What Are Custom Membrane Switches?

While stock membrane switches are available, most applications require custom membrane switches due to the specific nature of the finished product in which they are used. Using a custom membrane switch results in a superior finished product in that the membrane switch is visually and mechanically designed to the exact specifications required by the application.

How Do I Create A Custom Membrane Switch?

The first step in the custom membrane switch process is to develop a graphic overlay with the "right look". The graphic overlay is the top layer of the custom membrane switch and is the graphic interface between user and machine. While other layers make the membrane switch work, the graphic overlay is what your customer will see first. With Pannam's new state of the art digital UV flatbed printer, the graphic options for the overlay are virtually unlimited. Digital technology allows us to customize many different overlay options for the same switch design at minimal cost to you. Today, many of our customers have one common switch layer that is compatible with many different overlay designs. This affords a huge cost savings by allowing more economical run sizes of switches while the digital printing of overlays allows for economical short runs of custom product. Our experienced engineers will help you select the perfect overlay material, thickness, color combinations and finish.

Next, a technical drawing of the membrane switch must be created. Some of out customers are able to provide very sophisticated design drawings while others do not have that engineering capability in house. Pannam is fully capable of assisting in this process as needed. We can lend our expertise to your detailed design, or work with you hand in hand to develop a drawing that exactly meets requirements of your custom membrane switch. In many custom membrane switch applications there are space restrictions, connection limitations or EMI concerns. Our staff has the knowledge to help you account for these issues in your design and will bring our years of experience to your project as a resource. Upon the completion of the design process, our designers will provide you with a complete design drawing for your approval and sign-off.

Finally, before a production run is started, a prototype custom membrane switch will be assembled in our facility for your approval. This prototype will include your custom graphic overlay and the custom membrane switch layout your application requires. Once we have your approval, we will go ahead with a full production run of your custom membrane switch!

Other Considerations When Designing Custom Membrane Switches

Embossing the overlay can improve the overall look and function of the custom membrane switch. Three different embossing shapes (pad, rail and dome) are available to enhance the look of the overlay.

Printed silver traces, copper etched traces and printed circuit boards are available depending on the design, real estate and amount of electricity flowing through the switch. Many different interconnection options are available to best complement the device it is attached to.

Fiber optics, LED's and electroluminescence are the backlighting options available today for enhance the overall look and functionality of the custom membrane switch.

No matter what level of customization is required for your application, we at Pannam have a solution.