Silicone rubber is a very versatile product. When designing a silicone rubber keypad, there are many options to consider. Instead of going for just a simple keypad molded in all one color for your product, you can make your product stand out from the competition by using insert molding for dead fronts, LEDs, backlighting, and silicone rubber display windows in your keypad.
Traditionally Clear
Most traditional backlit parts are molded in all clear silicone; then sprayed with the desired coating and lasered to create the backlit rubber keypad. This process leaves the buyer trying to come up with several different ways to block the light from traveling to another key. This is an outdated process that is ineffective, because even if you block light so it is only passed to a certain key, light is still able to transfer through the silicone from key to key because the part is molded in all clear.
Insert Molding Solutions
Insert molding is a process that Si-Tech uses to isolate light that does not allow it to transfer from one location to another. Insert molding is done in a double-shot process, one shot to mold the inserts and then a second shot where you place the inserts in a mold and shoot silicone rubber around the inserts, creating a crosslink bond between the silicones. The insert molding process gives you peace of mind by not having to worry about light leaking, along with many new designs that molding a part in all clear does not provide.
One example of using insert molding for a new design that you cannot make by molding in all clear is having two different light sources in one key of the keypad. This allows you to be able to use a combination of a dead front, LED, backlighting, or display windows in one key by using two inserts for one key.
Contact Si-Tech today at 757-887-8488 or CS@SiTech-Corp.com to learn more about the different capabilities of insert molding or if you need any assistance with your silicone rubber product. Our silicone keypads and custom components are created with state-of-the art technology using only liquid injection molding at our headquarters located in Newport News, Virginia. We are fully ITAR certified and are proud to serve the needs of our customers with products made with the craftsmanship and quality of American professionals.
