ASTM F1683-05e1

Standard Practice for Creasing or Bending a Membrane Switch, Membrane Switch Flex Tail Assembly or Membrane Switch Component

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
Bending or creasing of membrane switches or their components can affect their visual appearance, mechanical integrity or electrical functionality. This practice simulates conditions that may be seen during manufacture, installation or use.
Bend or crease testing may be destructive, therefore any samples tested should be considered unfit for future use.
Specific areas of testing include, but are not limited to:
3.3.1 Membrane switch flex tails, and
3.3.2 Any component of a membrane switch that may be subjected to bending or creasing.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice establishes a method for the creasing or bending of any part of a membrane switch.
1.2 This practice can be used with other test methods to achieve specific test results.
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 30-Apr-2005
• ICS: 19.060 - Mechanical testing
• ICS: 29.120.40 - Switches
• Technical Committee: F01 - Electronics
• Drafting Committee: F01.18 - Printed Electronics

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM F1683-05 - Standard Practice for Creasing or Bending a Membrane Switch, Membrane Switch Flex Tail Assembly or Membrane Switch Component
• Effective Date: 01-May-2005
• Replaced By: ASTM F1683-09 - Standard Practice for Creasing or Bending a Membrane Switch, Membrane Switch Flex Tail Assembly or Membrane Switch Component (Withdrawn 2018)
• Effective Date: 15-Jun-2009

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
e1
Designation:F 1683–05
Standard Practice for
Creasing or Bending a Membrane Switch, Membrane Switch
1
Flex Tail Assembly or Membrane Switch Component
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F 1683; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1
e NOTE—Figure 2 was corrected editorially in November 2005.
1. Scope
1.1 This practice establishes a method for the creasing or
bending of any part of a membrane switch.
1.2 This practice can be used with other test methods to
achieve specific test results.
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
standard. The values given in parentheses are for information
only.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
2. Terminology
2.1 Definitions:
2.1.1 bend—to force from a straight form into a different
and especially a curved one.
2.1.1.1 Discussion—In this case no “hard” or angled crease
or fold is to occur. The substrate will only be formed into a
radius.
2.1.2 bend cycle—a fold of a sample around a specified
mandrel which is “rolled” in one direction, followed by rolling
in the opposite direction, returning the sample to its original
FIG. 1 Bend Cycle
position (see Fig. 1).
2.1.3 crease—a ridge or groove made by folding and 2.1.6 membrane switch—a momentary switching device in
which at least one contact is on, or made of, a flexible
pressing.
2.1.3.1 Discussion—In this case a fold mark in the substrate substrate.
2.1.7 membrane switch tail—a flexible portion of a mem-
will be caused by a weight rolled over a fold that will likely
remain in the substrate after testing. brane switch used for input/output connection.
2.1.4 crease cycle—a 180° crease followed by a flattening
3. Significance and Use
of the crease (see Fig. 2).
3.1 Bending or creasing of membrane switches or their
2.1.5 mandrel—a cylindrically shaped metal rod, such as
components can affect their visual appearance, mechanical
brazing or drill rod.
integrity or electrical functionality. This practice simulates
conditions that may be seen during manufacture, installation or
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee F01 on Electronics
use.
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F01.18 on Membrane Switches.
3.2 Bend or crease testing may be destructive, therefore any
Current edition approved May 1, 2005. Published June 2005. Originally
approved in 1996. Last previous edition approved in 2002 as F 1683 – 02. samples tested should be considered unfit for future use.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
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F 1683–05
NOTE 1—The fixture illustrated in Fig. 3 is recommended to ensure
repeatability of crease location if multiple cycles are required.
5.2 Bend Practice:
5.2.1 Diameter Mandrel, to be specified by manufacturer or
customer.
5.2.2 Adhesive Tape orfixturetoholdspecimensecurelyin
place.
6. Test Specimens
6.1 The test specimens may be components, tail assembles
or finished switches subject to bending or creasing.
6.2 The width of the test specimen must not exceed the
length of the mandrel or height of the weight to be used.
7. Procedure
7.1 Crease Procedure:
7.1.1 Securelyattachoneendofthespecimentobetestedto
a hard flat surface.
7.1.2 Gently bend the test specimen into as large a loop as
possible. Secure the loose end of the specimen (top portion of
the loop) to the previously secured end.
7.1.3 Roll the weight from the secured ends of the specimen
towardstheendoftheloop(Fig.2)ataspeedofapproximately
25 mm/s (1 in./s). Roll the weight completely off the end of the
loop creating a crease.
7.1.4 Immediately open the creased specimen such that the
crease is now open and facing up (Fig. 2 e-h).
7.1.5 Roll the specified weight over the crease in the same
FIG. 2 Crease Cycle
manner as before to flatten the crease.
7.1.6 Repeat for specified number of cycles.
3.3 Specific areas of testing include, but are not limited to:
NOTE 2—Care must be taken to ensure that the weight rests only on the
3.3.1 Membrane switch flex tails, and
specimen, not on adjacent surfaces. In addition, the direction of travel of
3.3.2 Any component of a membrane switch that may be the weight must be perpendicular to the crease.This is to ensure the entire
width of the specimen is creased at the same time.
subjected
...