Category 1: General & Commercial
Q1: What is your Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ)?

A: For standard silicone buttons, our MOQ is typically 1,000 pieces per run. However, for prototyping and pilot runs, we accept smaller quantities (e.g., 50-100 units) to help you validate the design.

Q2: What is the typical lead time for custom projects?

A:• Sample Tooling & Prototypes: 7-10 calendar days.
• Production Tooling: 15-20 calendar days.
• Mass Production: 2-3 weeks after sample approval.

Q3: Who owns the custom molds?

A: You do. Once you pay the tooling fee, the mold is your proprietary asset. We store and maintain it at our facility for your exclusive use for its entire lifespan.

Q4: Do you ship internationally?

A: Yes, we export to over 50 countries. We offer EXW, FOB, and DDP terms, partnering with DHL/FedEx for urgent prototypes and sea freight for bulk rubber button orders.
Category 2: Material & Durability

Q5: What is the difference between “Rubber” and “Silicone” buttons?

A: While often used interchangeably, standard “rubber” (NR/NBR) is rarely used for keypads due to poor aging. We use 100% Silicone Rubber (a high-performance elastomer) which offers superior heat, UV, and chemical resistance.

Q6: What temperature range can your silicone buttons withstand?

A: Our standard silicone compound is stable from -40°C to +230°C. For extreme environments, we can use fluorosilicone which resists up to 300°C.

Q7: Are your buttons suitable for outdoor use (UV Resistance)?

A: Yes. Silicone is naturally UV stable. For extended outdoor exposure (e.g., marine or agricultural controls), we add UV stabilizers to ensure the rubber push button color does not fade over time.

Q8: Do you offer medical-grade materials?

A: Absolutely. We offer silicone buttons molded from FDA 21 CFR 177.2600 compliant and USP Class VI certified silicone, ensuring biocompatibility for healthcare devices.

Q9: What is the flammability rating of your keypads?

A: Our standard material meets UL94 HB. We can formulate custom compounds to meet UL94 V-0 (self-extinguishing) requirements for automotive and appliance applications.

Q10: Are the buttons resistant to chemicals and oils?

A: Standard silicone resists water and alcohol well but can swell in gasoline. For oil/fuel resistance, we recommend Fluorosilicone or applying a parietal PU coating.
Category 3: Design & Engineering

Q11: What file formats do you accept for quotation? A: We prefer 3D STEP (.stp) or IGES (.igs) files for accurate volume calculation. 2D drawings (DWG/PDF) are also helpful for specifying tolerances and printing graphics.

Q12: What hardness (Durometer) should I choose? A:
• 40-50 Shore A: Soft touch, low actuation force (common for consumer electronics).
• 60-70 Shore A: Standard firmness, snappy feel (common for industrial/remote controls).
• 80 Shore A: Hard, rigid feel.

Q13: What is the standard dimensional tolerance?

A: We follow ISO 3302-1 Class M2standards. Typically, ±0.05mm for dimensions under 10mm, and ±0.1mm for larger dimensions. Tighter tolerances are available upon request.

Q14: Can you help with the “Snap Ratio” (Tactile Feel)?

A: Yes. The snap ratio defines the click feeling. A ratio of 40%-60% provides a distinct tactile click. We optimize the webbing geometry to achieve your desired force profile (e.g., 200g peak force).

Q15: What is the recommended key travel distance?

A: For optimal tactile feedback, we recommend a stroke (travel) between 1.0mm and 2.0mm. Less than 0.8mm may result in a weak tactile response.

Q16: Can you combine plastic caps with rubber bases (P+R)?

A: Yes. We manufacture P+R (Plastic + Rubber) keypads. This combines the rigid, high-end look of a plastic keycap with the sealing and elastic benefits of a rubber button base.

Category 4: Manufacturing & Surface Finish
Q17: What is the lifespan of the conductive contact? A:
• Carbon Pill: > 1 million cycles.
• Conductive Ink: > 500,000 cycles.
• Metal Dome: > 5 million cycles (Best for heavy duty).

Q18: How do you ensure printed icons don’t wear off?

A: We use silicone-based inks that chemically bond to the button. For extra protection, we apply a PU (Polyurethane) coatingwhich passes the RCA abrasion test (>50 cycles at 175g load).

Q19: What is the difference between PU Coating and Epoxy Coating?

A:• PU Coating: A thin, clear protective layer (keeps the button soft).
• Epoxy Coating: A thick, clear resin dome (makes the button top hard and glossy like glass).

Q20: Can you do multi-color buttons?

A: Yes. We can achieve this via flow molding (where colors bleed into each other) or segmented molding (distinct colors for different keys). We also offer dual-shot molding for integral durability.

Q21: How does laser etching work for backlighting?

A: We mold the translucent silicone for button first, spray it with opaque paint (e.g., black), and then laser-ablate the paint to reveal the icon. This allows light to pass through only the legend.

Q22: Do you perform functional testing before shipping?

A: Yes. Every batch undergoes visual inspection, actuation force testing, and resistance testing (ohm meter) to ensure the conductive button functions perfectly.

“Need a complete multi-key panel solution? Check our [Silicone Rubber Keypads] page.”