• The Outside Is Reflective of What’s Inside
• Legend Types Best Defined
• Legend Types Best Defined (cont'd)
• Characteristics in Developing

A.

Tampo printing: A method whereby legend information is transferred from an ink bearing clichés urface bearing the legend information through tampo pads to a keyboard surface. Characters and backgrounds can be all one color or vary in color from knob to knob using a common cliché.

B.

Laser marking: The same laser equipment is used in this process however there is no paint to remove. Instead the laser acts like a hot marking tool – actually changing the molecular attributes of the surface being heated so that the legend character information gets burned into the surface of the keytop. The upside is the degree of legend wear – the character is imbedded into the plastic substrate for virtually the life of the key. The downside has to do with choosing the correct type of plastics that can be used and color variance – the legend is usually dark grey or brown in nature and is best shown on a light white or grey background.

C.

Legend transfer process or diffusion bonding: The legend transfer process deals with pre-printed legend character information on special paper. The paper is aligned over the keyboard via coordinated tooling and a hot die transfers the character information from the paper into the substrate of the plastic by turning the legend into a gas that diffuses into the substrate of the plastic. Various colors can be printed on various points of the key; the limiting factor is certain type of lighter legend colors and using the correct type of plastic (polyester blends) that can handle the high heat involved in diffusing the legend into the plastic.

Metal: Similar to both elastomers and plastics – metals can be printed using most of the following means already stated above; tampo printing, laser etching and laser marking. Metal keys are often used in “vandal proof” products where the keycap, as well as the legend, needs to have exceptional durability.