Depending on the use case and the abilities of a user, different button constructions might be useful.
In this folder, we share different button designs, which can be 3D printed.
These buttons are design around arcade buttons.
Advantages:
- Robust
- Cheap
- Easy to order
Disadvantages:
- Big button cases
- Relatively high actuation force necessary
Use cases:
- Spasticity
- No fine motor skills
Necessary tools:
- 3D Printer (or ordered 3D printed parts)
- Solder iron + solder
- Wirecutter
- (insulation stripping tool)
Necessary parts:
- 3D printed case
- 3.5mm stereo jack plug cable, jack to jack (you just need half of it for each button): Example cable
- Arcade button (24 or 30mm): 24mm 30mm
We designed these switches for users with very low movements and little force to actuate buttons. At Pollin, a German electronics distributor, we found ALPS keyboard switches with 0.3N actuation force, perfect for us!
In addition, the small case is designed to hold a 2.5mm² copper wire, which is used for flexible mounting of the button, as close as possible to the user's fingers or toes.
Advantages:
- Very little force necessary
- Fast printing
- Flexible mounting
- Tiny
Disadvantages:
- Switches are more expensive
- Not that robust
- Switches are discontinued, but replacement is available
Use cases:
- Little movement possible
- Narrow space for button mounting
- Little actuation force necessary
Necessary tools:
- 3D printer (or ordered 3D printed parts)
- Solder iron + solder
- Wirecutter
- Hot glue gun + hot glue (or euqivalent glue, e.g. epoxy)
Necessary parts:
- 3D printed case
- 2.5mm²/AWG13 copper wire (~30cm/12") with insulation for mounting
- 3.5mm stereo jack plug cable, jack to jack (you just need half of it for each button): Example cable
- ALPS SPVF140100: Pollin (Germany) Neuhold Elektronik (Austria) Aliexpress