Metal Dome & Dome Array – Best Technology

When you are designing a metal dome switch for your devices, you must know the design rules or the standard limitations firstly. So how do you know your metal dome design is right and suitable for your applications? Here in, we summarize six frequently asked questions on snap dome switches that we get from our engineers.

1.What Are Classifications of Tactile Metal Domes?

Currently, there are seven methods for the classification of metal dome switches.

• Classification by shape

This is the most intuitive classification for metal domes (snap domes as well), that is by shapes. There are Round Metal Dome, Oblong Metal Dome, Triangle Metal Dome and Four-leg Metal Dome (also called Cross Metal Dome)

• Classification by the number of contact dimples

No dimple, single dimple and multi dimples metal dome. These can be checked on the surface of snap domes.

• Classification by the surface treatment

We also can recognize it from its surface finishing. Normal metal domes are in stainless steel, some customers require plated with Nickel, Silver and Gold.

• Classification by whether they have legs or not

Metal dome with legs or metal dome without legs. (Usually, since the other domes seldom have legs, this method only works with the triangle metal domes.)

• Classification by the force

The metal dome can be classified by high force metal dome and low force metal domes.

• Classification by the click ratio

Metal domes can be divided into high click ratio and low click ratio metal domes.

2.What is the Package Method for Metal Domes?

Usually, we have 4 types of packaging methods for metal domes, you can choose according to your convenience.

• The most common package is PET bag, it is also called bulk or loose.
• Placing metal domes in customized PET adhesive tape, which is named as dome array or

dome sheet.

• Tape & reel package. This package is mainly used for SMT peel and place machine.
• Tube packaging. This method is not used commonly, for which different shapes require

different tooling and different tube sizes, hence if there is no large order volume, the cost will be very high.

3.What Are the Advantages of Metal Dome Switches Over Other Switch Types?

Metal dome switches offer several advantages that make them a preferred choice in many applications. Some key benefits include:

Durability: Metal dome switches are incredibly durable and can withstand millions of actuations without wearing out.

Reliability: They provide consistent tactile feedback, ensuring that every keypress or input is registered accurately.

Tactile Feel: Metal dome switches offer a distinct tactile feel, which many users find satisfying.

Longevity: Their long lifespan reduces maintenance and replacement costs over time.

4.Are Metal Dome Switches Compatible with Different Circuit Designs?

Yes, metal dome switches are compatible with various circuit designs, including flexible circuits. Their low profile and conductive nature make them suitable for integration into different electronic systems, providing tactile feedback and reliable electrical connections.

5.What is the Most Commonly Used Force Range for Metal Dome?

(PS: For round metal dome, when its diameter is larger, the force can even reach 200g to 400g.)

As we know that the force of metal domes is also related to the lifetime. Therefore, the magnitude of force still depends on the customer’s requirement. if the customer has no requirements about the lifetime, we can increase the force at discretion as well.

6.What Parameters Should We Know Before Designing the Dome Array?

a.The position of key, the design file should dedicate the center point of the key.

b.The position of the hole, e.g., LED, position hole, soldering point.

c.The outline of the whole product, outline is generally corresponding to the outline of the PCB.

d.Whether to brush EMI, add double-sided tape, add light guide.

e.Specifications of metal dome, for example: shape, diameter, force and material of metal dome.

f.Tolerance requirements, such as dimensional tolerance, tolerance between buttons and buttons, etc.

If you have any other questions, welcome to reach us at any time~

Many people may not understand the assembly of metal dome array film. Today I will introduce to you the assembly process of metal dome array film. As a precision component of electronic components, the conductive film seamlessly integrates the metal dome onto the PET film. Dome array film is mainly the material of polydome and panels. During production, it mainly requires flatness and printing adaptability. As a critical step in creating tactile switches and membrane keyboards, it’s also important to understand the various assembly methods.

There are usually three ways to install metal dome on PET adhesive sheet.

1) Assembly jig: This is the assembly method we often use at present. The  assembly jig is a precisely dimensionally aligned fixture made from a drawing of a PET adhesive sheet (dome array). Typically, aluminum panels are the material of choice for these fixtures. The dome holes on these plates can be determined according to the different shapes and quantities of the metal dome. It is mainly based on the drawings provided by the customer to make the corresponding dome holes.

The Assembly jig method has high precision, ensuring that the metal dome is accurately placed on the PET adhesive sheet. This precision minimizes the possibility of errors during assembly and produces a reliable dome array.

