Mount tactile switch with exact measurements.

[kurt-olsson]

Hi

As you know i am working on an fmc conversion. I did a test today where i will use tactile switches with semi-long shaft.

I have a pcb board but i need to be able to mount the switches more exact than the predrilled holes.
I have some ideas, gluing them on example but would like to hear from you if you have a hood way of doing this?

I know hispapanels have predrilled acrylic for their fmc. Would be alot measuring and drilling though...

All inputs are welcome.

[mikeybear]

Hi Peter

Why are you trying to use the "semi-long" tactile switches ?

I've ended up using the short ones , held in a 3d printed mount with a floating button that way it doesn't have to be so precise.

Regards

Dave

[kurt-olsson]

Hi Dave.

Its because there is a concave hole where the buttons is. After posting this i came up with an ide of using acrylic and drill a hole for the knob and glue the switch on. Hard to explain but then i can get exact positions. Just hope it is possible to glue them on without destroying the switch itself.

[mikeybear]

Hi Peter,

I did that on one of my earlier attempts at a Kx165  radio panel for the frequency flip buttons and used a hot glue gun , but that was just for two buttons
and I singed my fingers a little in the process

I decided that I can more accurately make/drill/cut with a 3D printer than I can drilling /machining acrylic, until  can get a cnc router built

Just a thought , but can you position everything , and then solder to the PCB to hold the switches in place ?

Regards

Dave

[paulnd]

Hi,

I suggest that you also plan the wiring of the button matrix and how you plan on connecting it to the PC.

As I mentioned in the other post, I eventually designed and etched my own circuit board with a 8x10 matrix. It connects to an Arduino Leonardo which can emulate a keyboard.

Paul

[kurt-olsson]

Hm...

I think the glue process will be the go or no go for this one... i need to put glue on just the corner but not the knob itself. I dont mind stuff taking time but that if is i know the solution will hold. Not great to spend 2h and then have to scrap the board. Hehe

i would like a pcb board with double the precut holes.