One of the most popular uses for custom molded rubber products is the keypad. Whether it's a standard keyboard, a design for medical devices or specialized machinery, custom rubber keypads can be labeled with clearly visible and durable printing using silicone inks. It can be printed in a variety of languages with almost any symbols, including universal signs. Laser marking is used in a number of ways for silicone keypad applications, including on top, underneath and with backlighting. This versatility in placement is essential in the design and production of medical keypad molding.
Backlighting
The use of backlit rubber keypads in medical devices and other specialized machinery helps users find the right keys to perform the desired functions. This is especially helpful in the healthcare industry with testing and medical procedures. Consider the room lighting, which is often low or just plain dark to allow the devices to detect anomalies or injuries. This information is used to diagnose and treat medical conditions, so it is important that the machinery controls are visible in a low-lighting environment. Backlit rubber keypads are translucent and illuminate the area behind the keys so that the printing is visible and distinctive. It's user-friendly. A variety of colors is available for both the medical keypad molding and the printing on top. Contrasting colors of the lettering and background are most effective in making the printing visible. Keytops are marked so that the underlying color and molded translucent material don't experience any discoloration.
Printing on Top
There are many designs where putting the printing on top of the medical keypad molding makes more sense. For example, the underside of the medical keypad may be designed so that it is difficult to imprint on the underside. In this case, printing on top makes the most sense. If the keypad is used in bright light and doesn't need backlighting, the keys are not translucent, but opaque in design. Specialized coatings can be used for added durability. In other words, the printing does not deteriorate or wear away as quickly as with other types of printing applications.
Printing Underneath
In some products, having the lettering or symbols printed on the underside of custom rubber keypads makes more sense. As with backlit rubber keypads, the keys must be translucent so that the images can be seen by the user from the top of the key. The thickness of the molding may affect the clarity and visibility of the printing, depending on the size of the characters and the size and shape of the keytop.
When designing custom molded rubber products for medical devices, it is important to first consult with the manufacturer to determine possibilities and capabilities of various printing features to use the method that makes the most sense.
Author writes about a variety of topics. If you would like more information about medical keypad molding, visit http://www.sitech-corp.com.
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