Button Switch

AbleNet round red button switch

Purpose

Button Switches are the most common type of accessible switch because they are easy to use, highly responsive, and versatile. They require direct physical contact to activate, making them ideal for users who have controlled hand or finger movement. They can also be placed in various locations, allowing users to potentially activate them with different parts of their bodies, such as their head, elbow, or foot, depending on their mobility needs.


Purchasing and Price

Common button switches available on the market are:

Big button switches:

Smaller button switches:

Cheaper alternatives:


DIYs

DIY 1: Sanwa Switch

Expertise Required

  • Soldering
  • Using a drill

Materials Required

Materials Required

Instructions

Results from our team’s recreation of DIY

Picture of the inside of the Sanwa Switch: Showing the internal wiring of the red sanwa button connected to a 3.5mm mono jack using red jumper wires

When recreating this DIY project, we encountered several challenges. Based on the instructions provided by the creator, two holes –one small and one big– needed to be drilled into the switch box. Using the tools we had available to us, we opted for a power drill. However, because the box was made of a hard plastic, drilling a hole big enough to fit the button took considerable time and effort. If someone were to attempt this at home, they may find it difficult to create the hole with a large enough diameter without the proper tools. In contrast, drilling the smaller hole posed less of a challenge, as standard drill bits are sufficient to create it in a single pass.

Another issue we faced was ensuring the holes were centered on the box. Although minor imperfections aren’t a major concern, significant misalignment could interfere with the internal components during assembly. Fortunately, this wasn’t a problem in our case.

To secure the internal components of the switch, we used hot glue to fix the socket in place and a soldering kit for the electrical connections. While soldering wasn’t mentioned in the original instructions, it offers a more secure and stable setup by preventing the components from shifting during further assembly.

After full assembly, when testing out the switch, we saw that the enclosure we originally had does not fit the switch correctly. It is slightly too short which doesnt allow the button to press down and come back enough enough to change the connection. So instead, we designed and printed an enclosure that fits the Sanwa Switch Button and the headphone jack sockets, without needing additional drilling.

CAD files:

https://a360.co/44TgzWH (bottom)

https://a360.co/42Uxvuj (top)

https://a360.co/4meXuUY (top + bottom)

This CAD design was printed and assembled together using hot glue. We had to file the holes a little in order to fit the headphone jack socket correctly as the CAD file did not print perfectly. We recommend pushing the box together tightly when gluing it down to avoid a gap, seen in the picture below.

Completed Sanwa Switch Assembly: A durable, accessible assistive switch featuring a responsive yellow Sanwa button mounted on a purple square plastic enclosure with a 3.5mm mono jack socket

Completed Sanwa Switch Assembly: A durable, accessible assistive switch featuring a responsive red Sanwa button mounted on a black square plastic enclosure with a 3.5mm mono jack socket


DIY 2: Jelly Bean Button

Expertise Required

  • Soldering
  • Using a drill

Materials Required

Instructions

Results from our team’s recreation of DIY

This switch took us around 1 hour to make for the first time. One challenge we encountered was that the circuit board from the Learning Resources button we received differed slightly from the one in the original guide (likely due to a newer version of the answer buzzer), which initially caused some confusion. However, by carefully examining the connections and adjusting our approach, we were able to troubleshoot and complete the build successfully rather quickly. The result is functional and responsive, that meets our expectations in terms of durability and performance. We particularly liked this switch as it has one of the most finished looks, since it is already commercially built, and we solely have to make some modifications for the DIY. Below shows our DIY Jelly Bean Switch.

Pictures of the inside of the DIY Sanwa Switch with its cover removed. Can see the electrical panel in the center with wires of different colors that were soldered to the board, some original and some added. Pictures of the inside of the DIY Sanwa Switch with its cover removed. Can see the electrical panel in the center with wires of different colors that were soldered to the board, some original and some added.

Watch the demo on YouTube


DIY 3: 3D Printed Mini Button Switch

Expertise Required

  • 3D printing (or can buy parts directly from the Switched Toys Shop, linked below)
  • Soldering

Materials Required

  • CAD File (require sign up for access)
  • 3D printing filament, $1-2 worth of filament
  • Keyboard Switch
  • 3.5mm Audio Cables, (pack of 4) $9, or 3.5mm Jack Cables (pack of 10), $12
  • Alternatively, you can buy the complete components through the creators using this link and assemble them on your own.

Instructions

Results from our team’s recreation of the DIY

The 3D printing process for the outer casing took approximately 1 hour, while assembling and soldering the components took an additional 20 minutes. The build process was straightforward—connecting the wires and soldering the necessary connections before following the video tutorial to complete the assembly. Our print was not perfect, and there are some rough edges on the inside and base of the switch, but the final product still functions well, providing a very responsive press and durable button switch.

Below, shows our assembled 3D Printed Mini Button Switch.

A picture of a 3D button switch with the cover removed to show the inside wire and button soldered together.

Watch the demo on YouTube


DIY 4: 3D Assistive Switch (2 Types)

Expertise Required

  • 3D printing
  • Soldering
  • Ability to follow wiring diagrams

Materials Required

Instructions

  • Instructions can be found in this website

Results from our team’s recreation of DIY

These switches were pretty easy to recreate. Some issues we encountered were that the Light Touch Switch’s print got a little messed up without support, but we were able to melt the plastic in order for it to fit the bolt.

Top half of 3D printed Light Touch Switch. Hole covered by error while 3D printing.

Top half of 3D printed Light Touch Switch. Plastic melted to be able to fit the bolt.

We also did not have access to the exact Tactile switch the original tutorial used, so it did not fit perfectly. The button switch we had was one that looked similar to one shown in their instruction slides (shown below). We had to add extra hot glue and redo the process a few times for both switches to ensure the buttons were actually clicking and making a connection in the switch. The lid of the Rain Drop switch did not end up fitting flush with the casing as intended because of those issues. We would recommend getting a Tactile Switch like they used to make the process easier and cleaner.

Screenshot of small push button switch from instructions

These are some photos of the finished switches.

Photo of Light Touch Switch and Rain Drop Switch together


DIY 5: TinkerCAD Switch

Expertise Required

  • 3D printing
  • Soldering
  • Ability to follow wiring diagrams

Materials Required

Instructions

  • Instructions can be found in this website