Overlay film enables tactile dome keypad

Hoffmann + Krippner chose Autotex for its latest membrane keypad as it is a high-quality textured polyester film with a UV-cured textured coating.

Data entry systems specialist Hoffmann + Krippner has developed a special customer-specific application for Sato in Munchengladbach, Germany, using its new GT switch dome technology and Autotex overlay film from MacDermid Autotype.

Sato is a leading manufacturer of high-precision cutting machines, and H + K's aim was to develop a clear and simple-to-use menu guidance system for programming the advanced operating unit of a plasma cutting machine, equipping this interface with large tactile membrane switches for all of the machine functions.

The switch technology consists of a flexible gold/silver membrane touch keypad on an aluminium substrate with specially formed GT switch domes.

Autotex from MacDermid Autotype was chosen for the membrane keypad as this is a high-quality textured polyester film with a UV-cured textured coating.

The advantages of this film are its extreme resistance to mechanical stress, chemicals and cleaning agents, scratch resistance and, last but not least, its aesthetic appearance.

The user-friendly surface remains pleasant to the touch and when formed into raised switch domes offers excellent key response and a crisp key click.

The elastic key domes make data entry quicker and render the keypad virtually indestructible.

Indentations caused by depressions with hard objects like ballpoint pens and screwdrivers heal again without a trace in a very short time.

A spokesman from Hoffmann + Krippner commented: "Autotex is the perfect overlay film for this field of application".

"It can withstand extreme conditions, is easy to fabricate and reacts well to manufacturing processes".

"We have found the ideal partner for our demanding customer-specific applications in MacDermid Autotype".

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