Mechanical limit switches - acceptable practice?

[philso]

Originally Posted by Al Skierkiewicz

I would like to add that is pretty easy to design the limit switch mounting such that it will not be damaged by over-travel in the mechanism it is designed to limit. Rather than hitting the switch lever head on, just design it so that the lever "follows" the mechanism that is being sensed. By doing that, no stress is placed on the switch or the operating lever.

In other words, using the limit switch as the physical end-stop often leads to destruction of the limit switch.