Under ideal conditions, the life of a metal dome can withstand millions or even more action cycles, but in actual applications, its life may fluctuate between thousands and millions of times. This mainly depends on key factors such as materials, usage environment, and mechanical stress.
What is metal dome?
Metal domes, also known as pot pieces, are ultra-thin or ultra-thick sheet-like components made of metal materials (such as stainless steel 301 or 304).
Metal domes have a variety of shapes, including round, cross, triangle, elliptical, etc., which can deform when subjected to external force and quickly return to their original shape after the external force is removed.
This feature makes it an ideal choice for realizing multiple functions such as mechanical transmission, electrical connection or disconnection, and pressure sensing.
What is a tactile dome switch?
A tactile dome switch is a switch that realizes on and off by changing the force of a metal dome, usually called a touch switch. A touch switch consists of an insert, a base, a dome, a button, and a cover.
The working principle of the touch switch is based on the force change of the metal dome. When the user applies pressure, the dome deforms, closing the circuit; after the pressure is removed, the dome returns to its original state and the circuit is disconnected.
This switch has the advantages of low contact resistance, small operating force error, and diversified specifications, and is widely used in electronic equipment and other fields.
How long is the life of a metal dome?
The life of the dome varies depending on the material and type.
Stainless steel dome: The life of stainless steel dome is usually longer, up to 2 million times.
Silver-coated copper dome: The life of the silver-coated copper dome of the domestic waterproof touch switch is generally 50,000-70,000 times.
Single-sided silver-coated dome: The life of single-sided silver-coated can reach 100,000 times.
Hardware dome: The life of hardware dome is generally between 500,000 and 1 million times, while the life of the cross-shaped dome is shorter, about 200,000 to 300,000 times.
How to test the life of a metal dome?
Life tester test method. Use the metal dome life tester for testing.
Equipment preparation: Check the tester status to ensure that the equipment is working properly. Install the test terminal to ensure that it is firmly fixed.
Sample installation: Install the metal dome to be tested on the test terminal to ensure that the sample is fixed and stable and will not shift or slide during the test.
Start the test: Start the life tester and test according to the set test conditions. Record the data during the test, including the applied pressure and the corresponding displacement change.
What are the factors that affect the life of metal dome?
The main factors that affect the life of metal dome include the following aspects:
Excessive crushing: Using sharp objects or nails to scratch the dome will cause damage to the surface of the dome, affecting its normal use and life.
Too large contact: If the contact design is unreasonable and does not cooperate well with the dome, it will affect the normal use of the dome, thereby shortening its life.
Unbalanced dome contact surface: Unbalanced placement of the dome around it will cause uneven force and affect its service life.
Poor contact: If the dome is not installed properly, poor contact will lead to increased resistance, which will affect the normal operation and service life of the dome.
What are the advantages of a metal dome?
The advantages of metal dome mainly include the following aspects:
High elasticity: Metal dome has excellent elastic properties and can maintain stable rebound ability after repeated deformation.
Excellent conductivity: The metal itself has good conductivity and can quickly conduct the circuit when the key is pressed to realize signal transmission.
Low contact resistance: The contact resistance between the metal dome and the conductive contact is low, which can ensure good circuit conduction effect and reduce signal loss and energy loss.
Corrosion resistance: By selecting suitable metal materials (such as stainless steel), metal dome can be used for a long time in harsh environments without corrosion.
Strong wear resistance: Metal dome has high hardness and strong wear resistance. It can withstand long-term use without wear and tear and has a long service life.
High precision: Modern manufacturing technology enables metal dome to achieve extremely high size and shape accuracy to meet the needs of precision equipment.
Good stability: After rigorous design and testing, metal domes can maintain stable performance under various working conditions.
Strong customizability: Metal domes of different shapes, sizes and elasticity can be designed according to specific application scenarios.
How does metal dome work?
The working principle of metal domes mainly depends on the elasticity and conductivity of their materials. Metal domes are usually made of ultra-thin or ultra-thick stainless steel (such as 301 or 304), which have good elasticity and conductivity.
When the metal dome is pressed, its center point will be concave and contact the circuit on the PCB board, thus forming a loop, and the current will pass through, so that the entire product can work normally.
Where are metal dome generally used?
Metal domes are generally used in products such as membrane switches, contact switches, PCB boards, FPC boards and medical devices.
Metal domes play a key role in these applications, especially in membrane buttons, which are located in the conductive part of the PCB board. When pressed, the center point of the dome is concave and contacts the circuit on the PCB, thus forming a loop, and the current will pass through, so that the entire product can work normally.
In short, the life of metal dome is affected by a variety of factors, from the material itself to the use environment, to mechanical stress, etc. Through effective life extension measures, the performance of metal dome can be better utilized to ensure that it works stably and reliably in various devices to meet the application needs of different fields.
