We realize your customize silicone rubber keypad
Silicone rubber keypads have always been part of our core competencies and we support and advise you in detail on the equipment and material selection. We can also take over the complete development and construction of a suitable silicone rubber keypad for your application.
In many keyboards, the silicone rubber keypad is the central switching component. It triggers a direct switching function on the printed circuit board underneath. It determines the feel, the visual and tactile impression, and the electrical behavior. In addition, the silicone rubber keypad has a sealing function on the circuit board.
- A silicone rubber keypad adapts to your construction and is extremely flexible. Different key shapes and individual key colors, as well as multi-colored keyboard lighting, can be easily implemented.
- Force-Travel ratio can be easily adapted between 20g – 500g to meet customer-specific demands for a particular application.
- Key stroke from 0.3mm to 5.0mm.
- Various solutions for electrical contacts – from low-cost carbon pills to superior-quality metal domes with a current capacity of up to 2A.
- High mechanical lifetime with up to 10 million cycles.
- Resistance to moisture, dirt, chemicals and thermal influences.
- Excellent resistance to high or low temperatures
- Due to their elastic contact structure, the noise development is minimal.
- Design flexibility: Various key shapes and individual key colors, as well as multi-colored background lights are realizable.
- Available with a large diversity of coatings, including Epoxy, PU, PET, PC and other chemical-resistant and UV-resistant surfaces, to increase resistance to abrasion.
- High-end keypads with quality keys can be assembled with metal or plastic caps. The design potential of plastic caps is significantly increased through diverse coatings or chrome-plating.
As a central component, a silicone rubber keypad triggers a direct switching function on the circuit board. It determines the feel, the visual and tactile impression, and the electrical behavior via the integrated contact elements. In addition, a silicone rubber keypad often assumes a sealing function. Its mechanical service life of up to 10 million switching cycles makes it a durable and almost maintenance-free input solution. It adapts to your design and is extremely flexible and space-saving. Keycaps made of metal and plastic, different key shapes, and individual key colors can be easily implemented in one keypad. Individual keys or the entire mat can be illuminated using LEDs in conjunction with transparent silicone or integrated light guides. Due to a very precise 2K injection molding process, multicolored lighting can also be implemented. The process enables a light channel to be integrated into each individual button. This light channel is completely isolated from the rest of the transparent button and achieves a precise bundling of the light beam. Silicone rubber keypad with this technology can not only be backlit, but also display status information.
The force-displacement behavior of a silicone rubber keypad can be customized to the requirements of the respective application. Actuation forces from 20g to 500g and actuation distances from 0.3 to 5.0mm are possible. The implementation options for the electrical contacts range from inexpensive, yet safe carbon printing to high-quality metal contact pills with a current-carrying capacity of up to 2 A.
Design of Silicone Rubber Keypads
Silicone rubber keypads are extremely flexible. Different key shapes and individual key colors, as well as multi-colored keyboard lighting, can be implemented without any problems.
We support and advise you in detail on the equipment and material selection for your silicone rubber keypad. We can also take over the complete development and construction of a suitable silicone keypad for your application.
Silicone rubber keypads with plastic or metal caps
Silicone rubber keypad can be fitted with plastic or metal caps. The caps can be designed with different paintwork or chrome plating. The keys can achieve a night design by laser-engraved lettering.
Silicone rubber keypads with Epoxy Coating
Special surface coatings, such as the PU or epoxy coating, make silicone rubber buttons permanently abrasion-resistant and create a high-quality 3D look. In addition to a high-quality and glossy surface, the individual keys convince with optimal finger guidance and a pleasant feel.
Silicone rubber keypads with multi-colored keyboard lighting
Thanks to a very precise 2K injection molding process, a silicone keypad can have multi-colored keyboard lighting. The process enables the integration of a light channel in each individual key. This light channel is absolutely isolated from the rest of the transparent button and achieves a precise focus of the light beam. Keypads with this technology can not only be backlit, the individual buttons can also show status displays.
Silicone rubber keypads with laser engraving
Easily recognizable key symbols are essential, especially in diffuse working environments. One possibility for homogeneous backlighting is laser engraving. The key symbols are lasered in order to be able to backlight them. Very filigree inscriptions are possible.
High-transparent silicone rubber keypads
High-transparent silicone rubber keypads are an interesting option for backlit keyboards. So far, transparent silicone rubber keypads have tended to be milky, which leads to scattering losses from the light source. High-transparent silicone rubber keypads, on the other hand, offer minimal light scattering, which means that almost all of the luminous flux reaches the surface. This makes them particularly interesting for brightly lit work environments or for use in daylight. In addition, the integration of light channels can be dispensed with, resulting in a closed surface. Thus, such a silicone rubber keypad offers extensive protection of the underlying electronics from dust and moisture. The lighting can also be easily implemented using status LEDs in existing components, so that fewer individual components are required. The material is also particularly suitable for keypads with keycaps made of plastic or metal, as well as paint finishes in night design.
Phosphorescent silicone
It is also possible to manufacture silicone rubber keypads from phosphorescent silicone.
The silicone is charged by sunlight or artificial light sources and glows in the dark for several hours, depending on the charge. Such keypads are used in the field of security and building control technology, as well as in consumer products. The lettering on the buttons, for example, can also glow with the appropriate painting in the night design.
Silicone rubber keypads with light guide
Light guides or fiber optic cables enable a selective, homogeneous illumination of keys. We can manufacture suitable light guides for customer-specific silicone rubber keypads and keycaps.
Silicone keyboard with bezel
We can manufacture silicone keyboards with front frames as an assembly.
The plastic front panel is molded with silicone. This creates an optimal bond between the individual components and a completely closed surface. The keyboard is protected against the ingress of water and dust and thus enables quick, easy, and thorough cleaning. Individual keys can be painted, printed, or lasered in the further processing step. Special surface coatings with PU or epoxy coatings are also possible.
Our engineers offer an active support in the design and construction options and the selection of suitable materials.
In addition, our product designers can construct your silicone rubber keypad according to your needs or revise the design / construction of an existing input solution.
You decide whether you want to use the development and design work as an individual service or whether we will accompany you in further steps up to series delivery.
- Outline, conception, planning and pre-construction
- Design in 3D / 2D CAD
- Representation of product views in the form of realistic 3D renderings
- Creation of production documents such as technical drawings and parts lists
- Prototyping using 3D printing & silicone casting
We look forward to your inquiry.