2) Assembly through pipe clamps: This method is mainly used when assembly speed and efficiency are required, and pipe clamps are used to speed up the assembly process. However, this assembly method can quickly and accurately place the metal dome, but its cost is relatively high. Therefore, this method is only suitable for small batch production, and the cost of large batch production will be relatively high.

Assembly of tube fixtures are favored by manufacturers for maintaining accuracy and speed while also meeting mass production requirements, making them ideal for certain scenarios.

3) Manual assembly: Place the snap dome or metal dome on PET adhesive by manual. Usually if the customer only requires few prototypes and samples, and does not want to pay the fixture fee, we will manually place the metal domes of the sample. However, it is worth noting that the disadvantage of this fitting method is that the fitting tolerance is relatively large, and some may tilt severely.

In summary:

The assembly method used when assembling a metal dome depends on a variety of factors, including product quantity, accuracy requirements and cost budget. We will choose the best solution for our customers based on their requirements.

These assembly methods of Best Technology can ensure that products meet quality standards for customers. Whether you are producing in small batches or large batches, we will provide you with solutions based on the products you need, and ensure product quality while pursuing speed. of precision and superior quality.

Metal domes are important components in a variety of electronic devices, providing tactile feedback and reliability in button interfaces. Assembling a metal dome onto a printed circuit board (PCB) is a critical step that requires careful consideration of methods, advantages, precautions, and potential pitfalls. Best Technology has rich experience in both the PCB industry and the metal dome industry. Below, I will introduce to you in detail the methods and advantages of metal dome assembly.

Can a metal dome be soldered to a PCB?

Metal domes can be assembled onto PCBs using various methods, including:

Direct Insertion:It can be directly inserted into the pinholes of the PCB and fixed; or a Metal dome can be made with tape, and the Metal dome and PCB can be glued together for conduction, which is called a dome array.

Dome Array: Metal domes can be affixed to PCBs using adhesive tape, creating a dome array. However, welding metal domes directly onto PCBs is not recommended. This is because metal domes possess a slight arc and ductility. When pressed, they tend to extend slightly. Welding directly onto PCBs can limit this flexibility and potentially cause the metal domes to become concave with prolonged use.

Precautions for Metal Dome Assembly

When working with metal domes, it is essential to observe specific precautions to maintain their integrity and functionality:

Avoid Sharp Objects: Do not use sharp objects to press the metal domes to prevent damage.

Avoid Overloading (Heavy Objects): Ensure that products are not subjected to heavy objects that may cause deformation or damage to the metal domes.

Physical Inspection: Pay close attention to any physical external damage on the metal domes, as this can impact performance.

Minimize Direct Contact: Refrain from touching the metal domes directly with bare hands to prevent contamination.

Avoid Exposure to Solvents: Ensure that products do not come into contact with special solvents, as these can affect the performance of metal domes.

Maintain Clean PCB Pads: PCB contact pads in contact with metal domes should not contain foreign matter, as this can affect the conductivity of the domes.

Advantages of Making Metal Dome Arrays

Creating metal dome arrays offers several advantages:

Enhanced Efficiency : Metal domes can be processed into a single adhesive film, streamlining the assembly process and significantly improving efficiency. This eliminates the need to assemble metal domes individually.

Protection Against Contamination : Covering metal domes with PET adhesive paper safeguards them against dust and contamination, ensuring optimal performance over time.

firmly attached : Dome arrays provide a more secure attachment of metal domes to the circuit board, enhancing overall durability.

Best Technology considers methods, materials and precautions to ensure that metal domes function optimally during use. In addition to the assembly methods and some precautions introduced above, Best also undergoes strict inspections when producing metal domes to ensure the product quality of the metal domes. If you want to learn more about Best Technology’s dome array, you can contact us.

The difference between glue without base material and glue with base material

Double-sided tape is an important material used in polydome, so what should you pay attention to when using double-sided tape? The metal dome needs to be fixed on the circuit board in the polydome, so different steps require different double-sided tape.

Introduction to double-sided tape without base material

No base material means that the double-sided tape does not have any media and is produced directly from the tape. The outside is in polymer-coated waterproof kraft paper. This tape is transparent in color and has good bonding ability, which can effectively prevent it from falling off. However, since double-sided tape without a base material is fluid, it needs to be laid flat when stored. If it is placed upright, the glue will overflow from both sides.

With base material double-sided tape

Double-sided tape with a base material is mainly made of tissue paper, PET, PVC film, non-woven fabric, foam, acrylic foam, etc., and is coated on both sides with elastomer-type pressure-sensitive adhesive or resin-type pressure-sensitive adhesive, acrylic Pressure-sensitive adhesive, etc. A roll-shaped or sheet-shaped adhesive tape is made on the above-mentioned base material, and is partially composed of a base material, an adhesive, and a release paper.

