Correct, this is what I've learned and found out. There are two ways to do this. One is the membrane Dome Switch, which the the way I'm pushing our customer towards after my research and conversing with our flex fab contact whose done dome switches before. The other way is to physically build it into the board, which adds a dome piece of copper, puts spacers in, then a cover, another spacer, then a cover with dome. This seems to add way more cost, and our fab contact recommended the other way. http://www.snaptron.com is a mfg of dome switches, they have different parts and sizes for both flex and rigid pwbs. The site also has pcb patterns on it for the different patterns. I know there's other options out there. But I think they're not as cost effective for one switch on a board. If anybody needs to correct me, please do! Matt -----Original Message----- From: Roger Stoops [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: Tuesday, January 15, 2008 4:25 PM To: TechNet E-Mail Forum; mattyk Subject: RE: [TN] Polyester Dome Switch on Flex Circuit. Many flex houses deal with just flex, not membrane/flat switch assemblies, which is what your customer may be refering to. But an SMD part(s) with polyimide film flex would likely work out nicely, might be less expensive too. Also, had anyone contacted a membrane switch mfgr? If there were multiple switches, this might work out too. This may be a pricey proposition, depending on quantity, size, layer count, etc. Roger -----Original Message----- From: TechNet [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of mattyk Sent: Tuesday, January 15, 2008 3:05 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: [TN] Polyester Dome Switch on Flex Circuit. Yes we need details as to construction and assembly. Our customer put us in charge in figuring out how they're done, all they said is, we want to use a polyester dome switch. The flex house came back with, if you gave us a part number we'd be able to help out more. The more I look into it, I think the best way is to use a part in the stiffener section, and we'll just have to leave a copper pattern for it to be soldered too. If that is how part type ones are done that is. I think this way is better than having it built into the graphic layers and using spacers and such. -----Original Message----- From: Roger Stoops [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: Tuesday, January 15, 2008 12:07 PM To: TechNet E-Mail Forum; mattyk Subject: RE: [TN] Polyester Dome Switch on Flex Circuit. The domes may be integrated into the graphics layer, or installed underneath the graphics layer, depending on how expensive an assembly you want. Dome has to be stiffer mat'l, depending on snap action/tactile feel required. Graphics layer might possibly be a cover layer, no graphics, with dome underneath, once again, how many $$. Will probably also need a stiffener under the switch, or needs to be secured to a stiff or hard surface. No flexing in switch area allowed. Are you curious about how they are implemented, or do you need details as to construction/assembly? Flex house should be able to provide more specific details. Roger -----Original Message----- From: TechNet [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of mattyk Sent: Tuesday, January 15, 2008 10:44 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: [TN] Polyester Dome Switch on Flex Circuit. We have a customer requesting a polyester dome switch on a flex circuit. I have questions out to our Flex Fab vendors, but thought I'd also ask here. Are these done during the fabrication process? Will the vendors fab these in? Or are they installed after? How do these effect the standard flex circuit materials? The flex circuits in question intended use is Continuous Flex. I've found mfg's of these switchs, though am having trouble finding how they are implemented. Thanks in advance for any assistance. Matt Kennedy SBS Pads Sr. PCB Designer C.I.D. --------------------------------------------------- Technet Mail List provided as a service by IPC using LISTSERV 15.0 To unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in the BODY (NOT the subject field): SIGNOFF Technet To temporarily halt or (re-start) delivery of Technet send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet NOMAIL or (MAIL) To receive ONE mailing per day of all the posts: send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet Digest Search the archives of previous posts at: http://listserv.ipc.org/archives Please visit IPC web site http://www.ipc.org/contentpage.asp?Pageid=4.3.16 for additional information, or contact Keach Sasamori at [log in to unmask] or 847-615-7100 ext.2815 ----------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------- Technet Mail List provided as a service by IPC using LISTSERV 15.0 To unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in the BODY (NOT the subject field): SIGNOFF Technet To temporarily halt or (re-start) delivery of Technet send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet NOMAIL or (MAIL) To receive ONE mailing per day of all the posts: send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet Digest Search the archives of previous posts at: http://listserv.ipc.org/archives Please visit IPC web site http://www.ipc.org/contentpage.asp?Pageid=4.3.16 for additional information, or contact Keach Sasamori at [log in to unmask] or 847-615-7100 ext.2815 ----------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------- Technet Mail List provided as a service by IPC using LISTSERV 15.0 To unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in the BODY (NOT the subject field): SIGNOFF Technet To temporarily halt or (re-start) delivery of Technet send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet NOMAIL or (MAIL) To receive ONE mailing per day of all the posts: send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet Digest Search the archives of previous posts at: http://listserv.ipc.org/archives Please visit IPC web site http://www.ipc.org/contentpage.asp?Pageid=4.3.16 for additional information, or contact Keach Sasamori at [log in to unmask] or 847-615-7100 ext.2815 -----------------------------------------------------