09:13:27 pm

black smoke..

White frost..

True Blue..

lol. A little late don't you think?

mrC

Fat_Trucker · « **Reply #164 on:** March 04, 2005, 02:37:22 pm »

Definitely. Blue, black, white.

shawnzilla · « **Reply #165 on:** March 04, 2005, 02:41:45 pm »

Darnit! I already ordered Chartreuse, lavender and desert sand mica.

They are experimenting with some different colors for me (I gotta save some surprises for y'all).

More soon....

RayB · « **Reply #166 on:** March 04, 2005, 02:47:47 pm »

Damn you, I want Seafoam and Chocolate Parfait!

Witchboard · « **Reply #167 on:** March 04, 2005, 03:39:24 pm »

I havne't read back through all the pages, but has anybody thought of just using the Nintendo pushbutton holders?

oldsage · « **Reply #168 on:** March 04, 2005, 05:20:03 pm »

Haven't been here for a while (moving 7 timezones is tough), i like the way this thread is going... Shawn, any rough estimation as to when these will be available? Hope the clear ones come out good... *drool*...

shawnzilla · « **Reply #169 on:** March 04, 2005, 06:11:21 pm »

They've had my color samples for a while now and the last I heard (couple of days ago), they are messing around with color mixing/materials. I'm hoping that they'll have some samples ready to show me within a couple of weeks.

Quote from: oldsage on March 04, 2005, 05:20:03 pm

Haven't been here for a while (moving 7 timezones is tough), i like the way this thread is going... Shawn, any rough estimation as to when these will be available? Hope the clear ones come out good... *drool*...

oldsage · « **Reply #170 on:** March 04, 2005, 06:16:40 pm »

Quote from: shawnzilla on March 04, 2005, 06:11:21 pm

They've had my color samples for a while now and the last I heard (couple of days ago), they are messing around with color mixing/materials. I'm hoping that they'll have some samples ready to show me within a couple of weeks.

Quote from: oldsage on March 04, 2005, 05:20:03 pm
Haven't been here for a while (moving 7 timezones is tough), i like the way this thread is going... Shawn, any rough estimation as to when these will be available? Hope the clear ones come out good... *drool*...

Note even a really rough estimation? 200% +-??? Anything??? I've been thinking of starting my cab in the next couple of weeks, so this would mean a lot to me...

Man, i want a clear one...

SOAPboy · « **Reply #171 on:** March 04, 2005, 06:24:29 pm »

Quote from: mr.Curmudgeon on March 04, 2005, 11:30:06 am

Quote from: SOAPboy on March 03, 2005, 09:13:27 pm
black smoke..

White frost..

True Blue..

lol. A little late don't you think?

mrC

yeah.. lol.

shawnzilla · « **Reply #172 on:** March 04, 2005, 10:36:27 pm »

Sorry, I'm a little bit at the mercy of the manufacturer.

Quote from: oldsage on March 04, 2005, 06:16:40 pm

Quote from: shawnzilla on March 04, 2005, 06:11:21 pm
They've had my color samples for a while now and the last I heard (couple of days ago), they are messing around with color mixing/materials. I'm hoping that they'll have some samples ready to show me within a couple of weeks.

Quote from: oldsage on March 04, 2005, 05:20:03 pm
Haven't been here for a while (moving 7 timezones is tough), i like the way this thread is going... Shawn, any rough estimation as to when these will be available? Hope the clear ones come out good... *drool*...

Note even a really rough estimation? 200% +-??? Anything??? I've been thinking of starting my cab in the next couple of weeks, so this would mean a lot to me...

Man, i want a clear one...

Trimoor · « **Reply #173 on:** March 04, 2005, 11:25:09 pm »

Wait a minute......you're not just stringing us along are you? The buttons really are coming, right?

I thought you said it would be a couple weeks a couple weeks ago.

spllbnd2 · « **Reply #174 on:** March 04, 2005, 11:31:07 pm »

You can put me down for the following,

20 dark blue
10 red
10 orange
4 green
10 smoke

Let me know when they ready and if the colors are true to the old leaf switch style buttons (that is what I use currently), Thanks. Alex B.

pointdablame · « **Reply #175 on:** March 05, 2005, 02:00:12 am »

Not that I'm doubting you shawnzilla, but I just really hope this all comes to fruition... I would love some trans blue buttons... or smoke... or damn.. almost anything I can get haha.

