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This section provides an overview for thumbwheel switches as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 14 thumbwheel switch manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked thumbwheel switch companies as of December, 2024: 1.Interworld Highway, LLC.
Table of Contents
A thumbwheel switch is a device used for settings that convert the ON/OFF signals of multiple contact circuits into binary, decimal, hexadecimal, or other codes. This conversion is achieved by turning a disc-shaped part known as a rotor. The switch is sometimes referred to as a digital switch or thumbwheel switch.
There are two main types of thumbwheel switches: rotary switches, operated by rotating the switch with a finger, and push switches, activated by pressing a button.
Some thumbwheel switches come with a lock function to prevent accidental changes to the set value, requiring a thin pen nib for operation.
Thumbwheel switches vary in size, with smaller switches typically used in office equipment and consumer electronics, and larger ones in industrial equipment and machine tools.
In industrial equipment and machine tools, these switches are utilized to set operational control values such as time, temperature, and number of cycles. In machine tools, they are used to set dimensional limits for machining, and in motor control, to set microstep counts.
They are also employed in various measuring instruments for setting measurement conditions like frequency, temperature, and time.
Thumbwheel switches consist of simple components such as a case, slide, rotor, sealing plate, packing, printed circuit board, mounting plate, and, for push-operated models, a push button. They are versatile and used in a wide range of applications.
The selected number is visually confirmed on the switch, reducing the likelihood of incorrect inputs. Mistakes can be easily corrected, adding to the usability of these switches.
Since a mechanical mechanism is used for code conversion, the set value remains preserved even during power outages. This mechanical nature also simplifies the circuit and wiring requirements on the output side, enhancing both reliability and maintainability.
Thumbwheel switches are particularly effective in applications where parameters need frequent adjustments according to operating conditions. While many modern systems use large-screen operation panels for parameter settings, there are still numerous instances where hardware-based setting changes are necessary in field conditions.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Historic Space Systems, founded by John Fongheiser in 1990 is a manufacturer of realistic and historically accurate spacecraft exhibits for museums headquartered in Danville, Ohio. The company’s product portfolio includes artifacts, spacecraft data, movie props, and museum exhibits including interactive displays, high-fidelity exhibits, spacecraft simulators, control panels, & aircraft simulators. It is also a consultant company offering consultation, design, and fabrication services for exhibits of US manned spacecraft, and similar vehicles including control panels and control mechanism reproductions. It also provides interactive multimedia systems to supplement any exhibit, consult on aerospace subjects, and provide computer-aided drafting services.
Datex Instruments, Inc., established in 1992, is headquartered in the heart of Silicon Valley, California, USA, and is a manufacturer specializing in precision instrumentation and technology solutions. The company creates user-centric mobile apps and responsive web solutions. It has received awards like the Tech Innovator Award in 2015 and the Digital Transformation Excellence Award in 2019. Additionally, it holds certifications like ISO 9001:2015 for quality management systems and safety. It has a diverse client base spanning finance, healthcare, retail, and manufacturing.
Kelco Industries, founded in 1905 and based in Woodstock, Illinois, USA, is a manufacturer and supplier of custom components for industrial equipment and unique assembly challenges. Its offerings include electromechanical components, seals and sealing elements, and flexible metal solutions. Some of its products are flight control grips, solenoids, and injection molded plastic components. The company maintains strict standards and is certified as being in conformance with NSF-ISR ISO1 14001:2015, and NSF-ISR AS9100D with ISO9001:2015 certifications.
Electro Mavin, established in 1964, is a supplier of technical & electronic products, aviation & aerospace components, equipment & sound systems, and clothing & accessories headquartered in Riceville, Tennessee. Its product portfolio includes computers, sporting equipment, connector & cable switches,, musical items & products, and optics & test equipment such as wave optical mirrors, pressure transducers, variable attenuators, and test probes. The company offers products from manufacturers such as Honeywell, Raytheon, Philips, Gentle Giants, and Cisco and they are used in aviation, automotive, electronics, and consumer applications.
Founded in San Clemente, California in 1997, NetSource Technology, Inc. is an independent stocking distributor of electronic components and global procurement services, providing comprehensive supply chain solutions to OEMs and contract manufacturers worldwide. NetSource Technology serves the aerospace, automotive, IoT, medical, mobile device, and telecommunications industries and related companies. NetSource Technology specializes in locating hard-to-find, obsolete, end-of-life and highly allocated components with long lead times, supporting customers throughout the complete supply chain lifecycle.
