Graphic Overlays - Durable Polyester Material, 1,000,000 Activations, Customizable Colors And Graphics, Embossed Key Options

M Sealed Circuits is a organization that serves as a manufacturer and exporter of high quality, durable keyboard overlays, graphic overlays, membrane switches, control panel overlays, key pads, keyboards and labels for the electronic industry.

Graphic overlays can have a wide range of colors, complex graphics, transparent windows, embossed keys, and a variety of cut-out areas in keyboard overlay, digital overlay, control panel graphic overlay, membrane switch overlay etc. They are intended to be incorporated into a membrane switch that will have to endure operator contact, so they are built to withstand use by being printed on durable but flexible materials. They are an integral part of the membrane switch assembly.

Graphic images are created by screen printing colored inks on the subsurface side of clear substrate material. This layer becomes the 'graphic overlay' once printed and cut to size. The graphic overlay is an important part of the membrane switch, which provides it with a unique attraction and identity. It is the most attractive, visible portion of the switch assembly, displaying colors, graphic pattern, as well as switch locations for operation. It also provides protection from an environmentally hostile application. There are no boundaries for the decorative options that a graphic overlay provides.

Graphic Materials
The company's engineers recommend a graphic layer material, based on their experience and a careful review of the application details for keyboard overlay, digital overlay, control panel graphic overlay, membrane switch overlay and graphic overlay. While polyester is the recommended material for most applications, there are other major materials to choose from. Graphic overlay is made out of 2 layers - the polycarbonate or polyester and the adhesive. In fact, the materials used to manufacture graphic overlays are not self-adhesive. It is important to know what type of casing will be used to determine which adhesive will be compatible with it. Polycarbonates are used for a wide range of applications.

Although polycarbonate is an excellent material, it is not recommended when embossing (raised area) and lifetime of surviving 400,000 activations is necessary for the apparatus. (Typically, a membrane switch requires 1,000,000 activations). In fact, polycarbonate does not possess the travelling capacity as polyester does. The raw material itself will survive 1,000,000 activations but after transforming this material (stretching of the embossing, inks screenprinted, etc.), its elasticity is significantly reduced. As for the polyester, it gives significant results when embossing but not as many finishes are available.