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Mounting a one digit 7-segment display

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dirkomatic:

--- Quote from: SavannahLion on July 17, 2009, 12:29:12 am ---Is it necessary to mount directly into the MDF? Just cheat a little bit. Go fetch yourself some Insert Caps, blanking plug, Acrylic Disk, even a Patch 'N' Guard. Anything round should work, Home Depot/Lowes/Ace Hardware probably has scads of suitable round plastic bits and bobs. If your CP is metal, you can find metal pieces there. If you want wood, creating a round disc with a table saw is trivial.

Once you decide on the size of the disc, you can modify the disc to your heart's content without fear of trashing the CP. I would op for a clear part, like Acrylic, shape it into a disc, then affix the LED display on the underside via cement then paint (or start with a tinted acrylic). Then on the CP itself, I would start by carefully counter-sinking the hole just enough for the acrylic to sit inside then follow up with a hole just big enough for the display and wiring to poke through underneath.

As far as I'm concerned. Exposed LED displays/indicators should be reserved for prototyping or for those who want an industrial look. Covering the LED, especially a display like what you want with a small bit of smoke or clear acrylic/glass looks so much more professional.

Up to you, whatever you feel fits your CP best.

--- End quote ---

This is really the idea I was looking for.  I like it.  What would be really nice is if I could find something that fits in a 1 1/8" button hole...

drventure:
These button plugs would do the trick
http://www.happcontrols.com/pushbuttons/52621200.htm

In fact, I could easily see drilling out the top, the using a plug cutter to cut a plug in smoked lexan and epoxying it into the hole in the plug, then glueing your LED to the inside of the lexan.

That could be pretty slick looking.

dirkomatic:
I agree...  Now I need to find someone to sell me the Happ button plugs and get the dimensions for the inside of them (probably the same as the inside of a button?).  Digikey has just about any size, but I don't want one that's ridiculously small...

dirkomatic:
Actually, looking through the Happ catalog made me think of something which may be easier if I get the right size display.  How about getting a display that will fit in one of the rectangular Happ Buttons and insert it in there.  I could remove the microswitch and lamp and fix it so it doesn't depress...

drventure:
Hadn't thought of that but those buttons could easily look like a small bezel with a little modification.

That could be quite sweet!

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