This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
Rubber Keypad Application – Mobile Cooling Unit
Case study July 2019 – PORTABLE EVAPORATIVE AIR COOLER
A recent consumer product we worked on was a portable “evaporative” air cooler, designed for the Caravan/Motorhome market. The unit required a 5 key Rubber keypad to switch on the unit and control the output.
As with many of our HMI projects we were contacted initially by a Product Design company, contracted by the customer to create the casing design in conjunction with their electronics designer.
The Silicone Rubber Keypad sits on top of the portable air cooler for easy user access. Our product engineer advised specific key features to the customer which he felt would best suit this application, these included:
- Shore hardness of the rubber
- Key operating force
- Keystroke/travel
Support was provided based on previous experience working on similar projects and using our Rubber Keypad Design Tool to select the most suitable key “feel”.
Silicone rubber is extremely durable and has fantastic resistance to both low and high temperatures as well as minimum noise due to flexible contact structure. Silicone rubber keypads are often used as a cost-effective and functional choice for medium to high volume electronic products requiring both tactile and linear switch feedback.
Diamond HMI were able to provide a competitive price and fast turnaround which was a top priority for the customer to hit their key summer market.
The design cycle, including the creation of 3D CAD files, took approximately 6 weeks with initial prototype samples for testing being delivered 6 weeks later. Once prototype sign off was agreed, production volumes were delivered in 7 weeks.
By having our own team based in the Far East we can quickly communicate project timescales and advise quickly on any technical issues within the design.
Find out more at Totalcool and TRIG Creative.
About Us
Diamond HMI division focuses on the design and manufacture of custom Human Machine Interface solutions. In addition to consumer projects, much of our work focuses on industrial applications within sectors such as aviation, plant-based machinery, medical, and automotive. With such diverse client experience, we can create innovative switching and display solutions for any product.