• We'll design it, or use your design.
• We'll make the needed parts, or find them
• We'll put it all together.
• We'll test it, to make it exceed your requirements
• We'll deliver it, on time and within budget.

ARC-USA provides a full range of customer-oriented services to produce completed subassemblies of data entry and user interface modules. ARC-USA will manufacture components needed for the assembly, procure needed components, and integrate the components to customer requirements. Services include design, modeling and engineering of assembly components, prototype production and testing to exact customer specifications. Two of our locations (Texas & Taiwan) offer "one-stop shopping" for plastics, metal parts, PWBs and electronics. Keypads can be either silicone rubber, membrane or polydome. ARC-USA personnel has more than 10 years of experience in this field, which allowed the company to form strategic alliances and contractual agreements worldwide assembly marketplace.

Fast Turnaround:

Speed and first-time accuracy are critical to successfully bringing new ideas to market. As a manufacturer that specializes in custom design and engineering, ARC-USA maintains continual communication with the customer in order to prevent errors or costly delays. Plastic parts are available in 4-6 weeks, keypad prototypes are available in 2-3 weeks, and PCB's are available in as little as 3 days. Production parts and turnkey assemblies are completed in accordance with the most ambitious customer schedules.

Applications:

Markets served include modules for consumer electronics, home and office equipment, and specialized medical, military, commercial, and communications applications. Typical assemblies include a PCB with electronics, a keypad and a plastic housing. A standard LCD module may be integrated to further enhance the product's usefulness. Membrane switch assemblies can be delivered with world-class graphic overlays.

Capability:

ARC-USA has full design, production and assembly capabilities for data entry and user interface modules. Electrical and mechanical engineering assistance is available for all phases for the design process. Facilities in Grand Prairie, Texas; Shen Zhen, China; and Taipei, Taiwan have the staff and tools necessary to determine the optimal solution for any size production run. Engineering personnel use solid modeling programs and state-of-the-art electrical layout software to create or modify designs as necessary.

Typical Assembly Components:

Housing: An exterior plastic housing can be designed by ARC-USA or incorporated using the customer's design. Tooling is typically accomplished in 4-6 weeks after drawing completion. Complex units involving curved surfaces, insert molding, doubleshot, and multiple printing solutions are built to specifications. Pantone® Color Matching and surface finish or texturing can achieve the look and feel needed for today's marketplace. 

Display Module: A standard module can be integrated to further enhance the product. Different backlight colors and types are available. Character modules and graphics formats are standard.

Keypad: Keypads can be designed for use alone or with metal domes. The base material can consist of one or more colors, or be translucent for backlit applications. ARC-USA engineers will design the keypad in Pro-E, or can use the customer's DXF or IGES file. A single-cavity aluminum prototype will be tooled in 2-4 weeks and hardened steel production tools in 4-6 weeks.

Printed Circuit Board (PCB): PCBs to be incorporated into the module assembly can be single-sided or of a multi-layer design. ARC-USA will use customer-supplied Gerber® files or can generate schematics and layouts for the customer. Nickel-plated, gold-plated, or carbon coated switch contacts are available to ensure high reliability and low contact resistance. Quick turn 3 day prototypes and 2-4 week production volumes are possible. 

1. Procurement activity becomes a simplified process; management of a single line item rather than the coordination of many separate parts.

2. A single item is tested and delivered within a shortened lead-time, thereby saving engineering and administrative resources. 

Plastic Housings: Relationships have been formed with a U.S. and off-shore supplier to assure a perfect match of price, leadtime and complexity.

Printed Circuit Boards: Three-tiered capabilities are available through the use of quick turn (2-3 days), short run (100-100K) and large-volume production facilities.

Keypads: In-house manufacturing of silicone-rubber or membrane keypads assure quick turnaround and accurate feel of this vital component. Electronics Electrical engineering capabilities assure the proper level of sophistication from microcontrollers to passive components.