Comparing double-sided tape with a base material and without a base material, double-sided tape with a base material has a base material in the middle, which allows the glue to maintain its shape and can be stored upright without the glue flowing out from both sides. Double-sided tape without a base material only has an adhesive film, so to achieve the same bonding performance, the total thickness of the adhesive is smaller, softer and more conformable. The disadvantage is that when the ambient temperature is relatively high, the adhesive layer will have end faces. Glue overflow. When using double-sided tape with a base material, it is necessary to discharge the gas from the sticky surface so that the double-sided tape can fully contact the object and stick firmly. When used incorrectly and the double-sided tape needs to be torn off, the double-sided tape with a base material will not come off and is easy to use.

The double-sided tape in the polydome plays a very important role as it plays a key role in connection and is also waterproof. Due to the use of high-quality materials, 3M double-sided tape has stable performance and strong fixing ability during the application process of polydome.

Best Technology is a supplier specializing in the production of metal domes and polydome, and can carry out customized design and production according to customer needs. Our polydome has been tested to have a service life of 5 million times. The dome is durable, with good rebound effect and moderate strength.

Metal domes are small, discreet components that play a crucial role in a wide range of products across various industries. These tactile switches are designed to provide tactile feedback, making them essential for user interfaces in countless devices.Below, we’ll delve into the application areas of metal domes, focusing on tactile springs, industrial applications, and design highlights.

Tactile Domes: Enhancing User Experience

The tactile dome mainly improves the interaction experience between electronic devices and users, allowing users to quickly issue and transmit instructions and complete interactions when using electronic devices.These small, metal components are used extensively in membrane switches, keypads, and touch-sensitive interfaces. Here are some of the key application areas:

Consumer Electronics: In smartphones, POS machine, and remote controls, metal domes underlie the buttons, providing a satisfying tactile click when pressed. This tactile feedback enhances the overall user experience.

Automotive Industry: Metal domes are used in car dashboard controls, steering wheel buttons, and infotainment systems. They ensure drivers can operate these systems without taking their eyes off the road.

Medical Devices: Medical equipment often requires precise input. Metal domes in the buttons of medical devices like infusion pumps and monitoring systems ensure accurate data entry.

Industrial Control Panels: In manufacturing and automation, tactile domes are found in control panels, allowing operators to make precise selections even while wearing gloves.

Domes for Industrial Applications: Durability and Reliability

Beyond enhancing user interfaces, metal domes are indispensable in industrial applications due to their durability and reliability. Here are some examples:

Aerospace: Metal domes are used in aerospace control panels, ensuring that critical functions operate smoothly under extreme conditions.

defense equipment: defense equipment, including ruggedized communication devices and control systems, relies on metal domes for their robustness and longevity.

Design Tactile Domes: Functional Integration

Design tactile domes are a niche but vital application of metal domes. These are engineered to combine aesthetics with functionality. Here’s where they are used:

Consumer Products: Design tactile domes are used in high-end home appliances and electronics, providing not only tactile feedback but also a premium feel to the product.

Custom Keyboards: Enthusiast mechanical keyboards often incorporate design tactile domes to offer a unique typing experience while catering to individual preferences in keypress feel and sound.

The Advantages of Metal Domes

The widespread use of metal domes is attributed to several advantages they offer:

Tactile feedback: The metal dome provides tactile response, improving user satisfaction and enhancing user experience.

Durability: They are robust and resistant to wear and tear, making them ideal for products that endure heavy usage.

Reliability: Metal domes have a long operational life, contributing to the longevity of the products they are integrated into.

The metal dome array is a multi-functional component with a wide range of applications. Across numerous electronics and industrial applications, their ability to provide tactile feedback, durability, and reliability have made these metal domes a prime material. Best Technology strictly requires product quality in production, and takes products from design to production to delivery, so that customers are satisfied and assured.

You must be curious, where are metal domes used? The following is a detailed introduction to the application fields, functions and advantages of metal shrapnel.

Metal domes are small, discreet components that play a crucial role in a wide range of products across various industries. These tactile switches dome are designed to provide tactile feedback, making them essential for user interfaces in countless devices.Below, we’ll delve into the application areas of metal domes, focusing on tactile springs, industrial applications, and design highlights.

Tactile Domes: Enhancing User Experience

The tactile dome mainly improves the interaction experience between electronic devices and users, allowing users to quickly issue and transmit instructions and complete interactions when using electronic devices.These small, metal components are used extensively in membrane switches, keypads, and touch-sensitive interfaces. Here are some of the key application areas:

Consumer Electronics: In smartphones, POS machine, and remote controls, metal domes underlie the buttons, providing a satisfying tactile click when pressed. This tactile feedback enhances the overall user experience.

