These nifty buttons come from [Marc Schömann], and they are intended to cover just about any kind of tact switches. The buttons, their cover, and the compliant bits that act as a spring can be 3D printed as a complete unit that requires no assembly, and can be used fresh off the print bed.
The design is still being developed, but those interested in playing with it can download the current model here. [Marc] printed this version in two colors, but that’s just to make how the buttons work easier to see. It also gave him an opportunity to test and tune the tool changer on his printer.
Tool changer, you say? Yes, indeed. The printer is the Blackbox, a open source, tool-changing 3D printer of [Marc]’s own design with its own Hackaday.io project page.
Embedded below is a video overview of the button design being prepped and printed on a Blackbox printer, with a tool change happening in the process. Tool changing is an attractive feature that many people including E3D have taken a swing at, and it’s always exciting to see it in action.
nice, even better when they’ll be integrated into the case too.
Not to be that guy ( :p )
I do something similar for a product/project of mine, but they are much simpler. Just tab-like buttons that barely flex to actuate the switch. Only one printed part for 8 buttons!
Neat. Got pics or a build log?
We’re all familiar with those. There’s one right on the front of the Prusa. But they’re a poor excuse for a button. This technique could be used to make real customized keypads.
form over function :)
Please stop calling Tactile switches TACT switches.
It’s named tactile because, you know… it’s tactile, not tact because it doesn’t switch tact on and off.
Don’t get me started on Premise is not the singular of Premises
Grr, People!
Maybe you mean that it’s not generally used in the singular to refer to property in real-estate? Weird thing to get hung up on.
OH YOU GOTTA BE KIDDING ME YOU LOUSY PIECE OF…
[click]
Oh I see what you mean. Subtlety goes out the window when a “tact” switch is pressed. Turning off “tact” could result in some salty, unwanted behavior.
Thank you for pressing the tact switch!
You do realise that “tact” is an abbreviation/derivation in this case, and also that it’s a noun and not an adjective? It’s valid usage and reads better.