User Guide

Key Decision Makers
Appliance OEM Design Engineer; Membrane Switch Manufacturer that sells to OEMs.
SIC Codes
3633 – Household Laundry Equipment
3631 – Household Cooking Equipment
Process
Membrane switch or "touch control" panels have been used on a variety of
appliances such as ranges, microwave ovens, dishwashers, washers, dryers and
many small appliances. The membrane switches are produced by "laminating"
graphic overlays and switch circuit film layers. The layers are held together
with 3M high performance adhesives. 3M high performance adhesives help
prevent delamination of the layers and protect the switch circuit layers from
outside contaminants.
Product
3M
™
Laminating Adhesives 467MP, 468MP, 7945MP, 7952MP,
7955MP, 7962MP, and 7965MP for Graphic Attachment
3M
™
Laminating Adhesives 7956MP, 7957MP, 7959MP,
and 7961MP for Circuit Separation
3M
™
Laminating Adhesive 468MP, 3M Laminating Adhesive
9672LE or 3M
™
Double Coated Foam Tape 4962 for Mounting
Companion Products
3M
™
Electrically Conductive Adhesive Transfer Tape 9703
3M
™
Electrically Conductive Adhesive Film 7303
Advantages
Made with a moisture-stabilized liner that can be die-cut to many
customer specifications used to laminate the graphics to the flexible
circuit. Double linered adhesives (3M 7952MP and 7955MP) are
available for pre-cutting openings in the adhesive.
A polyester film with adhesives on both sides that acts as a
dielectric spacer to separate and bond the top and bottom
switch circuit layers.
The laminating adhesive is adhered to the backer board of the
“touch control” switch, and then the entire membrane switch
assembly is mounted to the inside of the cabinet housing. For
more aggressive bonds, consider 3M 4962 tape.
Purpose
For internal electrical splices.
For interconnection to flexible or rigid printed circuit boards.
3M Industrial Business
Market: Appliance
Application Description: Assembling “key pad” or membrane switch for controls on washing machines.
page 2