Homebrew PCBs

Stefan,

I think your idea will work, but have concern about using "sheet 
metal" for the wiper...

Is this for a production item, or just a few?

Because I'd sure use the phosphor bronze/beryllium copper/whatever of 
a "real" wiper(s) from the switch you CAN get. Then use your pcb to 
make the other half.

I believe you will have MUCH better success this way.

I'd also use an IGUS iglide circlip bushing for the switch "axle". 
These are made for thin sheet stock, and again will improve the 
smoothness and lifetime of your product/project. They're cheap and 
available worldwide as well.

Hope this helps,

Ballendo

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Stefan Trethan" 
<stefan_trethan@g...> wrote:
> 
> >
> > What are you switching?  How many positions do you really 
_need_?  Have  
> > you
> > noticed that rotary switches are in large part going away,  or at 
least  
> > they
> > have been since the fifties?  There's a reason for that.  Feel 
free to  
> > take
> > this over to Electronics101 if we get too far off the topic for 
in here.
> >
> 
> I need 2*10 positions, and can only get 2*6 or 1*12.
> For selecting cell count on a battery charger (no current at all).
> Almost all handheld meters i've ever seen use rotary switches, and 
all i  
> took
> apart had "custom" printed contacts. Oh, yes, there was one rotten 
piece  
> of bad engineering
> that had four buttons instead. The damn thing had dozens of design 
flaws,  
> like blowing up
> each time you pulled the current plug....
> 
> I could try to pull some mechanical stunt and stack 2 1*12 switches.
> I don't know if that would be possibe with the switches i can get.
> But then, one switch for 2.50eur is not exactly cheap, not speaking 
of 2...
> 
> ST