Custom Silicone Keypads & Buttons — Tactile & IP-Rated
We mould silicone keypads with a defined tactile snap, carbon-pill or metal-dome contacts, and a cycle life of 1–5 million presses depending on the dome design. Legends are laser-etched or silk-screened and can be backlit.
- MOQ 500 pcs
- 1–5M cycles
- Shore A 30–70
- Carbon-pill / metal-dome
| Material | HCR silicone, compression moulded |
|---|---|
| Hardness | Shore A 30–70 (ASTM D2240) |
| Contact type | Carbon pill · metal dome · non-conductive |
| Cycle life | 1–5 million presses depends on dome geometry |
| Snap ratio | 40–60 % typical tuned to your force target |
| Legends | Laser-etched · silk-screen · backlight compatible |
| Sealing | IP54–IP68 with the right housing interface |
| MOQ | 500 pcs (trial) / 1,000 pcs (standard) |
| Tooling | Steel mould, CNC engraved in-house |
| Sampling | 3–7 days first article 10–15 days after drawing approval |
| Lead time | 20–25 days after sample approval |
Values marked on request depend on your drawing. Send it and we will confirm in writing.
Can we make yours?
- Keypads with 3–40 keys, carbon-pill or metal-dome
- Shore A 30–70, tuned tactile force
- Laser-etched or backlit legends
- IP-rated sealing design
- 500–50,000 pcs per order
Where we stop
- Hard plastic injection moulding (ABS / PC structural parts)
- Metal machining, stamping or plating
- Factory-level certificates — we arrange third-party testing per order instead
Process and material
Why HCR for keypads
Compression moulding in HCR silicone gives a stable wall thickness and a repeatable web thickness under each key — the two variables that decide whether the key feels right. Tooling is cheaper than LSR, so 500-piece runs are economic.
Getting the snap right
Tactile feel comes from the web geometry and the dome underneath, not from hardness alone. We mould a first article and measure peak force and snap ratio, then adjust the web thickness on the tool rather than changing the compound.
Environment testing
For industrial and outdoor panels we can run 85 °C / 85 % RH for 500 hours and then re-measure peak force and snap ratio, so you know whether the feel drifts after a year in a humid enclosure. Report comes from a third-party lab.
Questions buyers ask about silicone keypads & buttons
Carbon pill or metal dome — which do I need?
Carbon pill for a soft, quiet press and lower cost; metal dome when you need a crisp click and a very consistent force. Metal dome also survives more cycles at high actuation force.
How do you verify the tactile feel?
We measure peak force and snap ratio on a force-displacement tester and send the curve with the first article. You approve a curve, not a description.
Can the keypad be backlit?
Yes. We mould clear or translucent silicone windows and laser-etch the legend so light passes only where the text is. Tell us the LED pitch and we will design the light guide pockets.
What IP rating can a silicone keypad achieve?
IP54 to IP68 depending on the housing interface and the gasket design around the keypad edge. The keypad itself is not the seal — the interface is. We design both together.
What is your MOQ?
500 pcs for a trial, 1,000 pcs for standard production. Keypads carry a tooling cost, so below 500 pcs the tooling dominates the unit price.
The spec table above, the tolerance notes, and the list of what we need from you — as a two-page PDF you can forward to your team.
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Send your spec, get a quote
Tell us what you need and how many. within 1 business day (GMT+8) — usually much sooner. If you already have a drawing or 3D file, attach it and skip the back-and-forth.
- Email [email protected]
- Phone +86-755-21011840
- WhatsApp +852 5161 2090