Elastomer keypads
Elastomer keypads offer a high profile, tactile feel with an underlying switch layer. Reliable and durable, GMN’s elastomer keypads are an excellent choice when three-dimensional keys are needed in high moisture environments such as marine or military settings. Our dedicated engineers can provide you with keypad solutions that deliver the right look, feedback and cost for your needs.
Elastomer keypad advantages
When you need a switch with high-tactile feel and customizable feedback, elastomer keypads are an ideal choice. Benefits include:
- Lightweight
- Sealed surface
- Simulates full travel of tactile keypad
- Array of color options
- Optimal light diffusion
- Overall or selective backlighting
- May be combined with other switch types
- One-piece construction that simplifies assembly and tooling
- Cost-effective tooling
Design options
Keypads provide excellent performance in a wide variety of conditions and offer several design options to fit your needs:
- Plastic or metal bezel
- Display windows
- Multicolors and custom color
- Durometer variance
- Printed, laser etched and/or backlit legends and icons
Construction & specifications
The switching layer underneath the elastomer keypad may be a flexible membrane circuit or a rigid printed circuit board. The shorting mechanism may be either a carbon pill molded into the keypad or a metal dome assembled under the keypad.
| Specifications | Details |
|---|---|
| Switch travel | 0.040" - 0.050" typical |
| Actuation force | 100g to 300g |
| Legend life | No breaks in graphic lines after a minimum four continuous cycles on Norman tool abrasion test equipment with 175 grams of force on paper that has been baked at 50C for four hours. |
| Mold colors | Match within +/- 0.5 any pantone shade |
| Life cycle | 1,000,000 actuations |
| Material hardness | 40 - 80 shore A (55 typical) |
| Dimensional tolerance | L <= 1.575": +/- 0.010" 1.575" < L <= 1.969": +/- 0.014” 1.969" < L <=3.937": +/- 0.020" L > 3.937": +/- 1.0% angles: +/- 1.0 degrees |
| Contact rating | 100ma @ 24VDC/0.5s |
| Breakdown voltage | 14KV/mm |
| Contact bounce | <12ms |
| Contact resistance | (conductive puck) <100 ohms |
| Insulation resistance | >100Mohms @500VDC |
| Operational temperature | -30° C to +80°C |
| Storage temperature | -40° C to +85°C |