As the market share is getting higher and higher, custom keypad membrane and membrane switch has gradually become a substitute for mechanical switches. Membrane switch is a bridge linking users and machines, so the design of this component has become one of the most important steps in product design. How to combine the established environmental conditions and customer use requirements to achieve a membrane switch or membrane keypad for a long time In the past, it was the subject of membrane switch manufacture.
For users, the HMI system is the interface of a product. It can also be said that membrane switch and membrane keypad are the interface of a system. As a product, we can even choose different materials to influence the use of the product and increase its additional functions. Simply put, the material of the panel is one of the conditions that can determine whether it can be used outdoors or not. This is the most obvious material influence product. But choosing the best solution also needs to consider many factors, which affect the product life, application environment, and cost-effectiveness.
Products can be roughly divided into two categories by design: traditional switching technologies and specialt switching technologies.
Copper flex membrane switch(FPC membrane switch)
Printing copper board membrane switch
Membrane overlay or Graphic overlay
When to choose Silver flex membrane switch?
1. When users want to have a durable, waterproof, small and cost-effective electrical switch, then the Silver flex membrane switch is a good choice.
2. When the product area is large, we can also combine it with backlight technology.
3. Can be customized. Color matching can be customized, different adhesive tapes can be selected, and the convex shape of the product can be selected.
In general, the Silver flex membrane switch is an excellent customizable membrane switch.
Niceone-tech is sometimes asked by customers since the silver flex membrane switch is so good, why not choose the more economical Silver flex membrane switch as the HMI, instead choose the expensive Copper flex membrane switch and Printing copper board membrane switch?
For Niceone-tech, it is also one of our philosophies to provide users with high-performance and cost-effective products. So when will you choose the latter two? These are some of Niceone-tech's experience.
1. The product is used in a high-pressure and humid environment. Silver flex membrane switch as HMI or operation interface can easily cause silver migration. At this time, this problem can be avoided if the Flex copper circuit is combined with PCB and Flex copper.
2. If the product is in a high-frequency vibration environment. When there are too many accessories on the Silver flex membrane switch, it will loosen, causing the product to lose some functions. There is no such problem as original electronic parts soldered on PCB and Flex copper circuit.
3. When the product volume is small and the circuit is dense. Although the Silver flex membrane switch can achieve line density through bridging, through-hole printing, etc., when the line performance requirements are too complex, and the line area is not enough to support the electrical performance of the product. Niceone-tech will recommend customers to use Flex copper or PCB double-sided circuits and multi-sided circuits to meet customer performance.
How to choose Silver flex membrane switch and Flex copper circuit membrane switch can also refer to the article When To Use Pet And Fpc Circuits In A Membrane Switch Design.
Every user pursues high-performance products, but sometimes the cost of excess performance is not necessarily the best answer. What we pursue is that users can find the most suitable products for them at Niceone-tech.
Silicone rubber membrane switch
Backlight membrane switch
Why are there more and more products combining silicone rubber keypad with membrane switch?
1. Cost-effectiveness: The mold of the Silicone rubber keypad is very expensive, but the unit price of the finished product is very advantageous compared to the materials of Autotex or LEXAN. When the number of products is large, it is a very good choice.
2. Physical and chemical properties: Silicone rubber keypad has excellent physical bending performance, repeated collisions and bending will not cause a lot of damage to silicone rubber. It can resist chemical substances such as alcohol, acidic substances and oily damage.
3. Customization: Customizable shapes and colors, etc.
Niceone-tech will try to combine the advantages of different products every year and try to develop different new products. Fortunately, we did it.
Backlight membrane switch- excellent night membrane switch.
Backlight membrane switch is so expensive, why choose such products and what is the future prospect?
backlight membrane switch Applicable industries:
1. Insufficient light. Because the Backlight membrane switch comes with LEDs, the product can visualize the button even in places with insufficient light. It will not cause the user to press the wrong button due to insufficient light. If the latest LGF structure is used, it can also be a portable light membrane switch.
2. Hunting industry. Niceone-tech found that membrane switches are often provided by hunting industry factories to visualize membrane switches late at night.
3. Medical and military industries.
There are three types of Backlight membrane switches, but the prices are relatively more expensive than ordinary membrane switches.
1. Reasons for the expensive EL membrane switch and its advantages and disadvantages:
The EL cold light film in the product is a physical phenomenon in which the electric field generated by the alternating voltage applied to the electrodes at both ends excites the fluorescent substance to emit light, that is, the electroluminescence phenomenon. Because EL accounts for a large amount of cost, so the cost has increased dramatically.
Advantages: low power consumption, soft light, no ultraviolet rays, diverse colors, long life, no heat generation.
Disadvantages: The service life of the product is only 1000-3000 hours, and the voltage is too high.
2. Reasons for the expensive fiber membrane switch and its advantages and disadvantages:
Optical fiber is not a light source, it is a light guide material. an optical fiber is a kind of glass fiber with a small thickness. A large number of glass fibers need to be bound together to form an optical fiber film. Even so, how to distribute the optical fiber evenly and make the light spread evenly on the optical fiber requires multiple adjustments. Niceone-tech found that the optical fiber is used as a fixed layer, which can also play a role in fixing the Dome.
Advantages: longer life, lower power, color can be changed according to the changes of LEDs, light distribution is more even.
Disadvantages: The cost is very expensive, and sometimes the price of a piece of optical fiber is higher than that of an ordinary membrane switch.
3. LGF membrane switch:
Use light guide film and LEDs to light up designated buttons, logos or texts. Because the light guide film generally uses PC or PET as the light guide film, and the light guide point is added to make it meet the light guide function. As the latest membrane switch, Niceone-tech can not only control the thickness to an ultra-thin thickness of 0.8mm-2.0mm but also the light-guiding effect and the effect of no light leakage are also satisfactory to customers.
Advantages: Ultra-high service life is close to 10,000 hours. The price is lower than that of optical fiber. The minimum power is only 2.5V. Stable performance. Basically combines the advantages of fiber membrane switch and EL membrane switch.
The disadvantage is: because the light guide plate and the light guide point use the best materials and inks, it even takes multiple attempts to make a light guide plate most suitable for its use, so the price is relatively high.
The three have their own advantages and disadvantages. It can only be said that the most suitable backlight membrane switch is selected according to the needs of customers.
The above article is based on the characteristics of the product to give customers some guidelines. Membrane switch also has a very important factor that affects the product material.
1. Are there materials for outdoor use and indoor use?
Because the big difference between indoor and outdoor lies in the factors of climate and ultraviolet rays. So whether the material of the panel needs to resist ultraviolet rays and acid rain corrosion. The more excellent material is the Autotex XE series of materials. It can resist ultraviolet and acid rain corrosion. Although the HPW series is also available, it has a shorter lifespan because it is a PC material. For details, please refer to the article The Materials And Characteristics Of The Membrane Switch Panel. For indoor use only, there is no need to choose UV-resistant materials. Conventional auto tex is a very good material.
2. Does the product window need to be wear-resistant?
If the product is exposed as much as possible and touched for a long time, then EBG and HP series PCs can meet your needs.
3. Extreme weather changes: If the temperature changes frequently, and the temperature is -30-80 degrees Celsius, then we should consider using 3M adhesive tape.
The production of a membrane switch needs to consider many factors, but it is impossible to express all of them in a few words, so that only some important points can be told to customers. If you have any questions about purchasing a membrane switch, Niceone-tech can answer you at any time. Give you a customized solution, let you find a customized membrane switch that suits you best.
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