New Product: Micro-Leaf™ Arcade Pushbutton Switches - GroovyGameGear

[RandyT]

Available now from from www.groovygamegear.com

Here's yet another GroovyGameGear Innovation!  The Micro-Leaf™ Arcade Pushbutton Switch.  The only pushbutton switch to combine the best traits of both the classic leaf-style switch and the modern micro or "snap" switches.  The Micro-Leaf gets rid of the loud clicking. Much like a leaf switch, it's virtually inaudible when installed in a panel and the actuation can't be felt at all.  Actuation is fast and reset travel is tiny, making ultra-fast cycling a reality for the first time ever in a microswitch based arcade pushbutton.  Even the replacement of only the primary fire button switches on your panel with Micro-Leafs will make those rapid-fire games more enjoyable.

Features:

• Fast actuation and provides excellent button sensitivity.
• Extremely short "reset travel" for rapid fire capability
• Specially engineered to allow advanced functionality with virtually all conventional microswitch-based arcade pushbuttons
  including RGB-Drive™ outfitted Pushbuttons, NovaGem™ and other bottom lit Pushbuttons
• No more problems related to loud clicking, excessive resistance, long actuation/reset travel, dirty or mis-aligned contact points.
• Smaller control panel footprint.  Terminal legs are vertical and will accept standard .187 Female QD's
• Switch is manufacturer rated at 1,000,000 mechanical cycles
• Tough Acrylic and Polyester Construction.  Adapter Plate can be re-used.

Price:  $2.75 each


Once again, thanks to everyone who buys through GGG.  Without you folks, we couldn't keep bringing the community new items like this one.

RandyT

[Major Rock Hardy]

way to go Randy!  Have you tried the ones that ponyboy was selling?  Any comparisons?

[Green Giant]

    

You are the ---smurf---.

From now on everything I get will have micro-leaf switches.

    

[Jeff AMN]

Awesome! It might be time to build a new panel...

[leapinlew]

Freakin Awesome!

[Neilyboy]

Heck yes!!! and dangit I just bought 50 NOS leaf switch holders.. ugh.. I already had my buttons for micro switches as well.. hmm well I may have to ebay what I have now and hit ya up with a large order soon!!! I cant wait to get some of these Randy thanks so much!!

Anyone need any leaf switch holders ill give ya a byoac deal

Neil

[mr.Curmudgeon]

GAH!!!        AWESOME!!

You are one innovative mf'er.   

[Kremmit]

Oh, dangit.  You couldn't have announced these last week, before I placed an order?

[Chris G]

No kidding, I just got my button order.        Looks great, Randy.

[More Cowbell]

I'll definitely be ordering some of these soon. Nice work.

[pointdablame]

Awesome work, that is such a fantastic idea.

[Angry_Radish]

Great product!
I can't wait to get some!

[Level42]

I can only pray for the ultra-micro leaf that will fit inside a Star Wars yoke....

[javeryh]

AWESOME!!  So I can swap out these switches for all of the standard ones I have in my Happs buttons?
I am definietly using these for my next panel...

 

[JustMichael]

Randy,
     You and Andy (Ultimarc) have cost me sooo much money.     You both keep coming up with products that I just gotta have.  Thanks again!!

[knave]

Randy, Will these work with joysticks as well as the buttons?

Will we be able to order them with the buttons as an option instead of the microswitches? How about with joysticks? (if they are compatable.)

Thanks, Great Idea!!! 

[RandyT]

Thanks to everyone for all of the positive remarks.

Randy, Will these work with joysticks as well as the buttons?

Will we be able to order them with the buttons as an option instead of the microswitches? How about with joysticks? (if they are compatable.)

These will not work for joysticks as they were specifically design to work with pushbuttons, taking lighting into consideration.  However, a joystick version is already planned.

The will be an extra cost option to have these included with all pushbuttons we sell, as well as joysticks when the time comes.

RandyT

[Santoro]

Cripes. Another innovation.

I have the Ponyboy leaf switches I was going to use on my next cab, but I really like these for the compactness.

edit.  stupid question removed.

[SodaPopinksi]

Joysticks using these sound verrry promising 

[Senator]

Can someone please explain to a noob the appeal of these over the cherries that everyone seems to have.

[mccoy178]

Here is the best explanation I could find on google.  The following words are not my own:

Can someone please explain to a noob the appeal of these over the cherries that everyone seems to have.

