Author Topic: Volcano switch alternatives (Read 5127 times)

rdagger · « **on:** July 18, 2005, 05:23:31 pm »

I've been searching for an inexpensive illuminated switch for the Atari volcano buttons.

AlanS17 · « **Reply #1 on:** July 18, 2005, 05:32:48 pm »

Where did you get the cone? How much did it run you?

rdagger · « **Reply #2 on:** July 18, 2005, 05:35:57 pm »

Quote from: AlanS17 on July 18, 2005, 05:32:48 pm

Where did you get the cone? How much did it run you?

I bought the cone from a local arcade vendor for $3.00. They wanted $20 for the original switches. They only had the cones in aluminum.

AlanS17 · « **Reply #3 on:** July 18, 2005, 05:46:28 pm »

I just think $20 for a lil plastic piece that goes up and down is a rip-off any way you look at it. I don't see how people like that can sleep well at night.

Kremmit · « **Reply #4 on:** July 19, 2005, 12:52:42 am »

Charlie at Gamecab sells repro cones if you're looking for those. Still never seen a really good switch replacement, though.

j123vt_99 · « **Reply #5 on:** July 19, 2005, 08:36:15 am »

I'm not sure if I'm allowed to say what the picture on the right reminds me of

rdagger · « **Reply #6 on:** July 19, 2005, 11:02:12 am »

Quote from: j123vt_99 on July 19, 2005, 08:36:15 am

I'm not sure if I'm allowed to say what the picture on the right reminds me of

Havok · « **Reply #7 on:** July 19, 2005, 12:34:57 pm »

Quote from: rdagger on July 19, 2005, 11:02:12 am

Quote from: j123vt_99 on July 19, 2005, 08:36:15 am
I'm not sure if I'm allowed to say what the picture on the right reminds me of

SirPoonga · « **Reply #8 on:** July 19, 2005, 01:07:29 pm »

Where did you find the switch?

rdagger · « **Reply #9 on:** July 19, 2005, 01:46:54 pm »

Quote from: SirPoonga on July 19, 2005, 01:07:29 pm

Where did you find the switch?

I got the switches on Ebay. They are used in car alarms installations. I bought extra if you need some just IM me.

SirPoonga · « **Reply #10 on:** July 19, 2005, 01:48:17 pm »

Got them from a seller that regularly sells them? If so mind to share that info?

rdagger · « **Reply #11 on:** July 19, 2005, 04:52:41 pm »

Quote from: SirPoonga on July 19, 2005, 01:48:17 pm

Got them from a seller that regularly sells them?

ahofle · « **Reply #12 on:** July 19, 2005, 06:41:53 pm »

I'm surprised with all the custom building/manufacturing of arcade parts and products that no one has ventured to have some nice reproduction volcanos with LEDs made. I'm sure given what people pay for used ones on ebay they would sell like hotcakes.

rdagger · « **Reply #13 on:** July 20, 2005, 01:39:55 am »

Quote from: ahofle on July 19, 2005, 06:41:53 pm

I'm surprised with all the custom building/manufacturing of arcade parts and products that no one has ventured to have some nice reproduction volcanos with LEDs made.

RayB · « **Reply #14 on:** July 20, 2005, 10:12:35 am »

Could also be that Cherry owns patents on those switches, and thus no one else can make them.

Kremmit · « **Reply #15 on:** July 21, 2005, 02:50:28 am »

Quote from: RayB on July 20, 2005, 10:12:35 am

Could also be that Cherry owns patents on those switches, and thus no one else can make them.

I dunno about that, the originals came with either Cherry or Licon brand switches.

DrewKaree · « **Reply #16 on:** July 21, 2005, 06:47:16 pm »

I don't have a panel to know if this will work or not, but why not find a switch that you like that's similar, and make the volcano smaller? That way, if the switch is readily available, you can easily sell more to make up for the production costs of creating the smaller volcano.

ahofle · « **Reply #17 on:** July 21, 2005, 06:53:16 pm »

Quote from: rdagger on July 20, 2005, 01:39:55 am

It might be possible to build a new custom switch housing that works with a cherry switch.

Kremmit · « **Reply #18 on:** July 21, 2005, 09:55:42 pm »

Ok, here's an idea I've been sitting on for a while. Get some non-threaded replica cones. Get some extruded red acrylic rod and cut off a few inches. Machine the top of your rod section to the same diameter as the opening at the top of the cone. This is now your plunger. Cut a slot in the bottom of your plunger and slip in a rectangular LED. Make sure the slot is deeper than the LED, so that when it's inserted, there is extra plunger sticking down below the leads of the led. Mount a leafswitch or a microswitch with an actuator (like found on a Happ Super) below the plunger. You'd also need a holder that mounts below the panel to keep the plunger in place, you could make it from some kind of cheap tubing- the plunger would slide up and down inside the tube.

Picture of LED and crappy MS Paint drawing of plunger idea (holder not pictured):
(red=LED, green=LED Leads, blue=leafswitch or microswitch actuator)

Gamecab · « **Reply #19 on:** July 21, 2005, 11:23:51 pm »

Kermmit - Now that is a really good idea!! I can say hands down that it has got to be the most inventive idea for the blank cones. If you happen to make one of these please send me a pic. This seems like it would be a pretty simple DIY project for anyone.

Thanks
Charlie

rdagger · « **Reply #20 on:** July 22, 2005, 11:53:38 am »

Quote from: Kremmit on July 21, 2005, 09:55:42 pm

Ok, here's an idea I've been sitting on for a while.

Samstag · « **Reply #21 on:** July 22, 2005, 01:51:03 pm »

Quote from: rdagger on July 22, 2005, 11:53:38 am

Those rods look good although they can not be machined (They might be kind of rough on top.)

rdagger · « **Reply #22 on:** July 22, 2005, 02:41:15 pm »

Quote from: Samstag on July 22, 2005, 01:51:03 pm

They're definitely machinable but they take more work to get them polished up.

Samstag · « **Reply #23 on:** July 22, 2005, 03:08:42 pm »

Quote from: rdagger on July 22, 2005, 02:41:15 pm

Quote from: Samstag on July 22, 2005, 01:51:03 pm
They're definitely machinable but they take more work to get them polished up.

Kremmit · « **Reply #24 on:** July 23, 2005, 12:18:51 am »

So you guys like it, then? I've been thinking about doing this for a long time, but never seem to get to it, and I thought I might as well toss the idea out and see if anybody else wanted to have a go.

The red is really red, if it's the same stuff I see at my local plastics shop. I assume it is; I think pretty much all plastics places order from the same manufacturers. It won't be an exact match for original volcanos, but it ought to look really cool, just the same. There's also blue, yellow, green, etc. How sweet would blue volcanos be? Or red, yellow, blue & green on a 4-player panel? Clear acrylic w/ tri-color LEDs?

Switch mounting ought to be really easy if you go with a leafswitch or a super joystick type microswitch- just cut a wood spacer the right sizes and screw it to the underside of the panel, then screw the switch to the wood spacer.

It also might be possible to use a regular round LED stuck to the bottom with no slot- you'd just have to work something else out to press the swiitch. Something glued on to the side of the acrylic rod ought to do it.

I was also thinking an acrylic rod plunger would be a good idea on those topfire balltops Franco is working on. RayB may remember me talking about the same thing with his topfire balltops once upon a time.

If anybody gets around to actually making any of this, I'd love to see some pictures!

quarterback · « **Reply #25 on:** July 23, 2005, 04:42:53 pm »

Quote from: Kremmit on July 23, 2005, 12:18:51 am

So you guys like it, then?


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