Canon PowerShot G9
ƒ/2.8
7.4 mm
1/40
200

…pair of pad print heads at the Eoplex labs.

I always thought keyboard keys were printed individually and then placed in order. Pad printers can roll inks across all kinds of surfaces (e.g., golf ball dimples), and so the letters and numbers are actually printed onto an otherwise finished keyboard in one big rolling step that can even print on the sides of the keys.

More generally, these soft print heads deposit materials on 3D surfaces. They conform to the surface and can be used to build up metals and ceramics into complex 3D structures, like ceramic cell phone antennae.

7 responses to “Squeezing the Silicone”

  1. Is a soft printhead how they write the little "m"s onto peanut m&ms? I’ve always wondered how they did that. They’re kind of irregularly shaped.

  2. Related interesting information (open-source) for home projects can be found at fabathome.org

  3. You guys have positions in the coolest companies …

  4. Fascinating stuff Mr. J.

  5. These details are so often hidden – cool!

    @Automatt: I happen to know the non-answer, was once sitting next to a M&M insider: the process is a most jealously guarded trade *secret* !
    My guess, considering the precision of the M&M logos is that it’s "done" with a fast laser.

  6. they store the secret in Vegas….

    Green M&Ms

  7. ah ha .. "Melts in your mouth not in your hands" .. the secret shall stay in Vegas indeed .. .gotta go there again soon to check this out *first hand*

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