Posts Tagged ‘metal dome parameter’

Metal Dome Activation Force Conversion

Friday, November 18th, 2011

Thanks to the big Earth we live on, so we can see different culture around the world, so we can see different measure method on the same thing, so different results. When we discuss metal dome, people use various units, here are how to convert different unit of activation force of metal dome.

Ounces (OZ)     Grams Force (GF)      Newtons (N)

4.00                         114.00           1.11

6.00                       170.00             1.66

8.00                       227.00              2.22

10.00                     284.00             2.78

12.00                     340.00             3.33

14.00                     397.00            3.89

16.00                      454.00            4.44

18.00                       510.00           4.99

20.00                      567.00            5.54

You can also easy convert them by yourself.

1OZ=28.35 g

1GF  = 9.80665 Newton

In fact, OZ is the unit for weight, seemed no business relationship with activation force, but  you can easy treat them as the unit for force, if you’re know little physics.

And Gram force (GF), or KGF (Kilogram Force) has never become the unit of International System of Unit (SI), but it’s popular here in China and Europe.

In our company, the default unit for metal dome activation force we used is GF (Grams Force), but it’s no problem for customer to use other different unit to measure the force of metal dome.

Leave a message or write email to us if you’re interest or has comment for activation force of metal dome.

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How to Measure Parameters of Metal Dome – Four-Legs Series

Monday, October 22nd, 2007

Not everybogy knows everything, so does the purchasing of metal domes. I have got many enquiries about metal domes, but necessary information was missed, so I need to ask for that. The top quesionts which I asked for are as follows:

1) Shape
Of course we need to know the shape of metal domes. It’s the initial step to decide what kind of metal dome is. Right now, we have four basic shapes, namely: Circle, Four-Legs(Cross), Triangle and Oblong. For more, please check: Metal Domes (http://www.metal-domes.com/products.htm)

2) Diameter
The diameter decide the size of metal domes. But the measure point of different metal dome is different, that is the starting point and the ending point is different. Today, I will discuss majorly about Four-Legs(Cross)series.

Firstly, look at following picture showing the metal domes with different diameters.

http://www.metal-domes.com/blogimages/F-series-metal-dome-with-dimple

(F-series-metal-dome-with-dimple)

Then let me check how to measure the diameter of F series metal dome, using a vernier caliper.

Diameter Measurement

Now, you can check the figure is 12.2mm, and this means the diameter of that dome is 12.2mm. Yeah, absolutely right. Let’s exlain it by CAD Drawing. It’ll be more helpful for you to understand that.

dome-parameters

Does it make a sense now?

3) Height and travel of metal dome

You will note from the above picture that how to measure the height and travel of metal dome. In fact, we have discussed this issue before. You can browse this article to get more parameters of metal dome: Metal Dome Technology and Parameters: http://www.metal-domes.com/blog/2006/11/11/metal-dome-tech-and-parameter

I hope you’ll understand what you will need after view the above. If you still have questions, please feel free to contact us.

In next article, we will talk about how to measure other metal domes with different shape.

(to be continue…)

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Different Request of Metal Domes

Monday, December 4th, 2006

Although we have to say that one product should be have the same standard so that it can be used in everyway, we don’t need to worry about who made it. That “standardize” and “internationalize” is good thing for today industry develpment. Bbecause of different culture background, however, there’s still some differences between them.

For normal person, the stardand metal dome are acceptable and will be satisfactory. But what they concerning about is various. Under the NDA with our client, we can’t release more information about them, but we can list some simples phenomenon: Some clients concern about the surfacing plating; someone larg or small dimples; diameter of interior round is the important things for few clients whom worry about the contact area; width of feet is critial elements in some customers’ end-products, and so on.

Everyday, each time we get enquiries about metal dome or sometimes named as “metal snap dome“, we’ll find some difference, whether it’s small or big, we will try to do our best to meet their requests, and feel very happy when problems are fixed and customers found out what they need. At the same time, it’s also a funny time to challenge new affairs. As the preverbs says: “There’s no limit to knowledge”. We appreciate such kind of differences.

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Function of Dimple in Metal Dome (2)

Thursday, November 30th, 2006

We have posted an article name:Function of Dimple in Metal Dome Oct 18 to discuss function of dimple of metal dome. In that article, we ask our visit to talk about it, and received several emails. Thanks for everybody whom involved in that case. Today we’ll make a short conclusion regarding the dimple of metal dome.

First of all, we should know that all T (Triangle) series metal domes have dimples. So it’s a optional part for other three types of domes: C (Circle), F (4-Legs), O (Oblong) and Custom Designs.

Then let’s talk about its funtion as follows:

1) Increase the Travel (Stroke)

2) Increas the Contact Areas and Enhance the Stability of metal dome

When you press the dome and release it, the dimples can increase the contact areas on PCB, as well as other function, so it can enhance the stability. You can check this article New Circle Metal Domes to know our lastest new large dimple of domes.

3) Dust Resistance

If you want to know the details of this, don’t hesitate to contact us, we’ll send you more information.
Dimple of metal dome

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How Metal Dome Works

Monday, November 13th, 2006

Although we’ve said in the main products page of metal dome how it works, but without the assistance of visible picture, many person still don’t know its theory. Today I draw a simple sketch, hope it can be helpful for friends to understand it.

how metal dome work

While you research the picture, you can write our instruction of how metal dome works in metal domes, namely “They function in the following way: The metal domes are placed on the printed circuit board by means of pressure-sensitive adhesive tape. In their relaxed state, the metal domes rest on the outer rim of the primary pathway. When pushed, the domes collapse and make contact with the secondary pathway, thereby closing the circuit.”

