My custom toggle switches: Project for base model

[Varekai]

I think I have settled on toggle 3's exterior design! This render is without the "hazard" lettering. I also did a quick and dirty render with all three switches in place.

Love it, can't wait for mine ;P

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[Stam616]

I think I have settled on toggle 3's exterior design! This render is without the "hazard" lettering. I also did a quick and dirty render with all three switches in place.

I'm liking this a lot! Can't wait to see how you'll get them to pivot:clap2::clap2::clap2:

 

[JonEl]

Looks fantastic

 

[l2frankie]

Coming out great.

 

[bigspoondude]

Subbed.

 

[Chameleon]

Sub'd

 

[stormtrooper]

sub'd

 

[wiSC]

I hate to rain on everyone's parade, and I hope I'm wrong, but I don't see this happening. I work in engineering myself and use 3D modeling on a daily basis. Creating models like this is simple. There have been no provisions to make these work (somehow turn a push button into a toggle) and no talk of injection molding tooling. There would be many thousands of dollars to get these parts into production. Concept is easy, execution is not.

Again, I hope I'm wrong, I'd love to convert my base buttons over to toggles, but there is A LOT more work to be done here and A LOT more money to be spent.

 

[zackmd1]

I hate to rain on everyone's parade, and I hope I'm wrong, but I don't see this happening. I work in engineering myself and use 3D modeling on a daily basis. Creating models like this is simple. There have been no provisions to make these work (somehow turn a push button into a toggle) and no talk of injection molding tooling. There would be many thousands of dollars to get these parts into production. Concept is easy, execution is not.

Again, I hope I'm wrong, I'd love to convert my base buttons over to toggles, but there is A LOT more work to be done here and A LOT more money to be spent.

You are absolutely right; however, this project is only in the prototyping stage. I work at a rapid prototyping and manufacturing facility and as such I am not going to be using the injection molding process for the first set of prototypes. I will use 3D SLA masters to create silicone molds of the toggle and pivot system. From there the toggles can be cast in a transparent urethane and painted with the finish I choose. The backlit symbols will be created using a CNC mill to engrave the symbol in the finished toggle. I could do a short production run (5 sets or so) and the cost would only be in the hundreds not thousands like injection molding. The ultimate goal is to have an interested company take over the manufacturing and sale of the toggles after I finish the R&D.

As for converting the toggle into a button action... I don't want to detail to much but I will be using a cam system to convert the angular motion into linear displacement of a panel. This panel will act as the button and depress the rubber contacts over the circuit board.

 

[wiSC]

The ultimate goal is to have an interested company take over the manufacturing and sale of the toggles after I finish the R&D.

Yes! Push for this really hard! Maybe UPR would be interested in making billet toggles???

I made a really sweet triple gauge pod for my '98 Mustang on a rapid prototyping machine, it's great, the design is awesome (I'm a bit biased, hah!), but it was way too expensive to mass produce.

 

[zackmd1]

Yes! Push for this really hard! Maybe UPR would be interested in making billet toggles???

I made a really sweet triple gauge pod for my '98 Mustang on a rapid prototyping machine, it's great, the design is awesome (I'm a bit biased, hah!), but it was way too expensive to mass produce.

Maybe! Hopefully I can get at least one company interested...

More progress... Rotated the toggle about 10 degrees on the main body's axis to allow for better readability of the symbol from the driver (or passenger) seat. As you can see I also got the other two button symbols drawn up. I think the TC button might still need a bit of work.

 

[kevin4052002]

Nice work!

Why not take the opportunity to make a custom image for the traction control button? Something like what the Corvette's have is what I had in mind.

 

[Reds197]

Make them look like a toggle and still operate as a push button.

 

[zackmd1]

Traction control symbol version 2. Was trying to go with a more simplistic symbol for prototyping.

 

[zackmd1]

Make them look like a toggle and still operate as a push button.

That would simplify the design but wouldn't do much to the overall manufacturing cost.

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