Industrial switch

[deeek]

I am in need of an industrial grade switch like what the Cheesy Poofs used last year. Does anyone know where I might get something like it? Thanks!

[marshall]

LOL... Vex:

http://www.vexrobotics.com/vex/produ.../276-2159.html

[GeeTwo]

That looks a lot like a VEX bumper switch.

[SousVide]

Originally Posted by marshall

LOL... Vex:

http://www.vexrobotics.com/vex/produ.../276-2159.html

Is there one similar to this that is wired NC ? or has the ability to be rewired without having to rebuild it ?

[Bruceb]

that would be a simple programming change

[deeek]

Originally Posted by marshall

LOL... Vex:

http://www.vexrobotics.com/vex/produ.../276-2159.html

Thank you so much everyone! I thought I checked everywhere on the Vex website, but I guess I must have limited myself to the Vex Pro side. How much abuse can these take?

[marshall]

Originally Posted by deeek

Thank you so much everyone! I thought I checked everywhere on the Vex website, but I guess I must have limited myself to the Vex Pro side. How much abuse can these take?

A decent amount. Buy spares if you are worried about it.

Personally, I'm not a huge fan of the microswitches we all typically use. I'd love to see a more robust option on the market and I suspect there are but I haven't found one that I truly love yet.

[GeeTwo]

Originally Posted by deeek

How much abuse can these take?

I wouldn't count on them continuing to function after stopping your robot in a crash, if that's what you're asking. When mounting "button" type limit switches, recess the switch inside or slightly behind a structural element (e.g. frame perimeter) so that the structure is taking the force of the collision before the switch reaches its stop.

[deeek]

Originally Posted by marshall

A decent amount. Buy spares if you are worried about it.

Personally, I'm not a huge fan of the microswitches we all typically use. I'd love to see a more robust option on the market and I suspect there are but I haven't found one that I truly love yet.

Ok, thank you for the information. What I've been finding, when I was trying to find that switch, was that industrial-grade switches are really expensive!

http://www.grainger.com/product/SIEM...AS01?$smthumb$
http://www.grainger.com/product/DAYTON-Momentary-ABS-WP131861/_/N-8du/Ntt-momentary+switch?nls=1&sst=subset&ts_optout=true&s _pp=false&picUrl=//static.grainger.com/rp/s/is/image/Grainger/30G362_AS01?$smthumb$

Originally Posted by GeeTwo

I wouldn't count on them continuing to function after stopping your robot in a crash, if that's what you're asking. When mounting "button" type limit switches, recess the switch inside or slightly behind a structural element (e.g. frame perimeter) so that the structure is taking the force of the collision before the switch reaches its stop.

Great advise! Thank you.

[Tom Line]

When in doubt, automation direct.

http://www.automationdirect.com/adc/...AR30B0R_Series)

[Al Skierkiewicz]

McMaster, Newark, even Digikey has items like that. Be careful that the one you select has enough over travel to prevent damage.

[marshall]

Originally Posted by Tom Line

When in doubt, automation direct.

http://www.automationdirect.com/adc/...AR30B0R_Series)

That's a big button! 2.5" across...

[rfolea]

How about a FREE industrial switch in any configuration you want?

Look in your KOP for a $30 coupon from AutomationDirect.com.

Use that to buy any switch they offer (over 800 different options). Buy several - looks like some start at $6.50. They ship same day so most folks get their order within 1-2 days.

Their switches are located here: here

[SousVide]

Originally Posted by Bruceb

that would be a simple programming change

I hope that I didn't deviate too much off the thread. Is this about the NC wired switch ? not sure if this was something else in the thread that could be a software change ...

How would a software solution work to detect a open-wire condition in a normally NO switch ?

[nighterfighter]

Originally Posted by SousVide

I hope that I didn't deviate too much off the thread. Is this about the NC wired switch ? not sure if this was something else in the thread that could be a software change ...

How would a software solution work to detect a open-wire condition in a normally NO switch ?

Just see what the roboRIO reports back.

If the switch is normally closed:

if (!getSwitch()) //This will happen when the switch opens
{
Do stuff
}


If the switch is normally open
if(getSwitch () ) //This will happen when the switch closes
{
Do stuff
}

Obviously this is not the correct function call, but just an example of how you would code it. (I am assuming that when the switch is closed, the function will return TRUE. If it's the other way around, switch my code...)

Edit: I assumed incorrectly. According to the documentation that GeeTwo linked to, when the switch is OPEN, the value is 1, when it is CLOSED the value is 0.