We realize customer-specific silicone keymats
Benefit from our many years of experience and expertise.
Silicone safety mats have always been one of our core competencies and we support and advise you in detail Equipment and material selection. Also the complete one development and construction We can provide you with a suitable silicone keyboard for your application.
Proven classic
The single, classic silicone keymat is still one of the most common switching elements in the electronics and automotive industries. As the central component, it triggers a direct switching function on the circuit board underneath and determines the haptics, the visual and tactile impression and the electrical behavior via the integrated contact elements. In addition, the safety mat often assumes a sealing function on the printed circuit board.
Application of silicone keymats
Silicone keyboards are often used in devices and instruments where easy and reliable operation is required. They are used, for example, in remote controls, industrial controls and electronic measuring devices. In addition, silicone switch mats enable noiseless operation, which is advantageous in some areas of application such as medical technology or audio engineering.
Module?
In addition to the pure safety mats, we also realize the complete assembly with matching Plastic housing and the connection technology.
Our silicone safety mats are used in almost all industries. Here you can see one small excerpt of our references:
Silicone keyboard as front panel
Benefits of Silicone Keypads
Silicone safety mats offer numerous advantages in various areas of application. They are particularly useful in environments where robustness and reliability are required, such as in industrial automation or medical devices. Their waterproof and dustproof nature makes them suitable for use in difficult conditions. In addition, silicone safety mats enable precise control and can be individually designed to meet the specific requirements of each application area. Their ease of cleaning and maintenance, as well as the ability to produce them in different colors and shapes, make them an ideal choice for many technical applications.
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Flexibility
Silicone keyboards are extremely flexible and can be made into a variety of shapes and designs. In addition, the keyboards adapt perfectly to the housing construction. -
longevity
Silicone safety mats are very durable and resistant to wear, scratches and other damage. They also have no resistance to moisture, dirt, chemicals and thermal influences. Their long mechanical lifespan up to 10 million switching cycles makes it a long-lasting solution with low maintenance risk. -
tactility
Silicone keymats provide excellent tactile feedback. The actuating forces (force-displacement behavior) can be flexibly selected from 20g - 500g, the key travel from 0,3 to 5,0 mm. The buttons can also be made with different heights and contours to provide an enhanced user experience. -
Electrical contacting
Diverse implementation options for electrical contacting - from inexpensive carbon printing to high-quality metal contact pills with a current carrying capacity of up to 2A. The use of metal snap disks or the actuation of a tact switch is also possible. -
Lighting
Selective or homogeneous backlighting of the keyboard or individual keys is possible without any problems. -
Waterproof and dustproof
Silicone is naturally water-repellent and dust-proof. Therefore, silicone keymats offer some protection against moisture and dirt ingress, which increases the longevity and reliability of electronic devices. -
Easy to clean
Thanks to the water-repellent properties, silicone keymats are easy to clean by simply wiping with a damp cloth. This is particularly important in environments where hygiene is an issue. -
Low noise level
Silicone keymats generally produce little noise when the keys are pressed. This can be particularly important in environments where quiet operation is required.
As a central component, a silicone safety mat triggers a direct switching function on the printed circuit board underneath and determines the feel, the optical and tactile impression and the electrical behavior. In addition, the safety mat often takes over Sealing function on the circuit board. Your mechanical lifespan is up to up to 10 million switching cycles makes it a long-lasting and almost maintenance-free input solution. It adapts to your design and is extremely flexible and space-saving.
force-displacement behavior
The force-displacement behavior A silicone keyboard can be customized to suit the requirements of the respective application. So are Actuation forces from 20g to 500g and Actuating paths (key travel) from 0,3 to 5,0mm is possible.
An short key stroke means the buttons are easy to press and require less effort to activate a button. This can be particularly advantageous for devices with many buttons to ensure quick and comfortable operation.
However, the key travel can also be adjusted depending on precision and tactile feedback requirements. In some applications a longer key travel be required to have one better feedback and to ensure a better tactile feeling when pressing the buttons. Therefore, key travel can vary depending on the application and is usually determined in the circuit design process to ensure the best possible user experience.
contact pills
The implementation options for the electrical contacts range from inexpensive, yet safe carbon print to high quality metal contact pills With a Current carrying capacity up to 2A.
The carbon print is often used with silicone safety mats to provide a cheap alternative to metal contacts, especially in applications with lower electrical conductivity requirements. The advantage of carbon printing is that it offers high flexibility and durability, which is ideal for use in electronic input devices. Another important feature is that it has a very low profile, which helps ensure that the buttons on the silicone keypads are flat and easy to press.
Circuit board
As a central component, it triggers a direct switching function on the circuit board underneath. In applications with high reliability gold-plated contact surfaces on the circuit board is preferred. Screen printed carbon is widely used because of its cost effectiveness and strong chemical resistance.
