how would you get this switch in a box

[{ antonio }]

how would you get this switch in a box.  



i have spent the past hour trying to make a hole big enough for it but i think i  need different tools.  

the button is about 1.1" wide.

let me know what you think.  thanks.

[Hal]

unless its metric, i would think it would be exactly a 1" hole you need...

and for that...you need a 1" drill bit :-D

it might be tough finding one that can drill metal...i have a wood one at home...they are like...pointey and flat...I cant decribe it.

I dont think Unibits go that large, does anybody know?

Go to home depot :-D



I was just thinking a couple of days ago that video game buttons would be cool...you read my mind :-D

[Mike Burgundy]

Is that one of those old-style game console buttons?
I have a unibit that goes up to 25mm, which is just a tad below 1".
If you're working with aluminium, most woodbits should be able to stand up to some use as long as you keep speeds down. These go up to very large diameters.
You'll have seen these bits: flat, with a little centering point in the middle. Like this:

On the other hand, this kind of hole is also (in Al) quite easy to do "by hand". You draw the hole outline (scraper/scratching pen, I use a template), drill a host of small holes around the inside of the outline, break out the inside disc and use several metal rasps to clean up the hole, enlarging where necessary.
Once you get the hang of this, it should take no more than 5-10 minutes.
hih

[Dave Z]

Use a wood bit - you know, the flat ones that look like a "W". You can get a bunch for $7 at TruValue. I use them all the time on alum enclosures. Use a little oil to lube it.

[morganpedals]

Use a metal hole saw.

BTW, can you say what you are using this for? I have been looking at those same style buttons for an effects project I am working on. Where did you end up getting it, and for how much?

[smashinator]

I was just at the arcade this weekend and thought to myself "I gotta use these buttons on an effect!"  Please do let us know where you got them!

[morganpedals]

[morganpedals]

This site has em http://www.ultimarc.com/controls.html

Also here - http://www.happcontrols.com/

I saw that the pushbuttons with horizontal microswitches are better than the vertical. Did some research the other day.

[RDV]

DYNOMITE!

RDV

[lightningfingers]

Go as wide as you can with the drills that you have, then finish it off with a Xacto knife. Or use RDV's suggestion.

[Lonestarjohnny]

GreenLee Hole punch set, from 3/8 to 3 in., expensive but if you do electrical work, needed !,
JD

[stm]

The hole saw photograph posted by morgansaw is the right tool.  I used to work for a MW transmitter manufacturing company and we used those saws to make holes up to 2" in diameter on 3mm (1/8") thick aluminum sheet.  After you finish the hole you just need to sand off the borders a little.  That kind of saw is available at hardware stores.

By the way, it comes with a 5mm (5/6") drill bit or similar that works as a guide for the initial drilling/cutting.  If you already have made a hole larger than that, it will be more difficult to start the drilling--try using a piece of wood firmly attached to the pedal so the guide has somewhere to stick to.  The pedal must be *firmly* and *safely* secured by some means before you start drilling, otherwise you might get hurt.

Good luck!

[stm]

:oops: Soory, I meant morganpedals.

[morganpedals]

They make "cutting wax" for use with hole saws if you need to use them a lot. Candle wax will work just as well. Especially on aluminum.

[zachary vex]

if that button is 1.1" wide, it's got to be at least 2" deep.  are you sure you want to use such a deep switch in a stomp box?  must be a tall stompbox.

they do indeed make 1" varibits.  i have one.  they make them as large as 1 3/8" too.  they aren't cheap though.

http://www.lenoxsaw.com/spvaribt.htm

[mikeb]

BTW, Happ Controls in the USA make a much shallower button if you can't manage to accomodate that one because of it's depth.
http://www.happcontrols.com/pushbuttons/601200xx.htm

Price is $1.75US each. Arcade game buttons are cool because they are pretty tough, and even if the microswitch should fail it's a snap to replace them, and the microswitches themselves are widely available.

Mike (MAME machine construction veteran )

[travissk]

I thought of building a MAME cabinet but then came to my senses and realized I was leaving for college :lol:. Stompboxes are definitely a lot easier to haul around, not to mention it's easier to convince yourself you need another one. Maybe in a couple years I'll build that cab...

Anyway... Yes, the longer buttons are meant for thicker wood or metal panels. Shorter buttons should be cheaper and easier to deal with.

Here's another pic of shallower buttons. Just run an ebay search and you can find a bunch of cheap buttons.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6104280522&ssPageName=MERC_VI

Now, out of curiosity, how are you wiring these up? Are you using some sort of buffer + FET switching scheme? I'd love to put stompswitches like these in future builds  

[smoguzbenjamin]

The look of that makes me wanna put that on anything, even if it's only for turning an LED on That looks cool!

[{ antonio }]

fi want to begin by thanking everyone for their reply.  the posts are a great help.

smashinator:  i got this button at allelectronics.com but the i like the ones mikeb showed us at happ electrnics (see link above).  the ones at happ are not as deep and look like they would work in a hammond enclosure.

mikeb: thanks for the link.

zvex:  when io saw the button online i wanted to use it in a pdeal.  the problem was that i needed a box deep enough (just like you mentioned)  the button barely fits in a LMB Heeger enclosure (7.5x4x2.2).  in fact i have to put the but on the top rather than the slope =(

the next time i do this i an going to use the buttons at happ electronics and a smaller lmb heeger case so that i can put the button on the slope.  

thanks again everyone.

[mikeb]

The advantage with those buttons is that you can turn the pedal on and off - REALLY, REALLY fast!

Hyperolympics anyone?

Mike