That´s true, the prices are supercheap but - IMO - when you have a closer look at the pots/encoders almost all offered types have some kinks and arent always suited very well for midibox applications.
e.g. the rk09 lin mono pots are center detented which means you can barely use them besides pan pots, pitch or pwm applications. Same goes for the encoders. The 24 step types are either horizontally or have the bushing type shaft that is quite long. The better suited ec16 (which is similar to the often used stec16b) ist 12 steps only.
Dont get me wrong, i dont wanna talk it down and its definately a good offer but pay attention to the description.
yes, i want to try the “soft” buttons for the blm when my seq is complete… at 6 cents per piece it is worth a try (289 pcs)
update: i ordered some - those buttons are really nice… could imagine them in a 17x17 matrix smd-soldered to a pcb with smd duo-color leds to achive a tiny and relatively cheap blm.
You are right. But I think some of these could helpful for other DIY projects. I have searched a long time for such a good price.
For example: I ordered some really cheap encoders from Hong Kong. They are so bad at all! I don’t want to spend a lot of time with an DIY project an then build those crap inside. The tactile feedback is so unbelievable bad. And they aren’t much cheaper than the discussed ALPS.
And yes: Always pay attention to the description on ebay!
they are very nice and silent, but small… and you have to surface-solder them, but this is no problem, as the pads are in the correct scale to fit on a vector board.
I’ve mailed the seller to see if they ship to Aus…
Hawkeye, did you have any particular SMD LEDs in mind? Do you intend to attach LED to button actuator, or locate next to button? The 3mm through hole LEDs I had intended to use are too tall to mount next to these buttons.
The size of the matrix hasn’t anything todo with the current through each switch. it’s in case of selection (row/col) 5V->10K->diode->switch->GND. That’s less then 0.5 mA.
Yes, that’s why I think about a translucent plastic button with LED nearby.
sorry, i was not precise, responding to buddhas question, i meant the total current of the smd leds in matrix configuration. sorry for hijacking your thread
Here’s what Wilba mentioned about LEDs in the BLM forum (this was for shining through the sparkfun button pads):
While I haven’t proved this yet, I think you would need some ultrabright waterclear bicolor 3mm LEDs, like found on eBay… and not the weak diffused kind like you find at Mouser (and what I used on my MB-SEQ). SMD LEDs might work but it’s too hard to find them with good brightness and low cost, plus they might not illuminate the cap as well as a 3mm LED which is more in the middle of the hole. 3mm LEDs are cheap and available from many suppliers so that’s good.
