I pulled these buttons out of some old electronics and I am looking to purchase some more for a project. However, I can't seem to find anything like these on Digikey, Mouser, or Arrow. Does anyone know where these would be sold?

(click on image to see full size)

 

Googling "conductive rubber" might help. There are various repair kits advertised for gaming switches/buttons.

 

I don't know anything about this stuff but there appears to be a 3D printable conductive elastomeric material. Seems almost too good to be true.

 

There is an interesting post here about how it is very difficult to manufacture these buttons correctly with amateur tools:

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/manufacture/where-to-get-or-how-to-create-rubber-buttons/

 

There is an interesting post here about how it is very difficult to manufacture these buttons correctly with amateur tools:

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/manufacture/where-to-get-or-how-to-create-rubber-buttons/

The problem is commonly the copper that these buttons press against. The copper gets slightly oxidized. Try polishing the copper with a good quality soft pencil eraser. If the buttons suddenly work again, it issue was not the buttons.

Then spray a tiny amount of silicone oil onto a cloth and wipe the copper until it appears dry. The small, small amount of oil keeps the copper from oxidizing again while still giving electrical contact. Do not get any oil on the buttons. The copper should not appear wet. If you get too much on, clean with alcohol and try again.

 

The problem is commonly the copper that these buttons press against. The copper gets slightly oxidized. Try polishing the copper with a good quality soft pencil eraser. If the buttons suddenly work again, it issue was not the buttons.

Then spray a tiny amount of silicone oil onto a cloth and wipe the copper until it appears dry. The small, small amount of oil keeps the copper from oxidizing again while still giving electrical contact. Do not get any oil on the buttons. The copper should not appear wet. If you get too much on, clean with alcohol and try again.

Or make a pcb with gold contacts. Not terribly expensive these days.

 

The buttons work fine. I just want to buy more for other projects.

 

The buttons work fine. I just want to buy more for other projects.

Unless you find some chinese manufacturer that has surplus stock I doubt you will find anything, such buttons are a custom job for that particular device.

 

This post got me interested. SFE and Adafruit sell something that might work. In particular, I'm interested in lighted switches. It's not clear how big the conductive rings are but it looks like the SFE ones are big enough to put a 5050 RGB LED under them. Would prefer the Adafruit ones because they are half the price...

 

The buttons work fine. I just want to buy more for other projects.

Buy some used cordless phones and TV remote controls, cut the buttons out and use them as you wish.

 

This post got me interested. SFE and Adafruit sell something that might work. In particular, I'm interested in lighted switches. It's not clear how big the conductive rings are but it looks like the SFE ones are big enough to put a 5050 RGB LED under them. Would prefer the Adafruit ones because they are half the price...

Those are the only ones that I have found as well. However, they will not work because the rubber nubs on the bottom to hold in it place are configured for square groups of four. If you look at my buttons, it has 2 rubber nubs per button, allowing them to be cut into single buttons.

 

I pulled these buttons out of some old electronics and I am looking to purchase some more for a project. However, I can't seem to find anything like these on Digikey, Mouser, or Arrow. Does anyone know where these would be sold?

(click on image to see full size)

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I suggest you search digikey (or mouser, or newark) for high quality buttons that might meet your specs. Such as this one:

 

If you want to search online, look for compression molded keypads.