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Simple homemade tilt activated switch

I started working on my next project tonight and realized that I needed four tilt activated switches. I wasn't exactly sure what would make a good tilt switch. The majority of online videos and tutorials for tilt switches were either undocumented, mercury based, or actually accelerometers. Luckily I found these small steel hooyahs. I have no idea what they were actually designed for, but they make pretty handy little switches.



So, now I've decided to try my hand at this online video craze that's leaving me behind, so peep the video for a simple demonstration of the tilt switches and try not to be too harsh.

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Posted on Jul. 7th, 2007 at 03:45 am | | Comment | Add to Memories | Tell a Friend

Comments

(Anonymous)

But, what are they?

Nice idea, looks simple, and adding the screw for a contact is clear, but what are the parts? They look vaguely like some sort of assembly hardware like used in knock-down furniture kits. What would we look for, short of taking the first photo above to eh nice ACE man?
Posted on Jul. 17th, 2007 04:05 pm (UTC) | | Thread | Reply

(Anonymous)

Re: But, what are they?

I agree with anonymous. Without knowing what the parts are called or who makes them, it's hard to share in your joy (i.e. buy and use them ourselves). Very cool idea, though!

glassshards
Posted on Jul. 17th, 2007 04:12 pm (UTC) | | Parent | Thread | Reply

(Anonymous)

how about these?

Nice job! In taking apart a Guitar Hero controller I found two tilt switches for the "star power" function, seen here (http://flickr.com/photos/jmillerid/315115613/in/set-72157594407203447/). Apparently something like them can be found at Mouser (http://www.mouser.com/catalog/630/2008.pdf), called "rolling-ball tilt switches".
Posted on Jul. 17th, 2007 08:54 pm (UTC) | | Thread | Reply

(Anonymous)

Re: how about these?

Thanks for the Mouser link. These are perfect. Without giving us what they are and where he bought them his information is worthless.
Posted on Jul. 17th, 2007 11:29 pm (UTC) | | Parent | Thread | Reply

(Anonymous)

Re: how about these?

the point is, he found something that wasn't what he was looking for, but made it work anyway. Finding tilt switches on Mouser is easy, finding something I can use right now at the hardware store is hard. Check your local stores, they may have something completely different, that may work just the same. Be creative. Use yer brain.
Posted on Jul. 18th, 2007 06:22 pm (UTC) | | Parent | Thread | Reply

(Anonymous)

Answers:

The pins look like steel dowel pins, used for press fit applications.

The tubes are sold under a number of names. I have found the most reliable way to find tubes like that are to call them "Stand-offs" specifically stainless steel stand offs. They are used to act as a spacer when bolting things together, and as such they come in standard machine screw sizes, ansi and metric.
Posted on Jul. 17th, 2007 11:42 pm (UTC) | | Thread | Reply

[info]imagitronics

RE:

Hey all. Sorry for the slow response. I wasn't aware that Make: had posted this article to their blog until I read it in my RSS feed this morning.

For those of you who are upset that I didn't give more information, I do apologize. Nobody reads this blog, ever. It's mostly a self-depricating reflection of my mistakes. I was pleasantly surprised to find there were comments here this morning.

I really do wish I could give you more information on the pins, but I live in Japan - and do not speak or read Japanese (yet). The packaging that the pins came in was labeled only in Japanese, although I agree whole-heartedly that they appear to be the same pins used to support movable shelves in furniture.

I was actually looking for a metal ball-bearing, but the store didn't have any large enough. These caught my eye hanging right next to screws.

Here is another link from Electronics Goldmine for a Tiny Vibration/Tilt Switch for $1.00 each. I just ordered a handful of them last week.

Thanks,
Tim
Posted on Jul. 18th, 2007 02:39 am (UTC) | | Thread | Reply

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