Illuminated silicone rubber switches - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: ltz2000
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2015, 11:05:08 am
content: Any idea where to buy plain single silicone rubber key tops? Something like that:http://www.sonifex.co.uk/images/cmcu1/cmcu1_top_600px.jpgThose are custom design with text printing, but I am looking for general purpose transparent silicone key top, available in small quantities.Nice looking and not difficult to use: contact pattern on the PCB and an SMD LED or two for illumination.

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2015, 11:07:57 am
content: These are usually part of a custom mat containing all the buttons - I've never seen them individually. You might be able to mould some.

author: Liv
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2015, 11:18:58 am
content: Another idea from another forum - button with backlight based on a large rectangular LED. The text is printed on a transparent film, glued and topped with epoxy.

author: ruffy91
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2015, 11:46:37 am
content: Have a look athttp://www.apem.com/. I really like their navimec series.

author: LabSpokane
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2015, 05:25:57 pm
content: The trade name in the business for those buttons is "elastomer." Mike is correct that typically the buttons are molded into a contiguous sheet - in the specific pattern for the product. There may be some one-ups out there, but they're pretty rare. You could *conceivably* make your own, but the buttons you see were thermally cured under a great deal of pressure in order to form the thin membrane that gives the key, its snap action.I'd recommend trying to use a solid plastic key over a snap dome if at all possible. No tooling required.

author: anachrocomputer
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2015, 05:26:40 pm
content: Spark Fun do a couple of products that might be useful, a silicone rubber 4x4 button pad:https://www.sparkfun.com/products/7835and a break-out board for it:https://www.sparkfun.com/products/8033The board can also be fitted with LEDs for illumination and diodes for isolation.

author: ltz2000
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2015, 09:16:44 pm
content: Quote from: anachrocomputer on March 10, 2015, 05:26:40 pmExactly what I was looking for! Except the price.Those are dirt cheap to manufacture. Yesterday I asked a friend who was involved in designing a bar code data collection unit. Custom multi colour moulding and only a few dollar per piece. And we are not talking about a high volume product.Even if I couldn't find any, there must be a "Chinese Ebay seller" somewhere selling those button pads for $0.99 (and still making money).

author: Zero999
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2015, 09:38:06 pm
content: It's expensive because they did a small production run.Here's the only thing I could find:http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1x-Direction-Conductive-Silicon-Key-Pad-For-PSP2000-New-/141588102552?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item20f74efd98EDIT:This appears to be the same product as sold on Spakfun but for half the price:http://www.adafruit.com/product/1611