Automotive Industry: Metal domes are used in car dashboard controls, steering wheel buttons, and infotainment systems. They ensure drivers can operate these systems without taking their eyes off the road.

Medical Devices: Medical equipment often requires precise input. Metal domes in the buttons of medical devices like infusion pumps and monitoring systems ensure accurate data entry.

Industrial Control Panels: In manufacturing and automation, tactile domes are found in control panels, allowing operators to make precise selections even while wearing gloves.

Domes for Industrial Applications: Durability and Reliability

Beyond enhancing user interfaces, metal domes are indispensable in industrial applications due to their durability and reliability. Here are some examples:

Aerospace: Metal domes are used in aerospace control panels, ensuring that critical functions operate smoothly under extreme conditions.

defense equipment: defense equipment, including ruggedized communication devices and control systems, relies on metal domes for their robustness and longevity.

Design Tactile Domes: Functional Integration

Design tactile domes are a niche but vital application of metal domes. These are engineered to combine aesthetics with functionality. Here’s where they are used:

Consumer Products: Design tactile domes are used in high-end home appliances and electronics, providing not only tactile feedback but also a premium feel to the product.

Custom Keyboards: Enthusiast mechanical keyboards often incorporate design tactile domes to offer a unique typing experience while catering to individual preferences in keypress feel and sound.

The Advantages of Metal Domes

The widespread use of metal domes is attributed to several advantages they offer:

Tactile feedback: The metal dome provides tactile response, improving user satisfaction and enhancing user experience.

Durability: They are robust and resistant to wear and tear, making them ideal for products that endure heavy usage.

Reliability: Metal domes have a long operational life, contributing to the longevity of the products they are integrated into.

The metal dome is a multi-functional component with a wide range of applications. Across numerous electronics and industrial applications, their ability to provide tactile feedback, durability, and reliability have made these metal domes a prime material. Best Technology strictly requires product quality in production, and takes products from design to production to delivery, so that customers are satisfied and assured.

As we all know, there are totally four types of metal domes in the current industry. They are Four legs metal dome, Triangle metal domes, Circle/Round metal domes and Oblong metal domes. Between these domes, triangle is popular due to its good clicking feel and diversity in limited space. It has two legs to insert into the hole of circuit board, today, we will share the variety of leg types in triangle metal dome.

In general, triangle metal dome has three types of legs: short leg, mid leg and long leg. Different types of legs have different length. Let’s me introduce for you.

Short leg

Just as its name implies, short leg has the shortest length in metal domes. Based on the triangle metal dome without legs, there are two pin legs in the middle of the side line, whose width is 0.8mm and the length is 0.8mm. This kind of triangle domes can be used on those board whose thickness is less than 0.8mm, especially 0.6mm.

Mid leg

With a width of 0.8mm and a length extended to 1.5mm, the mid leg triangle dome strikes a balance between form and function. This kind of legs caters splendidly to circuit boards within the 1.0mm to 1.5mm thickness range. The slightly elongated legs enhance stability and guarantee consistent tactile feedback, rendering it a reliable choice for applications demanding moderate board thickness.

Long leg

For demanding a more thicker circuit board, the long leg metal dome is the best way. Long leg has a 0.8mm width and 3.0mm length, this serves circuit boards ranging from 1.5mm to 2.0mm in thickness. The long legs ensure secure placement and good clicking feeling feedback, maintaining a dependable tactile experience even in relatively thicker board setups.

Customization for Specific Needs

In addition to the standard leg types mentioned above, manufacturers also offer the flexibility to customize the triangular dome according to specific customer requirements. This level of customization ensures that triangle metal domes can be tailored to fit a wide range of applications, providing the desired tactile feedback and performance.

So this is the end of today’s sharing, if you have any other questions or inquiries about metal domes, welcome to contact us at sales@metal-domes.com or leave your comments below.

The metal dome used on the silicone membrane keyboard is mainly located on the conductive part of the PCB (mostly above the gold fingers on the circuit board). While the metal dome is mainly made of stainless steel, the metal dome plays an important role in the tactile switch and also has conductive properties. When the silicone rubber keypad is pressed, the center point of the metal dome is concave and contacts the circuit on the PCB to form a loop. The metal dome is reflowed to make the silicone rubber keyboard work.

