Printed Button Caps

[sub]

Has anyone here produced button caps with printed text for hobbyist (i.e. small quantity) use? 3D printing is a possibility, though resolution is likely to be a concern. While I could use a PCB and label the buttons with silk screen, printed caps look nicer in my opinion.  Has anyone found a good solution to this problem, or is it simply impractical for the hobbyist?

[Psi]

I dunno which kinda of button you mean, but you can get some buttons where the cap comes in two parts that click together for you to add a label or symbol in between.
You just use a ink or laser printer to print text on some paper, card or OHP film then cut it to size and put it inside the button cap.

Here's an example button like that.



If you were wondering about the led in those buttons and the G visible on the side.. they were diy modified (1st contact module on end had its internals removed and its 4 external connectors used for gnd,red,green,blue led terminals)

[KJ6EAD]

You can use a label maker with clear label material to create your switch legends.

[sub]

I dunno which kinda of button you mean, but you can get some buttons where the cap comes in two parts that click together for you to add a label or symbol in between.
You just use a ink or laser printer to print text on some paper, card or OHP film then cut it to size and put it inside the button cap.

I was hoping for something that I could put in front of a 10c tactile switch rather than a big heavy one, but you're onto something there, I think.

While I was before unable to find an appropriate cap to put printed text behind, if I have to get something custom-made a similar method would work---two pieces of plastic with the text sandwiched between, and either glued down or with the rear one a few millimeters larger to keep it from popping out of the hole.  Such a method might even lend itself to handworking, though getting Ponoko or someone to laser-cut the material isn't terribly pricey.

You can use a label maker with clear label material to create your switch legends.

My fear there would be that durability would suffer, but this is probably not a bad option.

[sonicj]

i made the legend for these in photoshop. printed onto some frosty clear address labels with a inkjet. a laser printer on clear transparencies would have yielded much nicer contrast. the switches are by nkk.
-sj

[david77]

A common problem for the hobbyist.
I've used the Marquardt 6425 series for keypads a couple of times in the past.
They have a range of button caps either with standard symbols printed on or with a clear window that comes off the cap so you simply print your own labels on paper and put them in there.
Not cheap but very high quality and they provide a nice tactile feel.
So far I have not been able to find a cheaper solution than these, at least not one that provides the same flexibilty.

https://www.buerklin.com/default.asp?event=ShowArtikel%2813G5011%29&l=e&jump=ArtNr_13G5011

https://www.buerklin.com/default.asp?event=ShowDvNr%28G072400%29&l=e

https://www.buerklin.com/default.asp?event=ShowDvNr%28G072500%29&l=e

The attached photo shows a finished keypad.

[Psi]

or, if you're made of money you can buy screenkeys