4 replies to this topic

[strells]

So I think I'm going to try replacing the flipper buttons and switches in my ALP with clear buttons and leaf switches

(http://mjrnet.org/pi...eFlipperButtons)

 

However, I just received the recommended leaf switches (single contact) from Pinball Life (https://www.pinballl...le-contact.html) but they look a bit different from the Pinscape guide.  Instead of just the two contacts, there are the two contacts and a third, much longer, "lever" that pushes one contact into the other.

 

My question is the placement of the switch relative to the button shaft itself.  Since the "lever" is quite long, should I still position the end of the lever at the button shaft like the photo in the Pinscape guide shows or should the button be pushing the lever closer to the two electrical contacts?  I got the shorter 1-1/8" buttons if that makes a difference.

 

I can always go back to regular switch buttons if I screw this up, but it would be neat to add this to my cab if I can (pretty colors! I have no other added lights).

Edited by strells, 29 September 2021 - 11:28 PM.

[wiesshund]

The third part is the leaf spring, it is where you get the resistance from

You either need that or you need springs inside the button

the leaf switch itself is not stiff enough to provide resistance

 

As far as the mounting, i am not exactly sure

do the buttons you ordered not have a leaf switch holder?

[mjr]

I think you'll be okay either way - the lever is pretty long, so moving the button contact point up or down by a cm or so shouldn't make much difference to the action.  For what it's worth, the real machines I've seen tend to position them with the button contact point near the end of the long leaf.

[strells]

The third part is the leaf spring, it is where you get the resistance from

You either need that or you need springs inside the button

the leaf switch itself is not stiff enough to provide resistance

 

As far as the mounting, i am not exactly sure

do the buttons you ordered not have a leaf switch holder?

 

No, I would have to get the longer buttons to use the virtuapin leaf switch holder, and those don't come in clear (and I don't think I'd have space for them anyway): https://www.pinballl...1-18-shaft.html

 

@mjr, thanks for the reassurance!

[wiesshund]

I think you'll be okay either way - the lever is pretty long, so moving the button contact point up or down by a cm or so shouldn't make much difference to the action.  For what it's worth, the real machines I've seen tend to position them with the button contact point near the end of the long leaf.

near the center would close the switch sooner
but you would probably either have a sloppy gap, or constantly be overpushing the contacts, since the switch must be closer to the button
which i guess could bend them up over time or misalign them?

 

out to the end, you have more spring to take up button slack, and when button is at full mash, the contacts are hopefully not bending over backwards

 

Mind you i have no idea what kind of buttons he has or what kind of travel they have
nor how he will be mounting his switches, but i think with button at full depression, you want the leafs to only be deflected a tiny amount beyond the contacts closing?

I can only look in my arcade cabs, which those do use leafs because they are old cabs
and they only bend just a small amount beyond the contact closing point