The metal dome fits into the silicone rubber keypad

The metal dome array consists of individual metal domes on a pressure sensitive bonded PET sheet, each individual metal dome occupying a designated position on the dome display. This kind of position is after the supplier provides the drawing and confirms with the engineer, advanced proofing, and then starts mass production to ensure the availability of the product and reduce the error rate of the product. At the same time, a detachable anti-adhesive backing is arranged on the metal dome display, which allows customers to use it more efficiently.

Silicone rubber keyboard in use, the dome display provides a new tactile experience, due to the different design, the metal dome provides users with a unique and satisfying keystroke response when pressed, improving the user’s comfort during use sex.

The role of metal domes in silicone rubber keyboards

Metal domes are easier to assemble on silicone rubber membrane keyboards. The manufacturer made the assembly process easier when purchasing the metal dome to assemble it into the keyboard. The metal dome is designed to fit snugly on the keyboard, which not only speeds up the customer’s production schedule, but also reduces the possibility of errors during assembly. Best Technology can ensure that the metal domes produced are of precision and reliability, allowing users to have a good experience in assembly and use.

Metal domes last longer in silicone rubber keyboards. For the metal dome installed in the silicone rubber keyboard, the most important thing is the service life of the metal dome. Metal domes have been measured to last approximately five million uses, which is one of the reasons our metal domes are popular in the industry. The stainless steel metal dome is pressed hard and resilient in application, maintaining the integrity of the dome after countless uses. This also gives the metal dome a relatively long lifespan during use.

Application of metal dome silicone rubber membrane keyboard. The metal dome is used as a key component in the keyboard, which makes the keyboard have unique advantages in various fields. With the continuous updating of technology, there are applications of metal domes in the medical field, automotive interface, aerospace, industrial production and other industries. The versatility of these metal dome mounted keyboards has emerged and become an important part of the industry.

The metal dome is an inseparable component in work and life, it connects the command transmission between us and the machine. There is a metal dome added to the silicone rubber keyboard, which makes the transmission command fast, accurate and efficient. From modern consumer electronics to industrial mechanical interfaces, the sophistication and reliability of metal domes has evolved little by little.

With the continuous advancement of technology, metal dome technology has developed rapidly in the field of key switches. Metal dome, also known as snap dome, as the core component of the key switch, the metal dome is gradually becoming the focus of the industry with the development of the key switch. Its excellent quality and durability make people pay attention to the performance of the key switch Create new expectations.

Introduction of Metal Dome

The metal dome is made of ultra-thin (0.05mm-0.1mm thickness) and ultra-thick (generally higher hardness) stainless steel 301 or 304 materials, which are manufactured through precision machining. The production of the metal dome is simple and fast, although its working principle is very simple but extremely critical: when the metal dome on the button is pressed, its center point is concave, and the conductive part at the bottom (usually located on the gold finger on the PCB board) above) to form a loop, and the current passes through, so that the whole product can work normally. This structure is widely used in membrane switches, metal dome contact switches, PCB boards, FPC boards, medical equipment and other products.

Classification of metal domes

According to the shape and strength of the metal dome, it can be divided into different types such as round, cross, triangle, oval, etc. The diameter ranges from 3mm to 20mm, and the strength ranges from 100gf to 600gf, which meets the needs of different products for the touch of buttons.

The superiority of the metal dome technology is also reflected in its surface electroplating treatment. You can choose gold plating, nickel plating, silver plating, bright surface and other treatment methods, which not only improve the appearance texture, but also protect the metal dome from being easily damaged to a certain extent. Rust and aging.

As an important part of the key switch, the metal dome bears an important role in the switch operation. Its structure enables the key switch to realize the closing and connecting of the switch function when the operating force is applied, and the switch is turned off when the operating force is withdrawn. This design based on the force change of the metal dome ensures the reliable on-off of the circuit, thus providing a solid foundation for the normal use of the product.

The metal dome market also has different divisions. The division of quality and price is relatively obvious, followed by the division of material and shape. The material and shape are mainly divided into stainless steel metal domes and ordinary metal domes. Metal domes with different shapes have different functions. For the selection of square and round metal domes, it needs to be considered according to the specific needs of the key switch. Due to its design structure, circular metal domes tend to have a longer service life under the same material, while square metal domes are easier to produce than round ones, but the use of circular metal domes in applications The number is much larger than the square metal dome.

All in all, the new application of metal dome technology has brought a qualitative leap in the field of key switches. In the application, Best Technology metal dome, with its excellent performance, durable characteristics, and various options to meet different needs, makes the quality and stability of key switch products more guaranteed. Whether it is to improve user experience or meet the needs of specific industrial fields, the introduction of Best Technology metal domes will create more possibilities for the industry and push the performance of key switches to a new level.