"If you have to ask you wouldn't understand" -  It's the sort of thing you either "get", or you don't. If you get it, you've got it, and if you don't it can't be explained to you. It's like breathing or football.

The most common thing I've heard this in reference to is Jazz with second runner up being religion. Sometimes it's used as a cop out to get out of what might be a tediously boring discourse, but most of the time it's inherently true: you have to come to the meaning yourself, or else there is no meaning to be had.

[Senator]

So, you're suggesting I should buy some 

[Donkey_Kong]

So, you're suggesting I should buy some 

Senator,

Just read the product description again.

Features:

    * Fast actuation and provides excellent button sensitivity.
    * Extremely short "reset travel" for rapid fire capability
    * Specially engineered to allow advanced functionality with virtually all conventional microswitch-based arcade pushbuttons
      including RGB-Drive™ outfitted Pushbuttons, NovaGem™ and other bottom lit Pushbuttons
    * No more problems related to loud clicking, excessive resistance, long actuation/reset travel, dirty or mis-aligned contact points.
    * Smaller control panel footprint.  Contacts are vertical and will accept standard .187 Female QD's
    * Switch is manufacturer rated at 1,000,000 mechanical cycles
    * Tough Acrylic and Polyester Construction.  Adapter Plate can be re-used.

[Organic Jerk]

However, a joystick version is already planned.

YESSSSSSSSSSS........



YESSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!

[Kremmit]

Senator:

They're quiet, they're fast, they don't require much finger pressure.  All the same as old-school leafswitches, the buttons for which are no longer being produced.  But they don't need to be cleaned or adjusted like leafswitches, and they fit readily available microswitch buttons.   

*disclaimer*
At least, that's the idea.  Obviously nobody but the manufacturer has tried them out yet.  But I'm willing to accept Randy's claims unless somebody with the actual product in hand has a contradiction.

[Senator]

Thanks, sounds like they'll be good sellers for Randy.

I understand the religious part of it also, as an avid mountain biker I often have people ask stuff like "Why can't I just go to Walmart and get a bike for $199, I don't really need a $2,000 bike."  To which I reply something like McCoy.  I can't really explain the difference (I can but it should be self evident), if you can't tell, I can't help you to  understand it.  Good stuff 

[mccoy178]

   I'm glad you took that the right way.

[deadkenndys1105]

Thanks to everyone for all of the positive remarks.

Randy, Will these work with joysticks as well as the buttons?

Will we be able to order them with the buttons as an option instead of the microswitches? How about with joysticks? (if they are compatable.)

These will not work for joysticks as they were specifically design to work with pushbuttons, taking lighting into consideration.  However, a joystick version is already planned.

The will be an extra cost option to have these included with all pushbuttons we sell, as well as joysticks when the time comes.

RandyT

Im kinda confused why I couldn't use these in my joystick also because my buttons and joystick use the same switches.  I will be ordering some of these some time soon though.

[Level42]

Senator:

They're quiet, they're fast, they don't require much finger pressure.  All the same as old-school leafswitches, the buttons for which are no longer being produced. 

Says who ? You can still buy them everywhere....

[kowal]

sorry it is plunger?

[RandyT]

sorry it is plunger?

Yes.  That is the actuator.

Im kinda confused why I couldn't use these in my joystick also because my buttons and joystick use the same switches.

Even though the switches are the same, the hardware that actuates them and the physical space they occupy is different.  That's why a special version will be required.  It probably won't be especially easy to make work either, but I'll give it a try.

RandyT

[kowal]

sorry it is plunger?

Yes.  That is the actuator.

this is normal microswitches only version subminiature with short plain lever

it he acts similarly to standart microswitches with short plain lever (1) 18mm


sorry this does not act how leaf switch, because this is not leaf switch
"micro" leaf switch looks like this

[RandyT]

it he acts similarly to standart microswitches with short plain lever (1) 18mm

No.  it, in fact, does not.

Those larger micros have much longer throws, harder actuation points and longer "snap" resets.  The metal leaf (blade, plate, etc) on those units merely make the travel longer, which the opposite of what is desired.  They also make a nice loud click, have a footprint that would require them to be mounted outside of the button (not that they would be of any benefit over a regular microswitch in this application anyway) and one would feel the uneven resistance of the actuation.

