A microswitch is a type of momentary contact switch. It is also called a miniature snap action switch and is widely used in automotive, medical, and electronics industries. The term “micro” used in its name is the name of the company that started making it. They are available in various switch configurations and actuator styles and are comprised of various materials such as polyester, phenolic plastic products, etc.
MICRO-SWITCH STRUCTURE
The microswitch actuator generally has a hinged wheel positioned above its push button that can be depressed even with a little force applied to it. This actuates the switches and returns to their off state when the applied force is removed or is less than the actuation force. Internally, they are made up of a rigid strip of metal that is supported by a spring. The metal strip flips over if enough force is applied to the push button on the outside. Metal during its action produces a clicking sound that is similar to the sound of a commonly used mouse click.
USES OF MICRO-SWITCHES
These switches are used in many industrial areas. They are used in many places and items that we use in our daily life such as cars, household appliances, industrial equipment, etc. Some common uses are-
-
They are used in printers to detect paper jams.
-
They are used in vending machines also as a jam detector and to detect coins when they are inserted into the machine.
-
They are used as a safety device in elevators.
-
They are used in microwaves as door interlocks.
-
They are used to detect the open-closed position of the valve.
-
They are used in control circuits of household appliances such as lamps, small motors, solenoids, etc.
-
They can also be used as limit switches, control switches, or to create timing mechanisms when used with the combination of multiple devices.
eg a motor driven cam and switch can create a timer mechanism; rollers, plungers or levers with a microswitch can form a limit switch, etc.
ADVANTAGES OF USING A MICRO-SWITCH
Compared to other switches available on the market, the microswitches are extremely reliable. Since they work accurately, they can be used repeatedly without any chance of failure. They also provide a variety of switch positions that cannot be achieved with the other switches available on the market. For this reason, they are used in many safety-related products.
Another great advantage they provide is in terms of durability. They are designed to be durable and even a less expensive microswitch can give you more than 10 million cycles of operation.
Considering their price, they were quite inexpensive compared to other similar-purpose switches. If bought in bulk, they are the cheapest option with the best quality exchange product available on the market. So, combined with their reliability, durability, and cost effectiveness, they are one of the most popular and crucial devices available on the electronics market.