When developing a new product that incorporates silicone rubber buttons, it’s essential to understand the design intricacies involved. One of our long-term clients recently approached us with a new project that required finalizing the design of a silicone rubber keyboard. Over the years, we have collaborated extensively with this customer, creating numerous silicone rubber keyboards tailored to their specifications. This latest project involved specific requirements that shaped our design approach.
Project Requirements
The silicone rubber button pad needed to meet several criteria:
– Translucent Silicone: This allows for backlighting effects, making the keyboard visually appealing and functional in low-light conditions.
– Circular Carbon Contact: This ensures reliable electrical conductivity for the buttons.
– Cavity for LED Placement: Each pad required a cavity to accommodate an LED, enhancing the keyboard’s illumination.
Given these requirements, the design needed to be executed without traditional silkscreen printing legends or laser-etched characters. Instead, the focus was on creating an electrically conductive silicone button setup that would work seamlessly with LED illumination.
Design Steps
- Rubber Button Pad Key Webbing and Actuation Force
The initial step in designing a tactile keyboard involves determining the key webbing to achieve the desired actuation force. For this customer’s design, space constraints made it challenging to incorporate adequate key webbing. With the customer’s approval, our engineering team proposed increasing the outer diameter of the buttons by 5mm. This modification resulted in an actuation force of 130-160 grams, with a rubber keyboard travel distance of 1.2mm, providing a satisfying tactile response for users.
- Circular Conductive Contact for LEDs
When placing LEDs under the rubber buttons, it is advisable to implement conductive ink for the contact points. This approach allows for flexibility in shaping the conductive areas, making it easier to adapt to design changes. If carbon pills were to be used instead, die-cut tooling would be required to shape the contacts, incurring additional costs and complexity in the production process. The decision to use conductive ink not only streamlined the design but also maintained cost-effectiveness
- Air Vent Grooves for Custom Conductive Rubber Pads
To prevent air from being trapped between the silicone keypad and the printed circuit board (PCB), it is crucial to incorporate air vent grooves into the design. These grooves facilitate proper adhesion of the silicone keypad to the PCB while ensuring that air can escape during the manufacturing process. This step is vital for maintaining the integrity of the electrical connections and enhancing the overall reliability of the keyboard.
- Location Pins for LED Alignment
To ensure precise placement of the LEDs, we added three location pins, each measuring 2mm in diameter, on the rubber button pad. These pins aid in aligning the LEDs correctly, preventing misalignment during assembly and ensuring optimal illumination of the keyboard.
Final Design Review
After completing the design modifications, we provided our client with detailed 3D renderings of the updated silicone rubber keyboard. The client reviewed the drawings and gave their approval to proceed with production. This collaborative approach highlights our commitment to working closely with customers to bring their visions to life while ensuring high-quality outcomes.
The Expertise of Flykeyboard
At Flykeyboard, we specialize not only in the production of silicone rubber keyboards and conductive silicone buttons but also in assisting clients with their design needs. Our extensive experience in the industry equips us with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate complex design challenges and deliver innovative solutions.
Why Choose Flykeybaord for Your Silicone Rubber Keyboard Projects?
- Expert Collaboration: Our design team collaborates with clients at every stage, ensuring that their requirements are met and that we leverage our technical expertise to enhance the product’s functionality and aesthetics.
- Advanced Manufacturing Capabilities: We utilize cutting-edge manufacturing technologies that allow for precision production of silicone rubber components, ensuring that every keyboard meets stringent quality standards.
- Custom Solutions: We understand that each project is unique. Our team is dedicated to providing tailored solutions that align with your specific needs, whether it involves modifying existing designs or developing entirely new concepts.
- Quality Assurance: At Flykeybaord, quality is our top priority. Our rigorous quality control processes ensure that every silicone rubber keyboard we produce is durable, reliable, and meets the highest industry standards.
- Fast Turnaround Times: We pride ourselves on our efficient production processes, allowing us to deliver high-quality products within tight timelines without compromising on quality.
Conclusion
Designing silicone rubber keyboards involves careful consideration of various factors to ensure functionality, aesthetics, and user satisfaction. By collaborating closely with clients and leveraging our expertise, Flykeyboard is well-equipped to tackle the challenges associated with silicone rubber button pad design. Whether you are developing a new product or refining an existing one, we invite you to share your ideas with us. Together, we can create innovative solutions that meet your needs and exceed your expectations. Contact us today to explore how we can assist you in bringing your silicone rubber keyboard projects to life.