ROHS flexible Medical Graphic Overlays

What's the usage of Graphic Overlay?

• Protection: Putting a layer between the working environment and the controls.

• Instruction: Giving the customer a clear understanding of the products functions.

• Branding: Making your product stand out from the competition.

Applications for custom graphic overlay:

Membrane Keypads and Membrane Switches.

Protective Membrane Overlay – Adding a surface to traditional mechanical switches.

Key / button Labels – Where a button or switch comes through an opening in the overlay.

Laminated panels / stickers– Where graphics fix to an engineered plastic or metal plate.

Indicator Panels / overlays– Where backlighting display operational status separate from control.

Label Sets – Batched stickers and overlays supplied for hand application.

Graphic Panels – Used to display information, branding or point of sales.

What's the material can be applied for Graphic Overlay?

In theory, any printable material could be used in a Graphic Overlay. However, it needs to be customisable, flexible and durable. We suggest below mainly three kinds of material:

• Polycarbonate

Polycarbonate is excellent for graphic overlays due to its high impact resistance and the ability to deform the material. It is used everywhere in the engineering world because it is rugged and transparent in nature. The material is easy to work with when it comes to tooling and ideal for printing and texture requirements.

• Polyester

Polyester is the common name for polyethylene terephthalate (PET). PET is the most widely used plastic in the world due to the textile and plastic bottle industries.
When used in graphic overlays, it is ideal for extreme environments. It is very durable versus chemical agents and biological contaminants, making it a logical choice for medical, scientific, and industrial use. It is a preferred substrate where you emboss a functional key. PET is the best material for membrane switch graphic overlays due to its improved flex characteristics over polycarbonate.

• Acrylic

Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), also known as acrylic, it is a clear or coloured plastic. When a thicker sheet type material is required, acrylic has good scratch resistance.