Need a switch actuated by sliding something

[Ignoramus1797]

I need to find a N.O. switch that closes when something slides over it
(in my instance, the DCEN/DCEP switch handle, big and flat). What
would such a switch be called?

i

 

[Ken Taylor]

I need to find a N.O. switch that closes when something slides over it
(in my instance, the DCEN/DCEP switch handle, big and flat). What
would such a switch be called?

i

Assuming you mean that there will be physical contact then 'microswitch' is
a good start. See:
http://www.mouser.com/microswitch/
for examples.

If you want to do it when the light gets blocked out then photoswitch or
light-activated switch is the go.

Cheers.

Ken

 

[Ignoramus1797]

Assuming you mean that there will be physical contact then 'microswitch' is
a good start. See:
http://www.mouser.com/microswitch/
for examples.

None of the switches on that page would work, although they are
close. The handle would slide beyond both sides of the switch.

If you want to do it when the light gets blocked out then photoswitch or
light-activated switch is the go.

I kind of like that idea. I will explore it a bit.

i

 

[Dan Hollands]

A reed switch with a magnet on the slider is another possibility

--
Dan Hollands
1120 S Creek Dr
Webster NY 14580
[email protected]
www.QuickScoreRace.com

 

[Ken Taylor]

None of the switches on that page would work, although they are
close. The handle would slide beyond both sides of the switch.


I kind of like that idea. I will explore it a bit.

i

There are bigger versions that those shown on the Mouser page(s), so
searching is a good thing. Light-activation is a bit more fun, takes an
amount of smarts.

Cheers.

Ken

 

[ehsjr]

None of the switches on that page would work, although they are
close. The handle would slide beyond both sides of the switch.

Can you draw a picture of what you mean?

You can mount a microswitch in numerous locations/orientations
so it is hard to envision what you have in mind when you say
the handle would slide beyond both sides of the switch.

Ed

 

[Ignoramus24489]

Can you draw a picture of what you mean?

Picture a switch with a small ball protruding maybe 1/4 of its
diameter. When an object slides over that switch, it pushes a ball
inside the switch, causing it to close momentarily, until the object
slides off.

It is almost a regular pushbutton switch.

i

You can mount a microswitch in numerous locations/orientations
so it is hard to envision what you have in mind when you say
the handle would slide beyond both sides of the switch.

Ed

--

 

[[email protected]]

Picture a switch with a small ball protruding maybe 1/4 of its
diameter. When an object slides over that switch, it pushes a ball
inside the switch, causing it to close momentarily, until the object
slides off.

Usually this gets done with one of the microswitches already shown with
a roller on the lever. Since the object usually only moves back and
forth in one direction, you can get the roller pointed the right way at
assembly time.

At work, there is a manual mill that has had a CNC system retrofitted to
it. It has roller switches to tell the computer when various things are
at the limit of their travel. These are sold as "limit switches" and
are essentially the microswitches already shown, but in a more durable
housing. The ones on the mill don't mind metal chips, oil, solvents,
etc. They are pricey, though. http://www.mouser.com/catalog/623/1179.pdf

A reverse light switch from a manual transmission car might work. It
might be interesting to mount on the welder, as these often have a
threaded shank that screws into the transmission case.

Matt Roberds

 

[Rich, Under the Affluence]

Picture a switch with a small ball protruding maybe 1/4 of its diameter.
When an object slides over that switch, it pushes a ball inside the
switch, causing it to close momentarily, until the object slides off.

It is almost a regular pushbutton switch.

By "It is", do you mean, the unacceptable ones, or is that what you're
actually looking for?
If (B), here's a start:
http://www.honeywell.com.pl/pdf/kom...slowe/industrial electromechanical part 1.pdf

Have you ever played pinball? Are you looking for the equivalent of a
rollover switch?

Good Luck!
Rich

 

[Ignoramus25589]

the link does not work for me...

i

By "It is", do you mean, the unacceptable ones, or is that what you're
actually looking for?
If (B), here's a start:
http://www.honeywell.com.pl/pdf/kom...slowe/industrial electromechanical part 1.pdf

Have you ever played pinball? Are you looking for the equivalent of a
rollover switch?

Good Luck!
Rich

--

 

[John Fields]

the link does not work for me...

 

[Rich Grise]

the link does not work for me...

If your newsreader is word-wrapping, you'll have to copy and paste
the wrapped chunks into your browser's address window.

Or maybe try this:
http://www.happcontrols.com/amusement/pinball/95414900.htm

Good Luck!
Rich

 

[ehsjr]

Picture a switch with a small ball protruding maybe 1/4 of its
diameter. When an object slides over that switch, it pushes a ball
inside the switch, causing it to close momentarily, until the object
slides off.

It is almost a regular pushbutton switch.

Got it - thanks. As another poster said, you can use
a microswitch with a roller on the end. Or you can do this:

Ball bearing/other suitable ball
v

===============O=========
-----------^-
| |
| MicroSwitch |
| |
-------------
If necessary, use a tube to hold the ball in place,
weld/epoxy/affix somehow a plunger to the ball and
position the u switch so that it is actuated when the
lever moves.

Or just bend the microswitch actuating lever into a
U shape at the end of the lever, with the U part sticking
through the surface. When I faced a similar situation,
I used a rollerarm micro and shaped the lever,like this:


*===============*
\ /
|0|=========O ======== <curved radius between
_| |______||_ / and = at both ends
| |
| MicroSwitch |
| |