[IC] Stainless Steel or Aluminum SpaceBar

[transcend3nt]

it'd be great if it came in multiple colors. like shiny red, green, blue etc..

[gimpster]

Elrick wants us to use ZDP-189 for the steel, then.
(just kidding, that'd be super expensive, but I still agree that using a decent steel isn't a bad idea, depending on the final cost of course.)

I thought that powder was made in Japan? Either way, I love my ZDP-189 pocket knife. Would be awesome for a spacebar.

[mkawa]

build up the model and g-code and mill a sample. otherwise i think this IC is, though well intended, pretty pointless.

lots of people have access to machine shops (treble runs one). the difference is in those who have the skills to design the part and machines with high enough tolerances to get a good fit for parts as small as keys. if you don't have this then please don't get everyone's hopes up.

edit: i want to add that even if your guy could do something precise enough by hand, his labor would absolutely not be worth the time it would take to make one. otoh once you have the cad work done you can just pump them out, so get that done first and then do an IC.

[Upcboy]

I don't know the least about coloring the spacebars as someone asked. But I'm Pretty sure he can build one to look decent then i can sand/polish it to make it look fancy The hardest part will be the stems.. past that its a simple build.

[mkawa]

so what you're saying is you don't have access to a cnc mill? you cannot build these, sorry. you really can't build these by hand with the precision you need

[Maarten]

Damascus steel or GTFO

[dorkvader]

Damascus steel or GTFO

It'd corrode/wear too easily, unfortunately. You'd have to clearcoat it or something which defeats the purpose, in my opinion.

Still, composites always look good. Check out kershaw's leek composite.

[telepete]

I thought that powder was made in Japan? Either way, I love my ZDP-189 pocket knife. Would be awesome for a spacebar.

It is indeed Japanese. CPMS90V instead I guess. Lol.

[Maarten]

It'd corrode/wear too easily, unfortunately. You'd have to clearcoat it or something which defeats the purpose, in my opinion.

Still, composites always look good. Check out kershaw's leek composite.

LIES! Benchmade and various jewelers have used some pretty darn nice looking full stainless 'Damascus' steels in the past. Wont rust any quicker than any regular stainless steel and if you wear out any steel space-bar you prolly need to work on those anger issues.

[gimpster]

It'd corrode/wear too easily, unfortunately. You'd have to clearcoat it or something which defeats the purpose, in my opinion.

Still, composites always look good. Check out kershaw's leek composite.

When you say "composites" I think "carbon fiber", which I would totally buy.

[digitalleftovers]

Damascus steel or GTFO

heck yes

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[The_Beast]

I'd rather spend a bit more money up front to get better grade steel than cheap out and have to deal with rust later. Plus, this spacebar should never wear out, think of this as an investment

[longweight]

I want no expense spared really, top quality all the way!

[dorkvader]

LIES! Benchmade and various jewelers have used some pretty darn nice looking full stainless 'Damascus' steels in the past. Wont rust any quicker than any regular stainless steel and if you wear out any steel space-bar you prolly need to work on those anger issues.

Any High carbon steel, or steel with a high carbon component will have worse corrosive resistance than good stainless steel. There are reasons for Damascus steel, but I don't think it'd be good here. What we want is two stainless steels that are folded in a similar fashion (and therefore expensive). Keep in mind that this would be in a somewhat corrosive environment for almost all it's life, especially compared to the usual usage pattern for a Damascus knife. I mean, who would want a Damascus dive knife?

When you say "composites" I think "carbon fiber", which I would totally buy.

Carbon fiber is a composite, but composite really means "made up of multiple materials", we could have an extruded brass matrix with epoxy in it, and it'd be a composite as well. Check this picture of a Steel / Copper / Steel (Sandvik 14c28N copper D2) composite blade:
http://www.manventureoutpost.com/product_images/out/main/kerspic1660cb.jpg

I'd love to see that on a spacebar, though the copper bit would war/corrode faster, if it were in between the steel layers where you don't hit it with a finger, I imagine it'd be fine.

