Liquid silicone rubber molding is one of the best options for molding custom keypads, and components – especially those that have irregular shapes and sizes. During the initial setup and design of production of a silicone rubber keypad or component there are a lot of different options to consider. Luckily at SiTECH we make the design process easy with options that never leave you having to choose between a clean user friendly appearance and function durability.
The first thing to think about is the keypad integrating with the rest of the product, no matter how great of a keypad it is, if the dimensions are not compatible and exact usability will suffer.
Next up is creating your keypad design. It’s important to understand the key shapes and style that you want. Functionality is crucial; make sure that the rubber keypad can operate all of your product’s features, including speed, direction and volume. Ask yourself if there is a need for power activation, emergency stop controls, or ergonomic keyboards and keypad designs.
The number of buttons, proper labeling, and spacing is next. Remember, when screening graphics on curved surfaces, it is recommended to have a larger curvature for the radius. Your user will have the best experience when labeling is clear, concise and meaningful. The color scheme is important as well, for example you’ll want to choose contrasting colors for labeling basic keypad functions. It should be clear and easily understood what the purpose of it is. Also, consider whether or not you’re going to backlight your keypad.
There are some generally accepted guidelines that can help your designer to make the most of your product. Check out our SiTECH Application Guide for more details.
At SiTECH, we take pride in our experience in the silicone rubber keypad and component industry, and are happy to give tips for making a design become as successful and cost effective as possible. We are fully ITAR registered and ISO compliant, with rapid prototyping available. Contact us today for any of your silicone rubber needs at 757-887-8488 or CS@SiTech-Corp.com.
