Simple magnetic switch

After seeing several versions of home made magnetic switches online, I wanted to make the simplest version possible without using lots of parts - especially magnets. So I came up with this design using only 2 magnets and 3 steel washers.

Non-printed materials required

• 2 x 12mm dia. x 20mm long neodymium cylinder magnets (N42 grade).
• 3 x 32mm dia. x 1.5mm thick steel washers.
• Cyanoacrylate glue (or 5 min epoxy glue).
• Grease e.g. PTFE grease, petroleum jelly, or similar.

Print settings

Assembly

1. Use a marker pen to mark the North pole on the first magnet, and the South pole on the second.
2. Grease up the handle hole in the case to make switching easier.
3. Press the handle down into the top hole in the case then snug against the side - a small slot is cut out of the case as a guide for orientation.
4. Make sure the ‘arrow’ end of the handle is pointed toward you as this indicates when the switch is on.
5. Push a magnet - North face toward you - into the slot provided on the inside of the handle (see image).
6. Glue the retainer into the slot provided inside the case.
7. Take the other magnet - South face toward you - and place it on the left side of a steel washer (see image).
8. Place a bead of glue around the washer recess in the case.
9. Carefully drop the washer and magnet into the case so the washer magnet is 180 degrees to the handle's magnet (don't get the magnets to close to each other!).
10. Glue the remaining washers into the recess in the case.
11. Wait for everything to dry.