As long as prices aren't off the wall, put me down for an order

chris_lemasters · « **Reply #176 on:** March 09, 2005, 12:24:27 am »

Put me down for a bunch, too

daywane · « **Reply #177 on:** March 09, 2005, 09:19:24 am »

put me down for some. Oh wait I already did that 6 months ago.

NIVO · « **Reply #178 on:** March 09, 2005, 06:30:22 pm »

shawn, how much of a discount did you say MODS get? I cant recall

shawnzilla · « **Reply #179 on:** March 09, 2005, 06:35:00 pm »

Quote from: NIVO on March 09, 2005, 06:30:22 pm

shawn, how much of a discount did you say MODS get? I cant recall

NoBonus · « **Reply #180 on:** March 09, 2005, 06:42:55 pm »

I might like in on the buttons... I will wait until I see the prototypes first, if that's cool.

Aceldamor · « **Reply #181 on:** March 11, 2005, 11:27:58 pm »

I'd be in for a few of each if I can see prototypes first : )

Wienerdog · « **Reply #182 on:** March 12, 2005, 08:55:28 pm »

Quote from: Aceldamor on March 11, 2005, 11:27:58 pm

Good, Bad, I'm the one with the gun.

Tahnok · « **Reply #183 on:** March 12, 2005, 09:39:35 pm »

I'm really hoping these turn out to be cheap enough for my new CP.

I know I said blue earlier, but some completely translucent buttons would be awesome since you could change their color on the fly. Just change the color of the LED in them, you could even put them on a switch. I may consider this.

cholin · « **Reply #184 on:** March 13, 2005, 12:48:59 pm »

Then youll need either several LEDs per button or you'll need an RGB one, but either way, youll need some way of controlling them, probably a circuit, so if you're willing to spend that much money......

On the other hand, Id rather buy some blue ones and light them up instead. ll probably be down for 6-8 red, 6-8 blue, maybe some clear ones, etc.

Too lazy to search: are there going to be 1/2p ones? Perhaps coin ones?

shawnzilla · « **Reply #185 on:** March 13, 2005, 01:01:19 pm »

Regarding clear vs. colors. I'll just have to see how the prototypes look first. Still waiting for them to be done. I thought it'd be this week, but they haven't given me a solid answer (I think they're experimenting with different materials).

I wasn't planning on 1/2 player buttons, but if my first run of buttons sells well enough for me to get my costs back and there is enough demand for 1/2 player buttons then I will order a run.

Quote from: cholin on March 13, 2005, 12:48:59 pm

Then youll need either several LEDs per button or you'll need an RGB one, but either way, youll need some way of controlling them, probably a circuit, so if you're willing to spend that much money......

On the other hand, Id rather buy some blue ones and light them up instead. ll probably be down for 6-8 red, 6-8 blue, maybe some clear ones, etc.

Too lazy to search: are there going to be 1/2p ones? Perhaps coin ones?

cholin · « **Reply #186 on:** March 13, 2005, 01:05:50 pm »

Do you have any extra info you can give us? Are the prices solid yet or do you even have a new estimate? Last time I checked this thread you were getting them from a different manufacturer and selling for around $3?

shawnzilla · « **Reply #187 on:** March 13, 2005, 01:12:23 pm »

I have tried to pin the manufacturer down on price several times over the last few weeks, but I think they are hesitant to give me numbers until they decide on a material. This is a completely different manufacturer from the original one (when I quoted $3.00).

I hope to know the answers to everyone's questions very soon (I'm dying to see a prototype)!

Quote from: cholin on March 13, 2005, 01:05:50 pm

Do you have any extra info you can give us? Are the prices solid yet or do you even have a new estimate? Last time I checked this thread you were getting them from a different manufacturer and selling for around $3?

MiKman · « **Reply #188 on:** March 13, 2005, 05:15:35 pm »

I think I would definately be down for 12-20 depending on the colors you get...

Tahnok · « **Reply #189 on:** March 13, 2005, 05:31:29 pm »

Quote from: cholin on March 13, 2005, 12:48:59 pm

Then youll need either several LEDs per button or you'll need an RGB one, but either way, youll need some way of controlling them, probably a circuit, so if you're willing to spend that much money......

