Imagine a plastic or silicone bulb, size and shape of a fat coin.

Two wires getting in, one like ------\ and one like -------/ superimposed; to look like =====X
When the bulb is pressed, the X intersection simply makes contact.

What existing parts are available to put such together ? Looked at eyedroppers/pipettes but cannot find now a flat one as a fat coin. All are cylindrical.

Or, any such shaped switch in the market that you may have seen ? 1 Ampere capable.
Can also be a tact dome disc to contact jumper wires on a PCB when pressed.

There is thousands of different switches, but has to be as described, like this :
.

 

I would probably use a small PCB with a mounted snap dome switch activated by the bulb.

 

I think SLKOO1 is on the right track. There are stomp switches that can handle 15A to 30A but they are too large for what you described. There are carbon impregnated switches but they will not survive an amp. If you really can not use the bulb for a high impedance sensor and convert that to an amp somewhere else, SLK presented a good start. Personally, I have done both the low current and the high current versions. It's the one in the middle that is inconvenient.

 

Thanks, fellows.
Made a preliminary one using a tact switch inside a RJ45 boot, and filled with silicone. Perhaps I will find the proper housing in the future. As too many times before, the difficult part in electronics construction/prototyping, is the proper housing.

 

As too many times before, the difficult part in electronics construction/prototyping, is the proper housing.

What??!! You don't have a 3D printer to prototype your designs?!

 

Hi,
can you give us the part number or name of such device or cable what you have so i can google and know exactly what does cable is.

 

The ones in the picture ? Are pneumatic, not electrical. Nurse-call type. Shown for reference to what am after in electrical style.

 

Here are some air operated switches. Originally intended for sink disposer use around water.:
https://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&k...targid=kwd-10749521503&ref=pd_sl_4lni72i0lh_b

I think they sell something similar at Home Depot.

 

If your only after making a few of these switches, after getting the PCB part sorted out, You could do the plastic part at home too. Places like Hobby Lobby, Pat Catans, etc, have casting resins both hard and soft. A simple plaster mold and a resin kit and your in business. Where I worked, before they got a stereolithography machine we did it all the time for prototypes.

Just one of the resin suppliers. https://www.smooth-on.com/category/urethane-resin/

 

Is the switch to be operated by hand or foot?

 

Is the switch to be operated by hand or foot?

By hand ... Originally for use with a kitchen sink food disposal.

 

By hand ... Originally for use with a kitchen sink food disposal.

Nothing to do with kitchen disposal. And not pneumatic at all.
By hand, yes. PTT momentary switch for scuba use.

What??!! You don't have a 3D printer to prototype your designs?!

I wish...

Shortbus... That may be simple enough. Embed the tactile switch in a bottle cap/ring filled with silicone and discard the cap when cured. Thanks.

 

Shortbus... That may be simple enough. Embed the tactile switch in a bottle cap/ring filled with silicone and discard the cap when cured. Thanks.

Many of the switches and other things in GM cars over the years were prototyped the way I mentioned. To make sure they would fit or feel good in the hand. When something got approved a mold would be made for production.

Be careful about what silicone you use. Many of the room temperature curing ones corrode metal used in electronics. And you will need to find a 'release' agent to make sure the "cap" can be removed.

 

@ Externet, don't know if you've done anything with making the switch yet, but i thought of another easier way. Take your tactile switch with the wire attached, and cut two pieces of hobby type felt and cut them a little bigger than the switch, or what ever size you want/need. Using fabric glue, sandwich the switch between the felt pieces putting the glue just on the perimeter to the felt, not on the switch. Then after the glue dries, dip the whole assembly in 'Plastidip' going up a couple of inches on the wire. The Plastidip is the stuff you dip tool handles into and is both watter proof and flexible. The felt is also flexible and gives a good surface to both anchor the plastidip and allow the switch to work without getting the dip on it. This would be easier than making some type of mold for silicone glue and give a better feel and still be water proof.

Don't know where you live but most home improvement stores and even Harbor Freight(they have the best price in my area) carry Plastidip. The felt and glue can be bought at hobby stores or JoAnn fabrics.

 

Thanks again, shortbus, for your valid suggestions to consider.