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On Apr 22, 5:20 pm, "David L. Jones" <altz...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I'm after a place that can do low-ish cost membrane keypad prototypes and
> small qty (100's).
> Not actually membrane with the flex cable, but the simpler polydome (or
> tact) variety that sticks directly onto the PCB.
> I've been quoted $600+ for tooling locally, just wondering if there is
> someplace cheaper?
>
> Thanks
> Dave.

Hi Dave,

Have you tried Permark? They are usually very competitive on pricing.

Andy

agw@woodtech.net.au wrote:
> On Apr 22, 5:20 pm, "David L. Jones" <altz...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> I'm after a place that can do low-ish cost membrane keypad prototypes and
>> small qty (100's).
>> Not actually membrane with the flex cable, but the simpler polydome (or
>> tact) variety that sticks directly onto the PCB.
>> I've been quoted $600+ for tooling locally, just wondering if there is
>> someplace cheaper?
>>
>> Thanks
>> Dave.
> 
> Hi Dave,
> 
> Have you tried Permark? They are usually very competitive on pricing.
> 
> Andy


   Would it be possible to sandwich some 0.6mm FR4 with holes punched in 
it over the PCB board contacts and then another layer of 0.6mm FR4 or 
mylar with thin carbon rubber dots glued to it. Then it would be a
matter of getting the top layer screen printed with the characters of 
the buttons or the copper layer etched and plated with the numerals.

"David L. Jones" <altzone@gmail.com> a �crit dans le message de news: 
9zzHl.35008$FR3.10790@newsfe04.iad...
> I'm after a place that can do low-ish cost membrane keypad prototypes and 
> small qty (100's).
> Not actually membrane with the flex cable, but the simpler polydome (or 
> tact) variety that sticks directly onto the PCB.
> I've been quoted $600+ for tooling locally, just wondering if there is 
> someplace cheaper?

600$ seems already a good pricing. Alternatively capacitive sensing can be a 
zero-tooling solution, as it could allow to design your keyboard as a simple 
PCB and overlay it with any kind of decorative layer (laser-printed, etc). 
See solutions from Cypress (capsense), Microchip and others.

Friendly yours,
Robert Lacoste
www.alciom.com

"Robert Lacoste" <see-alciom-dot-com> wrote in message 
news:49eee6d6$0$12649$ba4acef3@news.orange.fr...
> "David L. Jones" <altzone@gmail.com> a �crit dans le message de news: 
> 9zzHl.35008$FR3.10790@newsfe04.iad...
>> I'm after a place that can do low-ish cost membrane keypad prototypes and 
>> small qty (100's).
>> Not actually membrane with the flex cable, but the simpler polydome (or 
>> tact) variety that sticks directly onto the PCB.
>> I've been quoted $600+ for tooling locally, just wondering if there is 
>> someplace cheaper?
>
> 600$ seems already a good pricing. Alternatively capacitive sensing can be 
> a zero-tooling solution, as it could allow to design your keyboard as a 
> simple PCB and overlay it with any kind of decorative layer 
> (laser-printed, etc). See solutions from Cypress (capsense), Microchip and 
> others.

Thanks.
Yes, I was already considering the Atmel Qtouch, but the keys are densely 
packed (6mm spacing) so although it might work, I suspect there might be 
quite some development to perfect it, and then there is the possibility of 
some people having issues with it.
Anyone have any experience with touch technology at that spacing?

Thanks
Dave. 

"David L. Jones" <altzone@gmail.com> wrote in message 
news:9zzHl.35008$FR3.10790@newsfe04.iad...
> I'm after a place that can do low-ish cost membrane keypad prototypes and 
> small qty (100's).
> Not actually membrane with the flex cable, but the simpler polydome (or 
> tact) variety that sticks directly onto the PCB.
> I've been quoted $600+ for tooling locally, just wondering if there is 
> someplace cheaper?
>
> Thanks
> Dave.
>


I've used Entech a lot in the past. Quality has always been good. Pricewise 
they seem to be in the middle.

