Case Studies
New technology brings tactile feedback to flat panel switches
Aerospace Instrument Support Inc.
Company Official for Aerospace Instrument Support Inc. - Canadian Electronics: New technology brings tactile feedback to flat panel switches.
“The avionics technicians that use our test equipment like the feel of the switches – they call it the a double click feel. The switches have also demonstrated the ability to withstand the tough environment in which our simulators are used."
Flat-Panel Technology Prolongs Actuation Life
Aerospace Instrument Support Inc.
James Zollo, Owner and General Manager, Aerospace Instrument Support Inc. - Job Shop Technology: Flat-Panel Technology Prolongs Actuation Life of Electronic Switch
“Our equipment sits out in the sun and rain, on the airport tarmac, the mechanics using them have oil on their hands, and they get splashed with corrosive chemicals that can irritate your skin. Under such conditions, ordinary membrane panel switches that are used on electronic equipment are quickly worn down. As a result they are frequently replaced, an expensive proposition for tools that cost thousands of dollars in the first place. On our test equipment, usually, one button gets used more than the others; that the one that will lay down and die. So then you have to replace the whole panel because one switch worked harder than the others. We have a lot out in the field; I’ve had to replace virtually none, and that’s great. Also you can feel the click with your finger even if you were looking the other way. Normally, aircraft technicians wear headsets or ear protection, but they can still feel or hear the PushGate™.”
Getting away from the traditional ‘dome’ style of membrane technology was the key factor of the success in our new application
Electronic System Engineering
Hank Petruskewic and Jason M. Lovelace, Electronic System Engineering, Walt Disney World®
“We were experiencing problems with membrane style door control push-button panels. They had to be replaced annually due to exposure to ultraviolet, extreme weather conditions, and unusually high duty cycling. The expense of replacing the original product on a yearly basis demanded an investigation to identify a product that would stand up against the harsh Florida environment. We found this solution in your Duraswitch product. Getting away from the traditional ‘dome’ style of membrane technology was the key factor of the success in our new application. All 48 of our Duraswitch panels have been working failure-free for the last two years. This kind of success was unheard of using the older technology. Our true measure of success came from comments offered by our day-to-day operators. Immediately following the installation of the product, we received numerous comments on the consistent uniform tactile feedback between buttons. The lack of consistent feedback on our old panels was the major concern of operators in the past. The operators also appreciate the positive click sound. This one element was lost over time with traditional ‘dome’ style technology. In closing, we are excited about the results of Duraswitch technology. Duraswitch brags of 100 million actuations. Duraswitch can rest assured that our operators are helping to prove this claim! We wish the company much success and will continue to use the product in many of our applications.”
Flat-Panel Technology Prolongs Actuation Life of Electronic Switch
GTR Labs
Ewell Ferguson, Managing Director of GTR Labs® - Job Shop Technology: Flat-Panel Technology Prolongs Actuation Life of Electronic Switch
“We manufacture X-ray generators for medical applications, one problem was that one of the buttons has to be pressed and held for an extended period of time during the calibration sequence. This was deforming the dome of the conventional membrane switches, causing them to stick. We do not have that problem with the Duraswitch, it takes very little pressure to keep the switch pressed and it can stay pressed indefinitely without any deformation or sticking. The company has been very professional. There was no hype, no grandiose promises made, no used car sales tactics used. It was all matter of fact. I’m very happy with the company, and we are happy with their products.”
A reliable solution for all our touch panel needs
Hennessy Industries, Inc.
Tom Edwards, Electronics Engineer, Hennessy Industries, Inc.
“Duraswitch has provided Hennessy Industries a reliable solution for all our touch panel needs. When recently testing different touch panel’s actuation force, Duraswitch was extremely consistent for switch to switch. With other competitors touch panels we found intermittence and double bouncing as well as excessive force due to over travel from domed switches. In the past, Touch Panels have been the second highest warranty problems. I am confident that the Duraswitch Touch Panel will greatly reduce the warranty claims. Duraswitch PushGate design is innovative and I look forward to using the company’s additional products for future projects here at Hennessy Industries.”
We had a lot of failure with the old membrane switches
Omni Ticket Network®
David Carey, Director of Project Management, Omni Ticket Network®
“PushGate [switches] control our access control turnstiles, which are in use at Disney World® and Universal Studios’ Florida® and Hollywood Parks®. We had a lot of failure with the old membrane switches; whenever there was a torrential downpour, which Florida is famous for, we would find that we needed to replace 20 keypads. It was really getting to be too much. When the artwork or the lettering wore off, or the users wore a hole in the dome or picked the corners away, we had to replace the whole keypad. If that happens with the Pushgate, I just replace the top layer, which is like a magnetic cover and sticks onto the actual keypad itself. At Disney World, which has about 175 of Omni’s turnstiles installed, we went from swapping switches out of an average of ten turnstiles a week for various reasons. Now we’re swapping zero of the Duraswitch ones.”
New technology brings tactile feedback to flat panel switches
Rainbird®
Bob Drach, Rainbird® - Canadian Electronics: New technology brings tactile feedback to flat panel switches
“The company had difficulty finding a keypad with the quality and durability in keeping with