When is a desktop membrane keyboard the right choice for industrial HMI?

Not every operator station lives inside a 19-inch rack. The 6GF6710-2AC is a standalone desktop keyboard designed for HMI workstations, operator desks, and pedestal-mounted panel PCs where a rack bay is not available. At 478.5 × 180 × 28 mm and just 1.0 kg, it occupies minimal desk space and can be positioned wherever the operator needs it. The fully sealed IP65 membrane body means the entire keyboard — not just the front face — is protected against dust and water jets. This makes it suitable for production-floor pulpits, washdown areas, and any environment where the keyboard is directly exposed to the industrial environment rather than tucked inside a cabinet.

When should I choose the DEU (German) layout over the INT layout?

The 6GF6710-2AC ships with the DEU (German / QWERTZ) character set — the standard keyboard layout for German-speaking industrial environments. If your SIMATIC engineering software, runtime HMI, or operator documentation is in German, the QWERTZ layout with its dedicated umlaut keys (Ä, Ö, Ü) and AltGr-accessible special characters will match operator expectations and reduce input errors. Standard Windows keyboard shortcuts that rely on key positions (Ctrl+Z, Ctrl+Y) behave differently between QWERTY and QWERTZ layouts — using the layout your operators are trained on avoids confusion during alarm acknowledgement and other time-sensitive interactions. For global deployments or English-language automation systems, the 6GF6710-2BC (INT layout) is the better fit. The two models are otherwise identical in construction, dimensions, weight, and IP rating.

What makes the membrane design different from the rack-mount keyboards?

The 6GF6710-2AC uses a full membrane key switch design — a single-piece silicone membrane with carbon-contact domes rated for over 1 million operations per key. Unlike the rack-mount built-in keyboards which use a steel housing with a membrane front overlay, the desktop membrane keyboard has no exposed metal components. The seamless membrane surface has no gaps or crevices where dust and liquid can collect, and it can be wiped down or sprayed clean during sanitation procedures. The key travel is shorter than a mechanical switch keyboard — a deliberate trade-off that delivers the IP65 full-body seal. The integrated touchpad eliminates the need for a separate mouse on the desktop, keeping the work surface uncluttered.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I connect the 6GF6710-2AC to a system with only USB ports?

Yes. The keyboard provides both PS/2 and USB connectivity, so it works natively with USB-only host systems without an adapter. This is a key difference from the withdrawable rack-mount models (3BK/3BJ) which are PS/2-only.

Is the touchpad responsive with wet or gloved hands?

The capacitive touchpad, like most touchpad technologies, works best with bare, dry fingers. Operators wearing thick work gloves or working with wet hands may experience reduced responsiveness. For gloved operation in harsh conditions, the rack-mount trackball variants (3BG/3BJ/3BK) offer a more reliable pointing experience. The touchpad is ideal for control-room, laboratory, and clean-area operator stations where operators typically work bare-handed.