What's the lowest profile pushbutton?

[MikeDeuce]

Hey folks... any ideas?

Speaking in terms of depth, under the button's "collar" (?) what is the lowest profile (traditional concave style) pushbutton (including switch) that exists?

Maybe something that would have been intended for use in a metal control panel... and I can't imagine it would be a microswitch button, but what do I know?

None of the other dimensions matter, so it can have a gigantic bracket coming off the side of it, but the depth (underneath the collar, specifically) is crucial.

Hope I'm making sense here

thanks!
mike

[GoPodular.com]

My guess:
Short leaf switch.  I think they're about 1-1/4" including the switch?

[MikeDeuce]

Thanks for the response... I'm thinking a typical leaf would work as a good backup plan (unless someone else has any really low profile ideas)...

If I have to hack something together, a leaf button would at least be the best way to go about it... cutting it off higher up on the threads and rigging a different retention system on the plunger...



I'm trying to get the entire thing to fit within 3/4", including the switch :\

I was trying to take apart one of the few leaf buttons I have from my tron CP but I don't want to damage it and it doesn't seem like it's meant to be dismantled. Any idea if the spring resides in the threaded shaft portion?

thanks!
mike

[quarterback]

If I have to hack something together, a leaf button would at least be the best way to go about it... cutting it off higher up on the threads and rigging a different retention system on the plunger...


I was trying to take apart one of the few leaf buttons I have from my tron CP but I don't want to damage it and it doesn't seem like it's meant to be dismantled. Any idea if the spring resides in the threaded shaft portion?

The spring is kind of conically shaped and is not down in the threaded shaft portion.  It's up at the top.

You should be able to take your leaf button apart.  There's a tiny c-clip (or 'e-clip) at the bottom of the plunger.  Push the button down, removed the c-clip and the plunger portion will come out, revealing the spring.

I'll see if I have some pics somewhere.

Hope you're doing well MikeD'!

[Kremmit]

I think some of the Sanwa screw-in buttons are shallower than a leaf button.  You might be able to modify a leaf button to go even shorter, though. 

If the leafswitch itself still sticks down too far, somewhere, there was a write-up on how to make a simple optical switch, I think for a coin slot.  You could probably adapt that to the leaf plunger instead.

[MikeDeuce]

The spring is kind of conically shaped and is not down in the threaded shaft portion.  It's up at the top.

You should be able to take your leaf button apart.  There's a tiny c-clip (or 'e-clip) at the bottom of the plunger.  Push the button down, removed the c-clip and the plunger portion will come out, revealing the spring.

I'll see if I have some pics somewhere.

Hope you're doing well MikeD'!

Ahh very cool, that leaves me an option to play with.

Here's a pic of the tron button depressed:


I'm not planning on hacking up this button, but I don't own any other leaf buttons to play with at the moment. No clips, and it is quite resistant to being pushed back out. More resistant than I would have imagined. Thanks for the info, Mr. qb, and I hope you're doing well, too!

@Kremmit: Great lead as well! Thanks... this sucker is thin!

http://www.himuragames.com/images/buttons_scr_san_30_03.jpg

The leaf button still looks like it could make for the easiest hacking, and I could probably mount the leaf switch in a custom bracket and it would probably feel perfectly fine.

Thanks again everyone, glad to see I have a couple options

[pcates]

I have some buttons in a SNK control panel that have the switch built in and just has the 2 wires coming off the bottom. I think it is about 1/2" deep or less. I will get some pics up by this afternoon (have to go dig out the panel).

[pcates]

I have some buttons in a SNK control panel that have the switch built in and just has the 2 wires coming off the bottom. I think it is about 1/2" deep or less. I will get some pics up by this afternoon (have to go dig out the panel).

Sorry, the buttons are not as short as I thought. I forgot they were mounted to a wood panel. Anyway, the button is 1 and1/4" long, with the switch built in. Here are the pics...

[GoPodular.com]

Those Sanwa buttons are 7/8" from the collar to the bottom of the microswitch.  The tabs for the microswitch extend further (but could be bent to the sides) making the full depth 1-1/4".

What if you removed the microswitch from a Sanwa button body and used it to activate a leafswitch?  I've never removed a Sanwa switch, but the button body is only 9/16".

[quarterback]

Here's a pic of the tron button depressed:

Hey Mike,

I didn't have any pics but, after seeing how your tron button works, I figured I'd better take some pictures so you could see how mine differ from yours.   It appears that yours is 'molded' at the end instead of having a c-clip and that's why you can't take yours apart.  I'd never seen one like that.  Here's what mine look like:






You could probably cut your tron button up, use a dremel to add a groove and e-clip, and be good to go.   So yeah, I think your idea of shortening a leaf button is definitely possible.

PM sent

[Level42]

That last button wouldn't be available in translucent right ? 

[quarterback]

That last button wouldn't be available in translucent right ? 

I have a couple shorter ones, but they're not really available, per se.

But they sure are pretty!!!