Rubber Keyboards

How Rubber Keyboards Operate

The name "silicone rubber keypad" refers to the material used for their webbing. As their name implies, they have silicone rubber webbing. In addition, these keypads are made of silicone rubber rather than the hard plastic used in other keypads. A raised switch, covered in silicone rubber webbing, can be found on most silicone rubber keypads. Underneath this button is a conductive gold or carbon pill. When you press the button, a printed circuit board (PCB) is in contact with the conductive gold or carbon pill, completing the circuit and launching the necessary command.

These switches are silicone rubber keypads because the webbing material that separates the conductive gold or carbon pull from the PCB is composed of silicone rubber. Although silicone-rubber keypads can be designed in various ways, most have a common layout consisting of silicone rubber material encircling an electronic switch in the middle. The silicone rubber substance has conductive material at the bottom, such as carbon or gold. The switch contact is located below this conductive substance, followed by a pocket of air or inert gas. The conductive material thus comes into direct contact with the switch contact due to the silicone rubber material deforming due to pressure applied to the switch. Silicone-rubber keypads also use the compression molding capabilities of this supple, sponge-like material to create tactile feedback. For example, the key will "pop" back up when users depress it and then release their finger.

How Rubber Keyboards are Made

Compression molding is the procedure used to create silicone keypads. Imagine the compression molding tooling as having metal top and bottom halves, like a waffle iron. As opposed to the waffle iron, which has two identical halves, this appliance has one half with the product design cut into it on the bottom and the other with the reverse to allow the silicone to fill the spaces.

The tooling's cavities are filled with raw silicone material by the machine operator, who then joins the two halves. Next, the tooling is heated to a certain temperature range for the silicone to fill the empty areas and become more viscous.

Advantages of Rubber Keyboards

• The main benefit of a rubber keyboard is its flexibility. A rubber keyboard can be rolled up and stuffed into a bag or briefcase without being concerned about jagged edges or potential keyboard damage. A rubber keyboard can be a helpful tool for persons who like a full-sized keyboard to attach to laptops and other portable digital devices because it is less heavy than other travel keyboard models.
• Many rubber keyboards are also spill-resistant, allowing users to use them in bad weather without worrying about spilled drinks. Some even have undersea uses.
• These keyboards are useful for those who frequently bang on the keyboard because it is impossible to harm the keys with strong hands and quick fingers.
• Some rubber keyboards are also incredibly sensitive, working with only a light touch, considerably reducing keyboard noise.
• When picking keypads, comfort is a major selling feature. A keypad won't fulfill its intended purpose if it is too harsh, too firm, or if it isn't ergonomically constructed. Fortunately, silicone-rubber keypads provide a remarkable level of comfort thanks to their smooth, soft, and enjoyable-to-press keys. Most individuals will concur that keypads made of silicone rubber are much more comfortable to push and operate than plastic ones.
• All keypad types require a small initial expenditure, but silicone-rubber keypads are typically more affordable. Users can incorporate them into expansive applications without becoming bankrupt. These features alone ought to be sufficient justification for selecting silicone-rubber keyboards.