Silicone rubber dome switch casting mold

thingiverse

This mold can be reused for casting silicone caulk into rubber button domes. To obtain conductive carbon rubber discs, purchase a TV remote repair kit that is often very cheap and contains several dozen of these discs. However, it's rare to find one-button domes sold specifically for use with custom boards. Using a rubber dome switch gives a more game controller-like feel than microswitches, as many factory-made game controllers use this type of switch. To prepare the mold, apply liquid soap to each half, place a carbon disc in the pit of the bottom half, and then fill the top half's round part with silicone. Close the mold and let it sit for several hours before gently separating the two halves. There are two top halves, one producing a dome with a flat top and one producing a dome with a pitted top that can be held in place better by a plastic switch top. The redesigned top parts print more easily, but the interior remains the same - print all parts with the active surface facing up and using PLA, which is smooth and makes it easy to separate the silicone into one piece. The two holes serve a dual purpose: they create protrusions that facilitate attaching the dome to the printed circuit board, and also allow air to escape when closing the mold, so don't block them off.