Seeking Advice on Steering Wheel Button Design

[hechen]

Hello,

I am currently designing a steering wheel and I'm in need of some advice. I can't seem too find a suitable button for my paddle shifters. I am looking for a button that gives defined user feedback and that takes a bit of force to push it, but it also have to be reasonable size. If anyone have any suggestion feel free to post.

Thanks!

 

[MATLABdude]

I'm not familiar with any pushbuttons that have adjustable actuation force, since the force is usually determined by a spring or a metal membrane. If you just want something that has high actuation force, you can go to a components site like DigiKey, Mouser, Newark, etc., type in push button, and then sort by actuation force.

I'm not sure what application might be served by an adjustable actuation force push button but it might be possible with something built around a solenoid, linear actuator, or non-Newtonian fluid.

 

[hechen]

Thank,
Do you know if I'm looking for snap action buttons? I can't seem to find what they are but they keep showing up up in my research.

 

[MATLABdude]

Snap-action just means that they make / break the contact quickly (but this is probably somewhat subjective):
http://www.google.ca/#q=define:+snap-action

You might want to look into microswitches as something to build actual lever-type pedals around. Interestingly, Wikipedia's article on them has them called 'miniature snap-action switches':
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miniature_snap-action_switch