#Favorite push-button/tactile switches?

1 messages · Page 1 of 1 (latest)

hollow tide
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I like to make GA panel instruments (KAP 140, KT76C, KLN90B, GNS430, etc). I've tried a few different push-button switches, and typically default to the common 6x6 tact switches that have a good click but a very short throw. I've also tried the 8x8 TS7703 silicone switches. What I really want is something that combines the two: the 2mm travel and push of the silicone switch with the positive click of the 6x6's. My car steering wheel has something like that: good travel with good soft-touch force, and a positive click at activation. However I'm not disassembling my car to figure out what switch it uses!

I know there are a large variety of keyboard switches that have better feel, but those take up too much space (and they tend to be in the $1 each price range)

Are there any compact, relatively inexpensive, switches with longer travel (~2mm) and a tactile click at the end?

narrow mulch
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Relatively inexpensive is the challenge. I am currently experimenting with C&K K12 switches, but they are like $3 per piece.

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Also had decent experiences with generics of the KS11 square-plunger switch, also by C&K. The generics seem to go under the name of PB13 on Ali, not sure if those were the ones I have here

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Have not found generics of the K12 yet

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There are also some nice Alps switches that feel great for cockpit panels, but they are a bit more on the soft side than on the clicky one. SKPR is my favorite in that range; the SKPM is also quite solid and a bit more compact. The latter has plenty of generics available too, but they are not as horrendously expensive as the C&Ks to begin with

hollow tide
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Thanks! Wow, those K12s look good, but at $7.31 each at Mouser that's not going to work for me. However maybe these e-switch TL9210 knock-offs https://www.aliexpress.us/item/2255800492343675.html will be a better match. I had them in my cart for a while, but had been doing more "perf-board" builds lately than custom PCB, so didn't get them in hopes of finding a through-hole version.

narrow mulch
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yeah, those are also the design that the SKPM from Alps use. You honestly see that a lot with switch manufacturers how each manufacturer has their own series of the same common pushbuttons. Like for your standard 6mm tact switches you have Omron B3F, Alps SKHH, Apem PHAP5-30, E-Switch TL1105...

coral magnet
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and different variants with different push force, so its datasheet reading time