http://www.entechelectronics.com.au/

"David L. Jones" <altzone@gmail.com> a �crit dans le message de news: 
1FCHl.93328$e_5.50536@newsfe03.iad...
>
> "Robert Lacoste" <see-alciom-dot-com> wrote in message 
> news:49eee6d6$0$12649$ba4acef3@news.orange.fr...
>> "David L. Jones" <altzone@gmail.com> a �crit dans le message de news: 
>> 9zzHl.35008$FR3.10790@newsfe04.iad...
>>> I'm after a place that can do low-ish cost membrane keypad prototypes 
>>> and small qty (100's).
>>> Not actually membrane with the flex cable, but the simpler polydome (or 
>>> tact) variety that sticks directly onto the PCB.
>>> I've been quoted $600+ for tooling locally, just wondering if there is 
>>> someplace cheaper?
>>
>> 600$ seems already a good pricing. Alternatively capacitive sensing can 
>> be a zero-tooling solution, as it could allow to design your keyboard as 
>> a simple PCB and overlay it with any kind of decorative layer 
>> (laser-printed, etc). See solutions from Cypress (capsense), Microchip 
>> and others.
>
> Thanks.
> Yes, I was already considering the Atmel Qtouch, but the keys are densely 
> packed (6mm spacing) so although it might work, I suspect there might be 
> quite some development to perfect it, and then there is the possibility of 
> some people having issues with it.
> Anyone have any experience with touch technology at that spacing?

6mm spacing will definitevely be challenging...

On Apr 22, 1:51 am, Mark Harriss <bi...@blartco.co.uk> wrote:
> a...@woodtech.net.au wrote:
> > On Apr 22, 5:20 pm, "David L. Jones" <altz...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >> I'm after a place that can do low-ish cost membrane keypad prototypes and
> >> small qty (100's).
> >> Not actually membrane with the flex cable, but the simpler polydome (or
> >> tact) variety that sticks directly onto the PCB.
> >> I've been quoted $600+ for tooling locally, just wondering if there is
> >> someplace cheaper?
>
> >> Thanks
> >> Dave.
>
> > Hi Dave,
>
> > Have you tried Permark? They are usually very competitive on pricing.
>
> > Andy
>
>    Would it be possible to sandwich some 0.6mm FR4 with holes punched in
> it over the PCB board contacts and then another layer of 0.6mm FR4 or
> mylar with thin carbon rubber dots glued to it. Then it would be a
> matter of getting the top layer screen printed with the characters of
> the buttons or the copper layer etched and plated with the numerals.

Why would this be better than a plastic top cover with conductive
pads?  PCB toolings would not be much cheaper than printed plastic
covers.

David L. Jones wrote:
> I'm after a place that can do low-ish cost membrane keypad prototypes and 
> small qty (100's).
> Not actually membrane with the flex cable, but the simpler polydome (or 
> tact) variety that sticks directly onto the PCB.
> I've been quoted $600+ for tooling locally, just wondering if there is 
> someplace cheaper?
> 
> Thanks
> Dave. 
> 
> 
I have used:
http://xymox.com/stockswitches.php

I printed my own overlays and used:
http://www.xyronpro.com/enUS/Home/default.html?WT.mc_id=/

to attach it to the keypad.

I would not use this for a permanent solution, but its looks good for 
prototypes.

don

On Wed, 22 Apr 2009 17:20:34 +1000, David L. Jones wrote:

> I'm after a place that can do low-ish cost membrane keypad prototypes and
> small qty (100's).
> Not actually membrane with the flex cable, but the simpler polydome (or
> tact) variety that sticks directly onto the PCB. I've been quoted $600+
> for tooling locally, just wondering if there is someplace cheaper?
> 
You could just put individual tact switches on the PCB; it'd be quite
labor-intensive until you go to pick&place.

Cheers!
Rich

On Wed, 22 Apr 2009 20:51:39 +1000, David L. Jones wrote:
> "Robert Lacoste" <see-alciom-dot-com> wrote in message
> news:49eee6d6$0$12649$ba4acef3@news.orange.fr...
>> "David L. Jones" <altzone@gmail.com> a �crit dans le message de news:
>> 9zzHl.35008$FR3.10790@newsfe04.iad...
>>> I'm after a place that can do low-ish cost membrane keypad prototypes
>>> and small qty (100's).
>>> Not actually membrane with the flex cable, but the simpler polydome (or
>>> tact) variety that sticks directly onto the PCB. I've been quoted $600+
>>> for tooling locally, just wondering if there is someplace cheaper?
>>
>> 600$ seems already a good pricing. Alternatively capacitive sensing can
>> be a zero-tooling solution, as it could allow to design your keyboard as
>> a simple PCB and overlay it with any kind of decorative layer
>> (laser-printed, etc). See solutions from Cypress (capsense), Microchip
>> and others.
> 
> Thanks.
> Yes, I was already considering the Atmel Qtouch, but the keys are densely
> packed (6mm spacing) so although it might work, I suspect there might be
> quite some development to perfect it, and then there is the possibility of
> some people having issues with it.
> Anyone have any experience with touch technology at that spacing?

