Melrose Nameplate and Label Company produces membrane switches with electromechanical specifications suitable for most industrial, and electronic control applications. A basic membrane switch has a straight forward 4 layer construction.
Our membrane switches can be designed to resist moisture. They may also be designed without tactile feel for applications where this tactile feedback is unimportant or to minimize cost.
Light emitting diodes (LED’s) can be included in the membrane switch to provide an indicator light function. And fiber optics can be used to provide illumination of membrane switch push buttons or nomenclature.
Melrose supplies membrane key pads integrated with other hardware components. We supply functional printed circuit boards (ready for programming), or laminated to sheet metal with associated mounting studs. We also supply cable to board jumper cables
Melrose has a strong engineering capability, and a flexible manufacturing process. This combination allows us to produce membrane switches for unusual applications.
Five Essential Elements of All Membrane Switches
A membrane switch is a "A momentary switch device in which at least one contact is on, or made of, a flexible substrate" (Definition per ASTM). A membrane switch must include the following five conditions or features:
- Direct (Ohmic) Contact: the poles of the switch must make physical contact, i.e. can not be non-contact switch (e.g., capacitive, ferrite core, or hall effect).
- Momentary Action: Upon release, the poles immediately separate as the flexing membrane returns to its original position.
- Low Voltage Application: A membrane switch is designed to be used in low voltage, DC logic-level-signal, applications.
- Membrane Layer: A thin pliable layer that carries one pole, both poles or that flexes during switch operation used to short both switch poles together.
- Static Layer: Does not flex during switch operation but carries one pole, both poles or used to short both switch poles together.
