Editing Futaba MD series (section)

==Description==
Like most other Futaba linear switches, the shell is cylindrical with truncated sides, with a square top above the plate. It sits in a circular hole in the plate. The legs are threaded at the top and screw into place; the base plug of the shell is retained in place by the legs. The legs are forced inside small holes in the contact plates, and in forcing the holes larger, the legs make a good connection with the contact plates.

The switch has been seen in black with a deep orange base plug, in white with an orange base plug, all black, and all white. The black version with the orange base cap has part number MD-4PCS.<ref name="MD-4PCS" />

The distance between the plate and [[printed circuit board|PCB]] is 12.7 mm.

The switch comprises 16 [[Parts per switch|parts]] in total, making it one of the most intricate switches ever designed (more so as it is only a linear switch):

*Shell
*Base plug
*Two threaded legs
*Return spring
*Leaf spring
*Contact assembly:
**Base
**Lower and upper contact leaves
**Plastic separator
**Rubber top
**Seal
*Slider:
**Main slider shaft
**Separate slider side (drops into the main shaft)
**Rubber ring
**Black dot

===Operation===
Two contact plates are placed around a plastic separator, inside a flat base. Above this is a thin flexible rubber sheet, which is sealed onto the sides of the base via an adhesive square. The leaf spring runs parallel to the slider, and it has a central tine with a nub that presses down on the rubber sheet. Via the rubber sheet, the pressure is transferred to the flexible legs of the movable contact, which touch the stationary contact.

The contacts have long exterior legs, with holes in them. The legs of the switch are of a greater diameter than these holes; when first screwed into the switch, they force a larger hole into the contact plates. As the metal is twisted inwards, it makes lateral contact against the sides of the legs.