Interworld Highway, LLC, established in 2000 and headquartered in Long Branch, New Jersey, is an authorized distributor of major brands of educational and testing equipment. The company operates as an e-commerce business with two sites: TEquipment and Touchboards. Some of its offerings include test equipment such as multimeters and ground testers, as well as HVAC instruments such as leak detectors and vacuum pumps. Its products are used in various applications, including electrical testing and research purposes.
Carlton-Bates Company, established in 1957 and headquartered in Little Rock, AR, is a distributor of automation controls and electronic and electromechanical products. Its product range encompasses anti-static products, batteries, flashlights, bus systems, and buzzers and alarms. These products find applications in various industries, including manufacturing plants, hospitals, utilities, government installations, construction, and businesses. The company holds significant certifications, such as ISO 9001:2008, and is part of the Fortune 500 WESCO International, Inc. family of companies.
Autonics USA, established in 2001 and based in Illinois, USA, is a manufacturer of various sensors and controllers. The company specializes in making temperature controllers, pressure sensors, and encoders, holding ISO 9001 certifications that attest to the precision and consistency of its products. Its temperature controllers ensure accurate temperature control, while the pressure sensors offer precise measurement and management capabilities. The vision sensors and encoders manufactured result in enhanced automation and efficiency in various industries. These products find applications in diverse sectors such as manufacturing, automation, and process control.
Omron Corporation, started in 1933 and headquartered in Kyoto, Japan, is a manufacturer of automation components, equipment, and systems, and it developed the first contactless proximity switch in 1960. It has four domains, including industrial automation, electronic components, healthcare, and social systems, and it provides products and services in around 120 countries and regions. Some of its products include microsensing devices, access control systems, industrial robots, surveillance cameras, and blood pressure monitors. In 1971, it developed the first online cash machine, and in 1972, it established Japan’s first welfare factory.
Multi-Tech Industries, Inc., established in Marlboro, New Jersey in 1969 is a manufacturer of Rotary Switches, Grip master Strain Reliefs, Ground Fault Locators and Detectors. The company's product range includes Insulated Strain Reliefs, All-Metal Stain Reliefs, Hand Tools, RF Power Switches and Ground Fault Analyzers and Detectors. Their products are used in industries such as Electronics and Telecommunications, Automotive, Transportation and aerospace and Defense. The company also provides services including, installation, preventative maintenance, troubleshooting, and customer service.
OMRON Corporation is a Kyoto based electrical equipment manufacturing company founded by Kazuma Tateisi in 1933. OMRON’s product portfolio includes medical equipment like nebulizers and digital thermometers, automated teller machines for the finance industry to AC, DC and custom control systems for the oil and gas industries. The company has over 30,000 employees and offers its products and services in 120 countries. It primarily serves the healthcare, energy, casino, and automated test equipment industries.
Hybrid Electronics is a global distribution specialist of electronic components, with access to over 50 million unique components. Among the markets HE serves are the aerospace, automotive, communications, defense, industrial, medical, national security, and test & measurement industries. In addition to components, HE also provides quality and compliance testing, counterfeit detection, upscreening, and other forms of quality control. Examples of component subtypes that HE offers include ICs, batteries, capacitors, semiconductor products, sensors, circuit protection, interconnectors, filters, optoelectronics, relays, switches, power supplies, and cables and cable assemblies.
Hello BOM is an online electronic component storefront designed to bridge customers and suppliers. Customers supply Hello BOM with their bill of materials (BOM) and Hello BOM uses smart analysis via AI data matching to quickly find precise matches that customers need. This is accomplished via Hello BOM’s growing component stock and product information database to grow increasingly accurate and fast, while also simplifying the process of R&D and purchasing for customers. Products include semiconductors, resistors, capacitors, diodes, inductors, connectors, transistors, and sensors.
Ranking as of December 2024
Derivation Method| Rank | Company | Click Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Interworld Highway, LLC |
100.0%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the thumbwheel switch page as of December 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
| Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
|---|---|---|
|
United States of America
|
7 | 70.0% |
|
Japan
|
2 | 20.0% |
|
Republic of Korea
|
1 | 10.0% |
Nimatsu Electric Co., Ltd.
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TACLEX TACLEX is a Taiwanese connector and switch manufacturer founded in 2007. We specialize in manufacturing a wide variety of RJ45, USB, Type C,...
Tokyo Measuring Instruments Co., Ltd.
10+ people viewing
Last viewed: 1 day ago
Features ■Sealed structure The main unit is sealed with an O-ring. ■Panel waterproofing can also be manufactured. Panel waterproofing is possible ...
Autonics Corporation
10+ people viewing
■Summary The T3/T4 series of thumbwheel switch temperature controllers are popular best sellers due to their easy operation and reasonable price. T...
