Winsilicone is the English-market brand of Dongguan Tongsheng Electronic Technology Co., Ltd. This guide walks OEM/ODM buyers through specifying custom silicone rubber keypads so the first quotation and the first samples are right.
1. Who should read this guide
Electronics, appliance and industrial HMI teams that need custom silicone rubber keypads — silicone rubber keypad OEM parts made on their own tooling, tactile and/or conductive. For our molding scope in this category, see our silicone keypads manufacturer in China page.
2. Compression molding vs LSR — when to choose for keypads
Compression molding is usually the economical default for silicone rubber keypads. LSR injection molding is preferred when you need tighter tolerances, less flash, thin walls or higher annual volumes.
For the full trade-off, read compression vs injection molding, then see our silicone compression molding manufacturer in China and LSR injection molding manufacturer in China pages.
3. Shore A, tactile feel, actuation and travel
Keypad silicone hardness is commonly from 10 to 80 Shore A. Hardness is only one input to how a key feels: web geometry, key shape and travel all interact with it.
- Specify actuation feel and key travel with the supplier, working from your drawings and from samples.
- If you are replacing an existing keypad, send a physical sample so the feel can be matched.
- Approve feel on molded samples, not on a datasheet.
Background on hardness: choosing Shore A hardness.
4. Conductive (carbon-pill) contacts and PCB alignment
- State whether the part is a tactile non-conductive mat or a conductive silicone keypad.
- Mark every conductive contact area clearly on the drawing.
- Align pill/contact positions to the PCB pads and share the PCB layout with the supplier.
5. Printing, backlight windows and coatings
- Legend and icon printing.
- Backlight or light-guide windows.
- Wear coatings or paints as specified by the buyer.
List every option on the drawing so it is included in the quotation.
6. Drawings and RFQ checklist
Send usable STP, IGS or PDF drawings; samples help when replacing an existing keypad. Include:
- 2D and 3D drawings.
- Shore A target.
- Tactile vs conductive.
- Button map.
- Tolerances.
- Annual volume estimate.
- Material grade needs.
Quotation: within 24 hours after we receive usable STP, IGS or PDF drawings. For budgeting, read custom silicone mold cost and MOQ.
7. Common pitfalls
- Shore A left unspecified on the drawing.
- Conductive zones missing from the drawing.
- Choosing LSR before tolerance or volume justify it.
- Skipping sample approval before mass production.
- Omitting PCB alignment for conductive pills.
8. Commercial facts
- MOQ: for standard items, typically starts at 1,000–3,000 pieces; prototypes and trial orders can be smaller. Contact us for a tailored quote.
- Mold development: typically about 15–25 days.
- Mass production: often about 20–35 days after sample approval.
- Quotation: within 24 hours after we receive usable STP, IGS or PDF drawings.
- Shipping: worldwide express shipping.
Request a silicone keypad quote
Upload usable STP, IGS or PDF drawings for a quotation within 24 hours.
Get a Quote · or see our silicone keypads manufacturing page