Durable and Customisable Rubber Keypads
Rubbertech has been manufacturing rubber keypad designs for over 30 years. Our silicone keypads can be found in test instruments, chip and pin devices, hospital call alarms, fire alarm panels and many more electronic control systems. Rubber keypads offer tactile response control, design versatility, and durability, providing a 3D operating surface that enhances user interaction and allows product designers to incorporate unique visual elements.
A vast range of Rubber Keypads
Rubber keypads are primarily manufactured using silicone rubber through a process called compression moulding. This highly versatile method enables the creation of angled web areas that control the tactile feedback of the buttons, ensuring a firm tactile response during operation. A key advantage of this process is the ability to integrate conductive carbon contacts directly into the silicone rubber keypad. These conductive carbon pills interact seamlessly with the printed circuit board (PCB) to provide reliable functionality and enhance the user experience.
Additionally, advanced techniques like laser etching can be employed to add legends or symbols to the buttons with precision, allowing for customization in multiple colours or multiple colours, depending on the design requirements.
A silicone rubber keypad remains one of the most popular solutions for a keypad interface, particularly in membrane keypads, due to its cost-effective nature, durability, and adaptability. With a broad range of design options, including conductive and non-conductive styles, rubber keypads can meet the specific needs of Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs).
These keypads are especially valued for their ability to ensure switch sealing, offering additional protection against environmental factors such as dust and moisture. The flexibility of silicone rubber allows designers to create visually appealing keypads in multiple colours while maintaining optimal functionality and longevity. Whether for industrial controls, consumer electronics, or medical devices, rubber keypads continue to set the standard for effective human-machine interface solutions.
Rubber keypads can be moulded to accommodate the following requirements
- Keypads can be moulded with a conductive contact allowing for operation with a PCB
- Silicone Keypads can be colour-matched to RAL or Pantone references
- Keypads can be moulded in several colours and even translucent grades
- Keypads have an operating temperature of -40 to +190 degrees C
- Keypads can be moulded in grades that would pass UL 94 HB, V1 and V0
- Keypads can be moulded using FDA-approved and even USP Class IV silicone
- Keypads can be moulded with an anti-bacterial additive incorporated into the silicone
- Keypads can be produced in luminescent and anti-static silicones if required
If you are new to working with Rubbertech and would like to increase your confidence in us as a prospective supplier, we positively encourage inward visits. You are welcome to visit our factory, chat with the team, have a guided tour and see various rubber items being produced.
To arrange an inward visit, or to open communications with us, chat with us on our website, call (+44) 01594 826 019, use our contact page or email sales@rubbertech2000.co.uk
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