The Micro-Leaf™ switches are not traditional "leaf switches", nor have I claimed them to be.  If they were, you would still have the issues of contact alignment, cleaning, excessive de-bounce requirements and ridiculously large footprints.  They are merely a major improvement over standard microswitches, and give a very quiet and fast  "leaf-like" feel.  Not to mention they snap right into any standard arcade pushbutton, illuminated or not.

RandyT

[kowal]

Randy you can make photo, unbuttoned switch? (similar to this)

http://gopodular.com/support_articles/arcade_joystick_comparison_happ_sanwa_seimitsu.htm

[RandyT]

This product is available now for those who have been waiting.

And those who can't understand the value of engineering, laser machining, part selection, assembly, prototyping and testing so that the end result is a "drop-in" replacement that addresses so many complaints users have expressed with other pushbutton switches, please feel free to hack something nice for yourself from an old pinball machine

RandyT

[SirPoonga]

pinball, no.  1st, this won't make a click.  2nd, adding a metal lever to actuator to a normal microswitch does increase the throw, basic level and fulcrum physics.

Randy, would you have any interest in remaking the opposite, leaf button but microswitch like nintendo did.
http://www.arcadeequipmentwarehouse.com/parts/nintendo-leaf-switch.jpg


I will be ordering 8 of these soon, I almost have my double dragon repaired and it needs leaf replacements.  Though now with this product I have many microswitch buttons, it will save me a purchase

Do you have a pic of it in the button?

Ok, this is sort of an off the wall question and I suppose I could look at your website for an answer.  If I have a tball with a standard cable do you have an easy plug and play usb interface?  I don't want to fix my mouse hack, I want something more professional.  I know you have an interface, but does a standard tball cable plug into it?

[RandyT]

Randy, would you have any interest in remaking the opposite, leaf button but microswitch like nintendo did.
http://www.arcadeequipmentwarehouse.com/parts/nintendo-leaf-switch.jpg

Do a search on 'lever cherry microswitch'.  THAT is an off the shelf part. 

He is referring to the ability to use a standard microswitch with a leaf-style button.  Ie. not the switch as much as what allows it to be used in that application.

SirP:

I could probably have these made, but I have to wonder about the market size.  I understand that the appeal of the translucent buttons designed for leaf switches is their appearance ( my High-Speed pinball uses the red ones and they do look nice) and there is really no replacement for those.  But the cost would be pretty high on the bracket in small numbers, and to account for different panel thicknesses, some adjustability or shimming would be necessary.  For solid colored buttons, outright replacement would probably be the best bet.  But I'll splash it around in the gray matter and see what happens.

I also want to point out that the Micro-Leafs do still make a very subtle click, but not appreciably louder than the sound of two leaf switch contacts hitting together.  The difference between these and a standard microswitch is huge in that regard.

RandyT

[RandyT]

Do you have a pic of it in the button?

Standard HAPP horizontal pushbutton:

Ok, this is sort of an off the wall question and I suppose I could look at your website for an answer.  If I have a tball with a standard cable do you have an easy plug and play usb interface?  I don't want to fix my mouse hack, I want something more professional.  I know you have an interface, but does a standard tball cable plug into it?

A USB Opti-Wiz with an Opti-Wiz trackball cable will give you everything you need to plug and go for the trackball.  If you need mouse button cabling, that can be purchased as well, or a cable can hacked from old PC case wires and plugged onto the 4-pin header.

RandyT

[SirPoonga]

Randy, yeah yeah, supply & demand... 
"and to account for different panel thicknesses"  Not really, leaf buttons do this.  There are long and short buttons.  Shorts for metal panels, longs for wood.  I'm just throwing the idea out there, I don't expect something like this to happen because there just isn't the demand for it. 

pinball, I would think longevity would be high.  While I suppose this lever could get bent at the plunger it depends on the design.  Also I'd think that small lever would not bend as easily as the long thing piece of metal in a leaf switch.  This brings up a question, Randy, did you do any stress testing like repeating button machine for 10 minutes


Nice pic.  Since the tabs go straight down it looks like it might require a slightly deeper control panel (have to account for the wire and female connector).  Would taking a needle nose and bending the tabs to the left (in that pic) be bad?  That way quick connects can be taken on and off from the side easily in shallow panels (like cocktails).

Thanks for the info on the optiwiz.  Ball mice are getting really hard to find so I have to find an alternative now

[Santoro]

huh?

How are you going to attach one of those to a pushbutton?

Even if it was the same switch with an adapted body, that doesn't mean it is unoriginal.