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TomDP
6
Sep 7, 2017
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I am super into metal keycaps, but I think your price is too high. I paid under $200 for a full 87-key set of MKC zinc keycaps with aluminum spacebar (they have lasted 2 years very well) and $45 for a 37-key set of newer, shiny MKC zinc keycaps (they did not last a week without wearing and needed a coating of ProtectaClear to survive).
Both of these keycap sets are CNC milled and coated.
With those sets as my reference point, I would think your price could come down.
However, I would seriously consider a set of CNC-milled metal keycaps like you're describing, at a high price point, if they solve the problems of existing metal keycaps like mine:
- They must be durable and not tarnish or corrode with wear and oils from fingers. Aluminum, anodized or otherwise, should do just fine.
- They must have a good, rough, grippy texture. The earlier MKC 2nd-gen keycaps I use now have a subtle matte texture of the coating, and that _works_, but it's still not textured enough. The newer MKC 2nd-gen keycaps, from the 37-key set, are slick and smooth, and downright unpleasant to type on. A "mirror finish" is a disaster once you've touched it for more than a few minutes -- it becomes slick. We don't tolerate this of ABS keycaps, and we shouldn't tolerate it of metal ones.
For reference, these are the MKC sets (neither photo is my own):
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These have lasted a very long time, and their coating's subtle texture is in good condition.
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These, also called "2nd gen" but very different, did not last long at all, and had a terrible slick coating.
UPDATE: Added photos
Sep 7, 2017
ReRamp
36
Sep 7, 2017
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TomDPThanks for the reply, ive been working hard to bring down the price as i realize it is out of most people budgets for keycaps. Note that the first price was before I had optimized more of the cnc work. Im currently doing all the cnc work off a vice and have not got into custom work holding yet (I plan on doing that in the near future). That should bring the time (and price) it takes to make them down a lot. I have been using the current version of the surface finish on my wasd keys for the last 2 months with no degrade in finish. They keep the finish well and i haven't had problems it becoming slick. (the photos are from my keyboard with no extra cleaning) These are not anodized but I plan on getting some anodized soon, it wouldn't be reflective, it would have the texture, durability, look, and feel of the back of an iPhone or Mac book. This would also give it more texture and make it less slick. Anodizing them will also allow me to laser engrave the letters onto the keys. this should create text that you cant feel with you finger that also wont rub off over time.
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Sep 7, 2017
TomDP
6
Sep 8, 2017
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ReRampThose look great!
If you can get a similar texture and durability of the matte aluminum of my MacBook, that'd be endgame material for me.
Some of ScarFace's thick injection-molded aluminum keycaps had a similar sandblasted finish:
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The rest of his work is fantastic, too: http://cafe.naver.com/sfkey.cafe?iframe_url=/ArticleList.nhn%3Fsearch.clubid=16426502%26search.menuid=62%26search.boardtype=I
Sep 8, 2017
Starwind
7
Nov 26, 2017
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TomDPWhere did you get those? I am making a rustic ergodox and need a set of metalic keys
Nov 26, 2017
Starwind
7
Dec 5, 2017
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Starwind@TomDP Seriously, I really need to know where you got them.
Dec 5, 2017
TomDP
6
Dec 9, 2017
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StarwindI don't have any ScarFace keycaps. I don't know if he still makes them. I haven't heard of any sale in recent years. There's probably better information floating around in the SK mechanical keyboard community.
I only have MKC's zinc keycaps & aluminum spacebar, as mentioned in earlier post in this thread. I was extremely lucky to find a full set in 2015, and they've barely aged with daily use (and weekly cleaning).
If you go looking for MKC keycaps, be very very careful you know just which version you're getting. It's almost certainly going to be the shiny, slick, short-lived 2nd-gen set, not the nice 2nd-gen set (more on differences above), and you may need to think about measures like applying something like ProtectaClear to keep their coating from corroding. Note that ProtectaClear will make them even smoother, and you'll be able to feel that there's a thin coating there. I switched back to OEM ABS keycaps on the keyboard I put that set on, while I'm still in love with the matte 2nd-gen set.
If you're open to using ProtectaClear, powder coating, painting, or even treating with a patina and/or rolling with the corrosion for a rustic look, you can also get away with the other bad zinc keycap sets, like ttesports' "METALCAPS". I've been considering this. Just don't do anything like this to any matte MKC 2nd-gen keycaps, or I'll know, and I will find you.
Dec 9, 2017
Carson_Shalosky
0
Nov 18, 2023
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TomDPI have a metal 3D printer and can print a whole set for under $100. I can print out of aluminum and stainless steel. Only problem is the switch between materials is $20,000. So, I can only print out of aluminum right now since that is what I have it using.
Nov 18, 2023
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