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Optical Buttons?
NoOne=NBA=:
I thought about a magnetic setup, but again I think they would prove very finicky in the "almost closed" range.
I'll stick with leafswitches because I haven't seen any way you can really IMPROVE on their performance.
I want a switch that you don't even have to MOVE to make/break contact.
I think the primary problems that people have with leafswitches are dirty contacts, or improper adjustment.
If you take a little time to set them up properly, they are the most reliable and sensitive switches I've ever played with.
tetsujin:
--- Quote from: NoOne=NBA= on January 31, 2005, 09:10:04 pm ---I'll stick with leafswitches because I haven't seen any way you can really IMPROVE on their performance.
--- End quote ---
Thanks for the feedback, you make a good argument in favor of the leaf switches. I'll definitely give them a chance. I'm still interested in trying the optical button idea, though. :)
NoOne=NBA=:
I'm all for trying stuff.
That's how I learned to tune leafswitches to exactly where I wanted them.
I had to build my own "custom" mounts to do it.
The mounts are actually just a piece of wood at just the right thickness to put the leafs where I need them.
stevejt:
I can't see any reason for optical buttons. They would not be any quieter like stated above. Leaf SWITCHES make no noise if adjusted close enough. The noise is from the moving part of the button htting the button housing. The same noise would be present with optical sensors. Any padding or changes that could be added to quiet a button using an optical sensor, could be added if using a leaf switch. Why would you want to add time, money extra wiring and just more options for possible failures/diognostics, without having any benefit? As far as optics for an analog button- I think that would be pretty hopeless. How many fine tuned optic sensors could you get to work reliably in less than a quarter inch of travel? That still would NOT be analog. The exact same thing could be done MORE accurately and more RELIABLY making your own leaf switch using multiple contacts and spacers. I can't see a single benefit for optical buttons.
Steve
tetsujin:
--- Quote from: stevejt on February 01, 2005, 09:37:22 am ---I can't see any reason for optical buttons. I can't see a single benefit for optical buttons.
--- End quote ---
I understand your concerns, but they are irrelevant to the technical questions at hand: whether it's been done, whether there are any serious obstacles to making it work. If you don't see the need for optical buttons, then you needn't concern yourself with my efforts to experiment with them. :) If you haven't built optical buttons then I seriously doubt your ability to judge their practical characteristics.
I have absolutely no interest in making analog buttons. I think it could be done by using a filter with varying levels of opacity in different positions, then taking analog measurements from the phototransistor. But given the extra work required and the fact that I have no software that would make use of it, there's nothing in it for me.
Don't get me wrong, it's not like I think this is necessarily going to be the best thing ever, it's just something I think would be fun to try. Even if I get it to work it might not be worth the effort to use it in my control panel. But on the other hand, it might. As I said I expect they'll have quieter operation than microswitches and better reliability than leaf switches. (Though my concerns about leaf switches may be ill-founded. I have very limited experience with them.) If they don't work I can replace them with leaf switches. Or microswitches.
"People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt
those who are doing it."