6 mm from key to key? Isn't that, like, 1/4"? I know of people whose
fingertips are bigger than that.

Good Luck!
Rich

"Rich Grise" <rich@example.net> wrote in message 
news:pan.2009.04.22.19.31.55.754379@example.net...
> On Wed, 22 Apr 2009 20:51:39 +1000, David L. Jones wrote:
>> "Robert Lacoste" <see-alciom-dot-com> wrote in message
>> news:49eee6d6$0$12649$ba4acef3@news.orange.fr...
>>> "David L. Jones" <altzone@gmail.com> a �crit dans le message de news:
>>> 9zzHl.35008$FR3.10790@newsfe04.iad...
>>>> I'm after a place that can do low-ish cost membrane keypad prototypes
>>>> and small qty (100's).
>>>> Not actually membrane with the flex cable, but the simpler polydome (or
>>>> tact) variety that sticks directly onto the PCB. I've been quoted $600+
>>>> for tooling locally, just wondering if there is someplace cheaper?
>>>
>>> 600$ seems already a good pricing. Alternatively capacitive sensing can
>>> be a zero-tooling solution, as it could allow to design your keyboard as
>>> a simple PCB and overlay it with any kind of decorative layer
>>> (laser-printed, etc). See solutions from Cypress (capsense), Microchip
>>> and others.
>>
>> Thanks.
>> Yes, I was already considering the Atmel Qtouch, but the keys are densely
>> packed (6mm spacing) so although it might work, I suspect there might be
>> quite some development to perfect it, and then there is the possibility 
>> of
>> some people having issues with it.
>> Anyone have any experience with touch technology at that spacing?

> 6 mm from key to key? Isn't that, like, 1/4"?

Yep!

>I know of people whose fingertips are bigger than that.

Yep!

But in the case of my project such a spacing is a necessity.

Dave. 

"Rich Grise" <rich@example.net> wrote in message 
news:pan.2009.04.22.19.29.13.661043@example.net...
> On Wed, 22 Apr 2009 17:20:34 +1000, David L. Jones wrote:
>
>> I'm after a place that can do low-ish cost membrane keypad prototypes and
>> small qty (100's).
>> Not actually membrane with the flex cable, but the simpler polydome (or
>> tact) variety that sticks directly onto the PCB. I've been quoted $600+
>> for tooling locally, just wondering if there is someplace cheaper?
>>
> You could just put individual tact switches on the PCB; it'd be quite
> labor-intensive until you go to pick&place.

Yeah, thought of that, but then I need the graphic overlay anyway, as I 
don't really have space above the keys on the PCB silkscreen.

Dave. 

Thanks for the manufactuer links everyone, will check them out.

Regards
Dave. 

linnix wrote:
> Why would this be better than a plastic top cover with conductive
> pads?  PCB toolings would not be much cheaper than printed plastic
> covers.


   Dave's talking about a complete custom membrane keypad for very small
quantities, doing it all as pcbs will save the 600 buck tooling cost.

On Apr 22, 4:41 pm, Mark Harriss <bi...@blartco.co.uk> wrote:
> linnix wrote:
> > Why would this be better than a plastic top cover with conductive
> > pads?  PCB toolings would not be much cheaper than printed plastic
> > covers.
>
>    Dave's talking about a complete custom membrane keypad for very small
> quantities, doing it all as pcbs will save the 600 buck tooling cost.

You can print flat plastic cover at very low cost.  Tooling is
necessary only if you make doomed contact area.  PCB (FR-4) is too
rigid for doomed contacts and can not be printed with color.  FR-4 is
generally more expensive than plastic.  I would use as small as
possible FR-4 between bigger plastic cover and base.

On Thu, 23 Apr 2009 08:11:27 +1000, David L. Jones wrote:
> "Rich Grise" <rich@example.net> wrote in message
>> On Wed, 22 Apr 2009 17:20:34 +1000, David L. Jones wrote:
>>
>>> I'm after a place that can do low-ish cost membrane keypad prototypes
>>> and small qty (100's).
>>> Not actually membrane with the flex cable, but the simpler polydome (or
>>> tact) variety that sticks directly onto the PCB. I've been quoted $600+
>>> for tooling locally, just wondering if there is someplace cheaper?
>>>
>> You could just put individual tact switches on the PCB; it'd be quite
>> labor-intensive until you go to pick&place.
> 
> Yeah, thought of that, but then I need the graphic overlay anyway, as I
> don't really have space above the keys on the PCB silkscreen.
> 
A graphic overlay is almost trivial - a piece of plastic and a silk-screen.

Cheers!
Rich