Nicomatic has developed and manufactured metal domes since 1995.

The metal dome switching technology is used in any type of man-machine interface.

NICOMATIC launch in 2009 a new innovation the P-SWITCH®, best tactile button to pinch.

Nicomatic metal domes have been patented & are known under the tradename SWITCH'AIR® all over the world in applications such as mobile phone handsets (LG, SAMSUNG...), electronic devices such as calculators or computer mice (HP, LOGITECH...), industrial apparatus (command systems, machine control panels), automotive (GPS, remote control for car seats or windows...) etc... Our range of products include four-legged, round & double-radius domes in a wide range of activation forces and sizes (4, 5, 6, 8.4, 10, 12.2 mm diameters).

Thanks to the SWITCH'AIR® feature, Nicomatic has eradicated all risk of dome sticking thus ensuring efficient automatic placement and packaging in tubes for quick & easy positioning.

The SWITCH'AIR® notch helps to create a cushion of air beetween the domes so that they do no longer stick together. Nicomatic Domes Advantages: Stable forces and homogeneity of forces per batch number, Excellent tactile effect even after rigorous tests (click ratio >40%), Very long life cycles : 1 to 5 Million cycles guaranteed, Control of dimensional and mechanical characteristics, No burrs, thus eliminating the scratching effect, Successful and reliable automatic placement with NICOMATIC machines, Domes in tubes save routine manual pre-separation of the domes by the operator, The standard model is pre-nickel plated to avoid all risk of contamination, 100% traceability per batch number.

Demand for metal domes is increasing as an integral part for the miniaturization and low profiling of key switches in devices such as mobile phones. Indeed, a metal dome, made of stainless steel known for its low carbon content and high oxidation resistance, is a part used in important switches, which can give an accurate tactile signal to electronic devices when it is pressed.

NICOMATIC has been specialized in the metal dome switching technology for many years and offers his know-how and solution to two main markets : to mobile phone manufacturers and to membrane switch manufacturers who sell in turn to various sectors such as automotive, defence, industrial applications, electric appliance, cameras, in operating switches in portable electronic devices, such as DVDs and MP3 players.

For handset designs domes are delivered on custom made arrays. A dome array is made of 0.05mm polyester carrier plus a 0.03mm sheet of acrylic adhesive. Metal domes are placed onto pre-cut polyester adhesive. When a dome is pressed, the center of it contacts to the PCB and lets the electric current flow through. This is how metal dome arrays work. At the early design stage, NICOMATIC provides value-added service to companies that offer fully integrated solutions for handset designs, design houses focused on mobile handheld devices or the manufacturers themselves. Designed specifically for mounting on printed circuit, each dome backed with a polyester adhesive is peeled off the liner and placed onto the circuit board.

NICOMATIC domes are also incorporated into membrane switches and control panels to provide the user with positive feedback that switch closure has occurred. Unlike many other manufacturers, NICOMATIC domes are plated with either nickel to avoid all risk of contamination or 1 side gold, and are designed to be an integral part of the contact system.

The NICOMATIC production technique enables stable and homogeneous forces of domes per batch number, excellent tactile feel even after rigorous overload tests, control of dimensional tolerances, no burrs, thus reducing wear on the substrate, successful and reliable automatic placement with equipment, which enables high production capacity (5 million domes per day minimum, on-site manufacturing and R&D). The quality is approved not only in France and Europe but also overseas, especially in Asia and in the United States.

Full product range with various choices in shapes from circle, DR and four-legged, diameter from 4 mm to 12.2 mm, and trip force from 100g to 420g in standard is available. NICOMATIC is also able to design products that meet the changing needs of the market. 4-legged domes are known for their SWITCH'AIR� notch feature which has eradicated all risk of dome sticking thus ensuring efficient automatic placement and packaging in tubes for quick and easy positioning. The SWITCH'AIR� notch helps to create a cushion of air between the domes so that they no longer stick together.

All dome types come with a range of activation pressures to suit most common applications, this coupled with a minimum order quantity of only 800 pieces on tubed domes enables NICOMATIC to offer his customers much wider solutions and a traceability of the order by batch number and desired force within the same tolerances.

On actuation, the NICOMATIC dome is deflected over the contact point between switch circuit layers (typical membrane switch type design), or between concentric pad layouts

(PCB design and many flexible circuit designs). Actuation then completes the electrical circuit, and provides a high tactile response.

> Discover our Domes range