The contact surface the circuit board should be in every direction be at least 0,5 mm larger as the contact surface of the keyboard. For rocker buttons and buttons with metal domes, please submit the circuit board contact circuit to us.
Silicone Keypad Design
Silicone safety mats adapt to your design and are extremely flexible. Different button shapes and individual key colors, and multi-colored keyboard lighting can be easily implemented. We support and advise you in detail with the equipment and material selection of your silicone safety mat. Also the complete one development and construction We can provide you with a suitable silicone safety mat for your application.
Silicone keypads with plastic or metal caps
Plastic or metal buttons allow silicone keypads to be individually adjusted for various input commands. These keys can be easily painted with a wide range of symbols and colors, giving a creative freedom of design enabled. In addition, the flexible combination of individual keys offers the possibility of Application-specific keyboard layouts to create what improves functionality for specific usage requirements.
As the Alternative to metal caps Plastic keys can also be chrome plated or metal plated to offer a variety of finishes and appearance. For designs that are supposed to glow in the dark, the buttons can be used laser engraving labeled, giving them an aesthetic that is both attractive and functional. Through the laser are very delicate labels is possible.
Silicone switch mats with epoxy coating
Special surface coatings, such as PU or epoxy coating, make the keys durable abrasion resistant and create one high-quality 3D look. In addition to a high-quality and shiny surface, the individual keys impress with optimal finger guidance and a pleasant feel.
Silicone keymats with multicolored keyboard lighting
Thanks to a very precise 2K injection molding process, a silicone safety mat can be... multi-colored keyboard lighting have. The process enables the integration of a light channel into each individual key. This light channel is absolutely isolated from the rest of the transparent key and achieves precise bundling of the light beam. Safety mats with this technology can now not only be backlit, the individual buttons can also display status displays.
Silicone keyboard with light guides
Light guides, individual light guides or even optical fibers make this possible selective, homogeneous lighting one button. This light guide equipment is particularly useful in applications where precise and uniform lighting is required, such as vehicle control panels, industrial controls, and high-end keyboards for computers or other electronic devices. We can produce matching light guides for custom silicone keypads and keycaps.
Silicone keyboard with laser engraving
Easily recognizable key symbols are essential, especially in diffuse working environments. A possibility for one homogeneous backlighting is laser engraving. The key symbols are lasered out so that they can be backlit. Through the laser are very delicate labels is possible.
Highly transparent silicone keymats
Ideal for backlit keyboards
Highly transparent silicone keypads are an interesting option, especially for backlit keyboards. To date, transparent silicone safety mats have tended to be milky, which leads to scattering losses from the light source. Highly transparent safety mats, on the other hand, offer one minimal light scattering, which means that the luminous flux almost completely reaches the surface. This makes them particularly interesting for brightly lit working environments or for use in daylight. In addition, the integration of light channels can be dispensed with, creating a closed surface.
In addition, such a silicone safety mat offers extensive protection of the underlying electronics from dust and moisture. The lighting can also be easily implemented into existing component components using status LEDs, so that fewer individual components are required. The material is also particularly suitable for switch mats with key caps made of plastic or metal, as well as paint finishes in the night design.
Phosphorescent silicone
Silicone keyboard as front frame
Practical solution: silicone keyboards with a front frame module. The plastic front panel with integrated mounting sockets is coated with silicone. This creates an optimal connection between the individual components and one completely closed surface. The keyboard is protected against water and dust ingress and therefore enables quick, easy and thorough cleaning.
The individual keys can be painted, printed or lasered in a further processing step. In addition, special surface coatings with PU or epoxy coating are possible. The advantage of multi-component injection molding technology is that only one component has to be designed. This significantly reduces the investments and the effort for production and quality assurance.
Development
Thanks to our many years of expertise in the field of silicone keymats, we can offer you a comprehensive full service offer. Our engineers actively support you in the design and construction phase and in the selection of suitable materials.
Our product Designer can design your silicone keymat according to your wishes or revise the design or construction of an existing input solution. You have the choice of using our development and design services individually or as part of a more comprehensive support through to series delivery.
Our range of services includes sketching, conception, planning and preliminary construction, 3D/2D CAD design, realistic 3D renderings of product views and the creation of production documents such as technical drawings and parts lists. We can also produce prototypes using 3D printing or silicone casting.
We'd be happy to do that too complete assembly with matching Plastic housing and the connection technology.
For a first Services We need a technical drawing, an initial sketch or a sample as well as a requirement specification, technical specifications and information on equipment extras.
Please also tell us the quantity required or the annual requirement.
We would also be happy to conclude a non-disclosure agreement / NDA with you.
Contact us under info@nh-technology.de. We look forward to your inquiry!
pattern set
The N&H sample set includes a special sample silicone keymat with a variety of buttons and constructions, as well as a sample membrane keyboard with the various equipment options.
Design guide
(.pdf / 2,9MB)
