In a membrane switch RFQ, "waterproof and durable" leaves the operating conditions unclear. Specify the actual temperature and humidity, cleaning liquid and wiping method, where liquid may reach, the panel bonding surface and the tail exit separately. Then agree on the assembly condition for sample validation. Adhesive material data, panel samples and sealing results for the complete equipment are different forms of evidence and do not provide the same assurance.
Describe the operating conditions before asking the supplier to select a structure
If an RFQ says only "outdoor use" or "frequent cleaning", the supplier cannot tell whether it means occasional splashes, condensation during shutdown or repeated daily wiping. Ask the equipment engineer for the housing material, bonding-surface texture, openings, tail routing and cleaning process. List different use scenarios separately. Baoshengda Technology's membrane switch product page lists design inputs for structures, interfaces, samples and acceptance. The actual materials and structure still need to be confirmed against the project drawings.
| RFQ input | Conditions to specify | What to check when approving samples |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature, humidity and condensation | Operating, shutdown and storage scenarios; whether condensation occurs and which areas are exposed | Appearance, bonding and function with the selected materials and mounting condition |
| Cleaning and liquid contact | Cleaning liquid and concentration, wiping material, frequency, contact time and direction | Whether markings, windows, edges and keys meet the project criteria after the agreed cleaning process |
| Bonding and sealing | Housing material, surface texture and flatness, edge width, openings, and tail and connector exits | Possible ingress paths at edges, openings and exits in the actual assembly |
Avery Dennison's appliance tape information lists membrane switch mounting as an application and includes the substrate, operating environment, temperature, humidity and chemical contact among tape-selection considerations. These conditions need to inform material and structure selection. The information does not establish that a Baoshengda adhesive has passed a particular chemical-liquid or temperature test. Tape data in a supplier's catalogue should not be presented as a finished-product guarantee.
Using structures from the high-temperature, high-humidity patent in this RFQ
The front page of the granted-publication document CN213242350U, "高温高湿环境用的薄膜开关" (a membrane switch for high-temperature, high-humidity environments), names Shenzhen Baoshengda Technology Co., Ltd. as the patent holder. The document describes a waterproof layer, a separating layer and a heat-conducting plate within a clamping assembly. Whether this project uses those structures, and what environmental test results are available, need to be checked separately.
The following table can help identify which project drawings to add to the RFQ. Claims 2, 3 and 5 are dependent claims; retain the preceding structures on which each depends when reading them.
| Structural item in the document | Project drawings and supply boundaries to clarify | How to handle an unconfirmed item |
|---|---|---|
| Claim 2: a waterproof layer between the panel and upper circuit board | Mark its position, coverage, edges and tail exit on a section or stack drawing. Specify which layer or assembly is being supplied. | Keep it as a structural item to confirm. It does not establish a protection result for the complete equipment. |
| Claim 3: a separating layer between the upper and lower circuit boards, plus the connector and base plate | Provide the circuit and connector revisions and the base-plate interface drawing. State whether the validation sample includes these assembly parts. | Confirm the object being inspected and the drawing revision first, so that results from different assemblies are not mixed. |
| Claim 5: a heat-conducting plate between the clamping plate and base plate in a specific clamping assembly | If heat conduction is required, add the contact surfaces, clamping space and assembly drawings. Clarify whether supports and clamping parts are included in the supply. | Review it for the project. Do not present the document's heat-conducting plate as a cooling configuration or temperature commitment for every product. |
Before choosing a damp heat test method, state whether condensation occurs and how the temperature changes. The public scope description for IEC 60068-2-78:2025 covers the effects of high humidity at a constant temperature, without condensation on the specimen. The public scope description for IEC 60068-2-30:2025 addresses high humidity combined with temperature cycling, generally producing condensation on the specimen surface. The project parties should agree on the method, edition, specimen condition and acceptance criteria for the actual operating conditions. These public descriptions do not provide Baoshengda product test results. Project results need to be checked against the validation records.
Define water protection at the complete-equipment interfaces
Our waterproofing design notes identify possible liquid-ingress paths at panel edges, key areas, tail exits, connectors, housing joints and mounting holes. A covered panel surface does not replace protection at the housing and interfaces. If an ingress-protection rating is required, specify the assembly condition, exposure direction, method, duration and functional criteria. Without validation of the complete equipment, a diagram or individual sample should not be described as meeting an IP rating.
When comparing quotations, ask suppliers to list the overlay material, adhesive, tail-exit design, sample quantity and validation responsibilities against the same environmental inputs. If a proposal says only "waterproof adhesive" and gives no conditions for the bonding surface or housing interfaces, record those gaps as items to confirm instead of treating the complete equipment as qualified.
If the operating area is also exposed to dust and the key structure needs venting, use the vent path and dust-entry review to check internal connections, external openings and adhesive blocking. Record these requirements separately from cleaning liquids and liquid-ingress paths.
Turn operating conditions into RFQ attachments that can be checked
- Attach front and rear equipment photos, housing drawings and mounting-area dimensions. Mark openings, edges and the tail exit.
- List the actual liquids, cleaning methods and temperature/humidity scenarios. Mark unknown conditions for measurement instead of making a general "chemical-resistant" commitment.
- State in the quotation who is responsible for material screening, panel samples and validation in the equipment assembly. Define the observation locations and pass criteria separately.
- Link the confirmed drawing, material, assembly and inspection revisions to the same approved reference-sample record. Reassess them when the use scenario or structure changes.
For help reading adhesive data, see the difference between peel adhesion and static shear (Chinese). To compare the scope of different quotations, see the membrane switch quotation comparison checklist (Chinese). Use the membrane switch product page to review structure options, then the contact page to submit the equipment use, assembly drawings and cleaning conditions. Final requirements are governed by the project documents agreed by both parties and samples representative of the intended equipment assembly.