You can get superbright LEDs on ebay for extremely cheap. And as far as controlling them, all you need is a multiple throw switch. You could do it fairly cheaply, that is, if you don

shawnzilla · « **Reply #190 on:** March 13, 2005, 07:06:58 pm »

Unless the company changes them on me, the buttons should be identical in size to the Happs ones. It's the same company that manufactures the Happs ones, so I'm guessing it'll be the same mold.

Quote from: tahnok100 on March 13, 2005, 05:31:29 pm

Quote from: cholin on March 13, 2005, 12:48:59 pm
Then youll need either several LEDs per button or you'll need an RGB one, but either way, youll need some way of controlling them, probably a circuit, so if you're willing to spend that much money......

You can get superbright LEDs on ebay for extremely cheap. And as far as controlling them, all you need is a multiple throw switch. You could do it fairly cheaply, that is, if you don

cholin · « **Reply #191 on:** March 13, 2005, 08:12:26 pm »

Which should take off a few bucks for you considerring they only have to inject, they dont have to manufacture and design a mold, or several of them in that case.

shawnzilla · « **Reply #192 on:** March 13, 2005, 08:14:23 pm »

Hopefully so. I do think it'll be easier on my upfront costs compared to the previous manufacturer, because I don't think they'll make me order quite as many units. The first manufacturer wanted me to buy 10,000 units of one color!!!

Quote from: cholin on March 13, 2005, 08:12:26 pm

Which should take off a few bucks for you considerring they only have to inject, they dont have to manufacture and design a mold, or several of them in that case.

NoBonus · « **Reply #193 on:** March 13, 2005, 11:20:09 pm »

Quote from: shawnzilla on March 13, 2005, 08:14:23 pm

The first manufacturer wanted me to buy 10,000 units of one color!!!

What the problem with that? Didn't you want arcade push buttons to replace all of the switches in you home? and didn't you want to sleep on a bed made entirely of MDF and arcade buttons?

pointdablame · « **Reply #194 on:** March 14, 2005, 12:38:35 am »

Quote from: NoBonus on March 13, 2005, 11:20:09 pm

Quote from: shawnzilla on March 13, 2005, 08:14:23 pm
The first manufacturer wanted me to buy 10,000 units of one color!!!

What the problem with that? Didn't you want arcade push buttons to replace all of the switches in you home? and didn't you want to sleep on a bed made entirely of MDF and arcade buttons?

Can you imagine the noise everytime you rolled over in your sleep..... *SNORE* *clickityclickityclickity* what the hell.....

cholin · « **Reply #195 on:** March 14, 2005, 10:42:13 am »

Haha well he doesnt have to put the microswitches in them, he could sell 10,000 switches on eBay no problem

Chris · « **Reply #196 on:** March 14, 2005, 09:05:13 pm »

Quote from: pointdablame on March 14, 2005, 12:38:35 am

Can you imagine the noise everytime you rolled over in your sleep..... *SNORE* *clickityclickityclickity*

shawnzilla · « **Reply #197 on:** March 14, 2005, 09:48:29 pm »

:-) I could use them as a home protection system.

<click, click, click, click>
Wife: Honey, what's that noise?
Me: What noise? Go back to sleep?
<click, click, click, click>

shawnzilla · « **Reply #198 on:** March 21, 2005, 08:05:28 am »

I'm really very sorry guys, here is the email that I received from IL. As I said to everyone, they were running test samples for me.

"Dear Mr. Muller,

Our R&D dept. has made many different test and mixed different materials and colours to get the most similar PUSH BUTTONS with traslucent bezel as per your samples.

Unfortunatelly, although the buttons look fine when they are not illuminated, when fitting a led inside/besides the bezel, the light does not pass through properly enough and the button does not get illuminated correctly.
The surface of the shank is not as much polished as the samples you have sent us. I tried it to light the bezels up, but the light doesn't go through I'm afraid.

We regret to inform you that we will not be able to help you with this matter.
Please let us know if we can help you with some other products of our product range.

I have sent him a response, requesting to actually see the samples so that I can make that determination myself. We'll see, but I think this might be a dead end road.

Santoro · « **Reply #199 on:** March 21, 2005, 09:22:39 am »

Bummer .


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Author Topic: Translucent Microswitch Buttons **www.fxbuttons.com** (Read 93895 times)

Author Topic: Translucent Microswitch Buttons www.fxbuttons.com (Read 93895 times)