If a membrane switch connects to the main board through an adapter board, “tail included” or “connector included” does not mean the adapter is supplied. State in the purchase-order attachment who supplies each part. Specify whether the quotation stops at the bare tail, includes a fitted tail connector, or includes the adapter board and harness as well. Identify who carries out first-article integration with the specified main-board revision. Leave unconfirmed items open rather than treating them as included.
A contract manufacturing notice published on November 5, 2026 by the China Government Procurement Network (Chinese) grouped a downhole instrument's hard-wired bus interface and adapter-head assembly in one procurement package and required a complete response to that package. It was a procurement notice, not an award or completed delivery. The adapter head in the notice is not the adapter board discussed here. For a separate equipment project with an adapter between the membrane switch and main board, the purchasing question is whether this supplier must hand over a complete assembly or only one part of it.
Mark the supply boundaries on the connection diagram
Here, an adapter board is a separate board between the switch tail and the main board. Some designs need a further harness; others need no adapter board at all. Draw the actual connections in the quotation attachment. Mark the part number, revision, material supplier, assembly responsibility and whether each part ships with the order. If the equipment maker provides the adapter board, agree whether it is loaned only for verification or issued to the switch supplier for assembly and return.
| Item | What to record in the order or its attachment |
|---|---|
| Membrane switch and tail | Bare tail or fitted tail connector; whether switch circuitry is included. |
| Mating parts and adapter board | Complete part numbers for both sides and the adapter drawing and revision. State whether the board is purchased, customer-supplied for assembly, or loaned for verification only. |
| Harness from adapter to main board | Whether this harness is used. If so, list its part number, both mating parts, who supplies it, and whether it is packed separately. |
| First-article integration and records | Who provides the specified main-board revision and housing, who assembles and accepts it, the boundary of the checks, and which records accompany samples or production batches. |
The Molex FFC/FPC connector part page lists contact position, circuit count and mounting orientation separately. “Connector included” does not say where the connector is fitted or which mating part is included. Record the exact part number and its position, and verify compatibility against the relevant drawings and project samples. The page is cited for the manufacturer's fields, not as a recommendation to use that model.
What can be accepted before the adapter revision is final?
Agree on switch-side checks first if needed, such as key mapping, continuity and the tail termination. State on the record that those checks stop at the switch side. Once the actual adapter, harness and main-board revisions are available, use the installed connection arrangement to check function, orientation and routing clearance. Passing the switch-side bench checks does not accept the adapter stage or complete equipment. If the order calls for a complete assembly, do not sign off the full set before integration is complete.
Attach a connection diagram and a first-article record to the purchase order. Label the parts and the material supplier for each interface on the diagram. Record the actual revisions fitted and the party that performed the checks; identify any combinations that need retesting after a change. When handing over a package, distinguish missing parts, loaned parts and outstanding integration. A single package does not prove every item has been delivered.
Shenzhen Baoshengda Technology Co., Ltd.'s membrane-switch customization page (Chinese) lists key definitions, circuit or interface information, and tail exit direction as quotation inputs. It recommends confirming the sample with the matching housing and main-board revisions. Submit the connection diagram and supply responsibilities through the project contact page. The parties must confirm whether boards, harnesses or integration are included for the project. A graphic overlay or keypad overlay purchased only as a surface part does not include switch circuitry. The cover shows membrane circuit samples and exposed conductors at the ends of the tails; it does not show an adapter board or integration results. See the English membrane-switch product page for the related product scope.
For the interface drawing, see ordering details for tails and connectors (Chinese). To compare suppliers' quotations, use the like-for-like quotation checklist (Chinese) to check materials, quantities and acceptance scope.