Custom Membrane Switch Manufacturer | ISO, Backlit


Time:

2025-10-27

We design and manufacture custom membrane switches for medical and industrial HMIs — tactile/non-tactile, LED/EL/LGF backlighting, EMI/ESD shielding, IP65–IP67 sealing, and ZIF/FFC connectors. Upload drawings to get a fast quote.

Custom Membrane Switch Manufacturer | ISO, Backlit

Capabilities at a Glance

  • Form factors: flat or embossed keys; tactile (metal dome/polydome) & non-tactile
  • Backlighting: LED, EL, LGF light guide; windows & indicators
  • Materials: PET/PC overlays; silver/carbon inks; optional FPC/Cu circuits
  • Adhesives: 3M 200MP family (e.g., 467MP/468MP) for overlay/rear bonding
  • Connectors: ZIF/FFC tail with common pitches; custom pinouts
  • Protection: IP65–IP67 sealing; EMI/ESD shielding; UV/chemical resistance
  • Quality: ISO-based QMS, RoHS/REACH materials, reliability testing

Typical Stack-Up & Options

  1. Graphic overlay (PET/PC; textures, windows, color matching)
  2. Overlay adhesive (selective)
  3. Top circuit (silver/carbon; optional metal domes/polydomes)
  4. Spacer (normally-open separation)
  5. Bottom circuit (silver/carbon/FPC)
  6. Rear adhesive (3M 467MP/468MP)
Design note: Use 468MP (thicker) where better wet-out on textured powder-coat is needed; 467MP suits smoother, high-energy substrates. Always validate on your substrate.
Various electronic membrane switches with flexible tails

 

Design Options & Materials

  • Tactile feel: dome shape/diameter/actuation force; pillow vs rim emboss
  • Backlighting: LED (bright, efficient) / EL (ultra-thin, even glow; needs inverter) / LGF (thin light guide)
  • Optics: hard-coat, anti-glare/UV; clear/tinted windows
  • Circuits: printed PET vs FPC; define tail pitch & length for ZIF spec
  • Shielding: printed carbon ground or metallic foil for EMI/ESD

Environmental & IP Ratings

We design for dust/water ingress (gaskets, edge-sealing, venting) and UV/chemical exposure in outdoor/industrial conditions. Typical targets: IP65–IP67. See our Adhesives and Waterproof Design guides for details.

Electrical Interface (ZIF/FFC)

Define pin count, pitch (e.g., 0.5/1.0/1.27 mm), tail thickness for ZIF spec, and key matrix/commons. Provide the controller connector part number when available to avoid re-spins.

ZlF connector with flexible flat cable (FFC) on PCB

Quality, Compliance & Testing

  • Regulatory: RoHS/REACH materials; ISO-based production; optional ISO 13485 for medical lines
  • Mechanical: actuation life (typically millions of cycles), peel/shear, abrasion/UV
  • Electrical: contact resistance, insulation, ESD robustness
  • Documentation: PPAP on request; lot/material traceability
Close-up of membrane switch overlay and icons

From Prototype to Production

  • Rapid prototypes (functional, color-matched overlays)
  • Panelization to improve yield and reduce cost
  • Lead time & MOQ tuned to stack-up complexity and tooling
  • Change control and engineering reviews at each phase

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Industries & Applications

  • Medical devices (cleanability, ISO 13485 option, backlit icons)
  • Industrial controls (glove operability, EMI/ESD, IP sealing)
  • Outdoor/marine (UV/salt-mist; reinforced edge sealing)

Internal Links

FAQ

What’s the difference between tactile and non-tactile designs?
Tactile versions use metal domes or polydomes to provide a click feel; non-tactile versions rely on audio/visual feedback and enable ultra-thin profiles.
How do I choose between LED, EL and LGF backlighting?
LED is bright and efficient; EL is ultra-thin and provides even glow but requires an inverter; LGF is thin and guides light to icons/logos.
Which adhesive should I specify?
Start with 3M 200MP family. 467MP suits smoother/high-energy substrates; 468MP (thicker) helps wet-out on textured/powder-coat surfaces. Validate on your substrate.
What tail pitch should I use for ZIF/FFC?
Common pitches: 0.5/1.0/1.27 mm. Match the connector on your controller; provide part number if possible.
Typical lead time and MOQ?
Depends on stack-up and tooling. Prototypes in weeks; production after DFM & first-article approval. See Lead Time & MOQ.

© JASPER Materials comply with RoHS/REACH. Engineering support available under NDA.