To know what a metal dome is, maybe this article, Metal Dome VS Steel Dome,  can help you. Also the artiles in metal domes maybe be helpful for you to learn more the metal dome (sometimes people call it metal snap domes) .

Do you understand it now? Or think about the other things need to provide to enrich this explanation? Leave your response here!

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Metal Domes Technology and Parameters

Saturday, November 11th, 2006

It seemed that Metal Dome is a strange and mystery products in most people eyes, esp. to the green handle in this industry, and not mention person outside of our industry. Also sometimes my clients ask about the questions of technology or parameter of Metal Domes, such as what is a CP or CL is, how the plating, and so on. Today, I will talk something about these things, with the hope of covering basic technology and parameter in the fields of Metal Domes.


1, Material of Metal Domes
Generally it is SUS 301 or SUS 304. The hardness of SUS 301 is higher than SUS 304, normal between 490 and 530 Hv (Tensile Strength 186kg/mm²). Or sometimes people divided them into four basic types, according to the hardness of Japanese pencil: 1/4 H, 1/2 H, H and EH. The higher the hardness, the more stability of life cycles and click feeling, and the more expensive price will be. For more information about material, view About Stainless Steel – Raw Material of Metal Dome (1), About Stainless Steel – Raw Material of Metal Dome (2)


2, Number of Sockets in Mould of Metal Domes

The more number of sockets in mould, the less stability will be. Right now, it is 1 out 1, for the normal factory of metal domes, for small circle metal dome, such as 3~5mm, maybe 3 or 5 pcs.

3, OQA Control

The items of OQA including outlook(shape, burs), force (force tester),  click feeling, life testing (life tester), generally inspect 3 out 10,000 pcs randomly.


4, Click Feeling

CC: Click Feeling; CP: Compression Peak Force; CL: Compression Low Force; RL: Release Low Force; RP: Compression Peak Force
CC(%)=(CP-CL)/CP x 100%, it’s normally between 35% and 60%.


Metal Dome Stroke (Travel)
Â

5, Stroke (Travel) of Metal Domes

Please see the figure, generally the stroke (travel) for Diameter 4mm metal dome is 0.16mm “ 0.18mm, +/- 0.003mm, Dia 5mm 0.18mm “ 0.23mm and 0.23mm “ 0.28mm for Dia 6mm.

metal dome heigth

6, Height of Metal Domes

Height equal to stroke (travel) + thickness of material. For examples, the stroke is 0.20mm, thickness of material is 0.06, then height will be 0.20+0.06=0.26mm.

7, Shape of Metal Domes

There are basic four types: Circle (Round), Four-Legs (Cross), Triangle and Oblong. Also customers design is welcome.

8, Handling of Smudge

Cleanout: There are two methods: one is multi-grade pure water filtration; another one is Ultrasonic clean-out.

9, Plating

At present, there are two methods. For Ni (Nickel) plating domes, generally factory purchase the material which already has Ni foil on the raw material. For Au (Gold), there are two ways: one is Au on raw material, another is manufacture metal domes without any foil firstly, then send them to electroplate workshop to have Au plating. Also it can divide into single side and two sided Au plating.


10, Usage of Metal Domes

Peter from Best Hardware Co., Ltd., believe that it is a future direction that more and more products which require click feeling, excellent electric capability, long life performance, better acclimatization will use metal domes or metal dome arrays (metal dome switches).

Right now it is widely used in communication electronics, home electric appliances, industry control equipments, medical machines, with the macroscopical view.

For more usage of metal domes in microcosmic view, please browse our website (http://www.metal-domes.com) to learn more. I hope right now everyone can understand the basic technology and parameter of metal domes in our industry.

If you still have any questions, or have different thought or views with us, or have some suggestion or comments, please leave your messages here or contact us.


Author: Peter
Published: Metal Domes Technology and Parameters; Metal Dome Blog
All right reserved. Be reproduced in the form of annotated links to the original source and author, and this statement.

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Function of Dimple in Metal Dome

Wednesday, October 18th, 2006

Have you seen that picture? Do you know the name of four “dot” in the pictures, one in middle, three in peripheral?

Dimple of metal dome

Haha, maybe you already know it, maybe not. The name is “Dimple” in the metal dome industry. It’s a important parts of metal dome, though it’s a little small.

Do you know what’s the usage of that small dimple? And how important it is? You can tell me your answer, send email or leave your comments via this blog. I’ll release the answer in the coming day.

We call it “Dimple”.

To be continued..

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Metal Dome Packing Series 1

Thursday, October 12th, 2006

As we know, the general packing of metal dome is in bulk, such as 1,000 pcs or 5,000 pcs per PE bag. This kind of packing has the lowest packing cost. But there’re also other kinds of packing methods, such as in tube, or on array and so on. Today we’ll talk about the tube packing of metal dome.

The metal domes are loaded inside of a certain shape of tube, via a special machine. And now, let take a glance at this special machine. Can you guess which kind of machine should be used in metal dome tube packing? Tell me your answer, maybe I can send you a Christmas gift. Haha ^_^ Or do you have special idea about the packing? If so, let me know, The big suprise is just for you!

(more…)

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Why People Like to Use Metal Domes in Extreme Way

Monday, October 9th, 2006

As you know, the product lines of metal domes which is popular used currently are from 3mm to 12mm, whether the shape is circle, four-legs, triangle, or oblong. In fact, different shapes of metal domes have its own advantage and so do the product ranges. For examples, the most popular diameter of circule metal domes is from 3mm to 10mm, sometimes, 12mm. And if you need the larger diameter, you’d better consider to use the Cross metal domes or Triangle metal domes.  Why we reommend them?

(more…)

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