How to make keycaps
How do I make my own keycaps?
How is a keycap made?
Most keycaps are made by injection molding thermoplastic. The process involves melting plastic and injecting it under pressure into a steel mold. … PBT plastic, short for “polybutylene terephthalate,” is one of the community’s favorite materials for keycaps. Hard and durable, it lasts decades.
What is the best material for keycaps?
Keycaps are typically made of one of two types of plastic: ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) or PBT (polybutylene terephthalate). ABS is more common as it’s used by GMK, the dominant keycap manufacturer, but PBT is gaining popularity as the material of choice with newer profiles like KAT and MT3.
Do all keycaps fit all keyboards?
With all of the different mechanical keyboard sizes, it is difficult to find keycaps that will fit your keyboard. Some keyboards have smaller modifier keys, special right shift keys, weird spacebars, unique enter keys, and split backspace.
What are jelly keycaps?
They are OEM profile keycaps made of POM. … Polyoxymethylene (POM), also known as acetal, polyacetal, and polyformaldehyde, is an engineering thermoplastic used in precision parts requiring high stiffness, low friction, and excellent dimensional stability.
What is cherry profile?
Cherry profile: a keycap design similar in shape and size to OEM profile, but slightly shorter. DSA profile: Similar to SA profile, but approximately half the height (and shorter than OEM profile).
Are all keycaps plastic?
It is more dense than PBT and ABS, and keycaps made of POM tend to have a more muted downstroke. Legends on POM keys are usually laser-engraved, with or without infill. Keycaps of POM can not be found on many keyboards. Cherry uses it currently for black keys on its contemporary keyboards in the G80 and G81 series.
What are sublimated keycaps?
A laser engraves the legend into surface of a Dye Sublimated keycap, then a dye/clay material is applied to the void. This makes the legends highly visible. This print method is used exclusively for PBT keycaps, and the keys are extremely resilient to wear. Legends cannot be felt as the user types.
What is MX stem?
You will notice a “+” shaped slot on the keycap and a matching stem shape on the switch. This signature shape is an MX-style stem. Most mechanical keyboard switches, including our Glorious Panda tactile switches, have this stem shape for maximum compatibility with standard keycap sets.
Which switch has no interference?
South-facing switches will allow you to use any type of keycap without interference, which will give your keyboard a better sound and feel.
Is bottoming out bad keyboard?
Bottoming out in particular is bad, because you end up momentarily pressing against the keyboard frame with the full force you pressed down on the key, doing nothing but straining your wrist, while if you stop the downstroking on a spring loaded key before bottoming out, you’ll end up stopping your motion in a …
What is POM plate?
POM is a high strength, yet flexible plastic – It is a great choice of material for a keyboard plate as it provides a less firm typing experience and modified acoustics. Plate lead times are approximately 1 week.
Why are holy pandas so popular?
Holy Pandas are loved for two things, they’re very tactile with a noticeable rounded bump and they sound super satisfying in the right keyboard. … The sound profile make the Holy Pandas unique. The most popular video on Holy Pandas on Youtube showcases why people love the HP’s.
What is a pom switch?
JWK Durock POM Linear Switches, also known as Durock Piano Switches, use a proprietary POM blend for the top and bottom housing with a redesigned stem composed of a mystery material. This combination of switch materials provide a deeper sound signature while still giving you that smooth JWK feel.
What is FR4 keyboard?
FR-4 (or FR4) is a NEMA grade designation for glass-reinforced epoxy laminate material. FR-4 is a composite material composed of woven fiberglass cloth with an epoxy resin binder that is flame resistant (self-extinguishing). … Of these, FR-4 is the grade most widely in use today.
What do brass plates do?
With brass’s added weight comes increased rigidity compared to other plate materials. Transitioning from an aluminum plate, you will feel a notably less flexible typing surface. Some users have claimed that this firmer experience is well-suited for linear switches as it gives a solid and satisfying bottom out.
How many switches does a 60 keyboard have?
Small Size With Some Sacrifices. A standard, full-size keyboard has 104 keys. Technically speaking, that means a 60 percent keyboard should have 62 keys, and a 65 percent keyboard should have 67 or 68 keys.
Is POM plate Thocky?
IME, POM has a plop-y sound (not necessarily bad; I like the sound), FR4 can sound fairly deep/thocky, Alu “clacky” but can be thocky, and Brass tends to be more higher pitched. I do like the sound of tactiles on brass though.
What is an FR4 plate?
FR4 is a high-density fiber material that feels given between an aluminum plate and PC. It is solid with a certain flexibility and also solid with hardness, which enables you to get a balanced typing exprience.
What plate is best for tactile switches?
You will find that tactile/clicky switches will sound more full and solid with a brass plate, maintaining some metallic qualities and feel.