[MakeLV] thin SPDT tact switch

[Chris Tonkinson]

That's actually not a bad alternative, but I'm not sure it would be
practical for me. Maybe context would help.

What I'm trying to do is add two buttons to the shifter in my car. I got a
hold of a spare just to dissect and prototype on, but as you can see from
the photos (attached below), the
stitched-leather-on-molded-rubber-around-plastic-skeleton-frame won't lend
itself willingly to much invasive surgery. Originally I'd planned on simply
dissasembling the unit, and installing two simple tact switches from the
inside out. After looking at how it's put together though, I'm pretty
convinced I'll need an all-external solution. I had to literally attack
this sucker with sharp pointy things to get it apart in the first place.

Other ideas:

   - A single SPDT momentary rocker switch (but again, it would have to be
   pretty thin)
   - A pair of small capacitive touch surfaces. Not ideal (because I
   couldn't leave my thumb on them without actuating them) but still a
   possibility.
   - I could even probably get away with some sort of dongle strapped to
   the fore of the shifter.


[image: Inline image 2]

[image: Inline image 1]



Chris Tonkinson
610.425.7807

*        "Nescire autem quid ante quam natus sis acciderit, id est semper
esse puerum."*
        -Cicero



On Sun, Nov 4, 2012 at 10:41 AM, Josiah Ritchie <josiah.ritchie at gmail.com>wrote:

> I know we're talking major change to the project, but could a flex sensor
> fit the need? It is thin.
>
> Here is one:
> https://www.sparkfun.com/products/8606
>
> JSR /
> On Nov 4, 2012 12:08 AM, "Chris Tonkinson" <cmtonkinson at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Hi all,
>>
>>   I'm looking for a pretty particular type of SPDT tact switch, and I've
>> been driving myself nuts looking at parts catalogs, thus far to no avail.
>>
>>   Geometrically, I'm looking for something "small" and "flat." What's
>> that mean? I'm guessing approximately 3mm x 12mm x 12mm (1/8th in x 1/2 in
>> x 1/2 in). Roughly. It'll be a switch for the thumb, if that helps at all.
>>
>>   Any ideas? Catalogs I may not have checked? Part "description" keywords
>> I may not have searched for? Stores (online or off) to visit?
>>
>> Thanks!
>> -Chris
>>
>> Chris Tonkinson
>> 610.425.7807
>>
>> *        "Nescire autem quid ante quam natus sis acciderit, id est
>> semper esse puerum."*
>>         -Cicero
>>
>>
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>>
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