[Maarten]

I mean, who would want a Damascus dive knife?

MEMEME!! OH PICK ME! Just think of how beautiful the tuna slices id make with that end up looking. *drool*

[The_Beast]

MEMEME!! OH PICK ME! Just think of how beautiful the tuna slices id make with that end up looking. *drool*

Rusty, that's how

[digitalleftovers]

As long as we are dreaming...

These ceramic kitchen knives also come with damascus-like patterns on them, however, IMO they probably just draw it on there to make it look cool.  If you could work out the logistics of a stem, ceramics would make interesting key cap materials in general.

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[zakazak]

Interested as well

[dorkvader]

As long as we are dreaming...

These ceramic kitchen knives also come with damascus-like patterns on them, however, IMO they probably just draw it on there to make it look cool.  If you could work out the logistics of a stem, ceramics would make interesting key cap materials in general.

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I've been after ceramic keycaps for a while now. Using powder processing techniques (SLS, etc. Heck, you could even uniaxial mould it) making it out of alumina is easily within our reach. They'd be dye-sub'able, and would basically never wear or corrode.

[Maarten]

making it out of alumina i<...> never wear or corrode.

Erm... Alumina basically IS fancy corroded aluminium right? Thats like saying that rust will never rust (which ofc in a way is true).

However, about the whole metal cap thing.... i think i really need to type on a board with all metal caps one of these days because i have a feeling that it could suck quite a bit if you're a very fast typer (mass being slow and everything). Anyone here have some experience with long/fast typing on full metal?

[The_Beast]

Erm... Alumina basically IS fancy corroded aluminium right? Thats like saying that rust will never rust (which ofc in a way is true).

However, about the whole metal cap thing.... i think i really need to type on a board with all metal caps one of these days because i have a feeling that it could suck quite a bit if you're a very fast typer (mass being slow and everything). Anyone here have some experience with long/fast typing on full metal?

Longweight has a keyboard with all metal caps (except modifiers), ask him

[dorkvader]

Erm... Alumina basically IS fancy corroded aluminium right? Thats like saying that rust will never rust (which ofc in a way is true).

However, about the whole metal cap thing.... i think i really need to type on a board with all metal caps one of these days because i have a feeling that it could suck quite a bit if you're a very fast typer (mass being slow and everything). Anyone here have some experience with long/fast typing on full metal?

It's a ceramic: no longer a metal Al2O3. You could say that it's oxidized aluminum, but so is sapphire:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sapphire
(chemical formula of sapphire as Al2O3).
Alumina is closer to Corundum in it's crystalline form, which is cool 'cause it has a mohs of 9.
 It's pretty awesome:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alumina

Anyway it's oxidized aluminum, not corroded aluminum. One main reason it's so good about corrosion, etc is because it's already oxidized (so your rust will never rust is at least partially true!). On main difference is that iron oxide is fail whereas aluminum oxide is win. I love ceramics.

[Maarten]

Oh i know, im just teasing Its like saying diamonds are the same stuff as the guts of a regular No.2 pencil (yet they are quite differently priced).....

But im going off-topic like gh has not seen since ripster got his ass banned. My apologies.....

[gimpster]

Erm... Alumina basically IS fancy corroded aluminium right? Thats like saying that rust will never rust (which ofc in a way is true).

However, about the whole metal cap thing.... i think i really need to type on a board with all metal caps one of these days because i have a feeling that it could suck quite a bit if you're a very fast typer (mass being slow and everything). Anyone here have some experience with long/fast typing on full metal?

I had a full set of gold-plated zinc caps. I type about 95wpm. Weight was an issue, see my previous post in this thread. It also made the tips of my fingers hurt after a full day.

[noobandroid]

interested, make some eye candy

[WhiteFireDragon]

Interested as well, and waiting for prototype pics.

[longweight]

Erm... Alumina basically IS fancy corroded aluminium right? Thats like saying that rust will never rust (which ofc in a way is true).

However, about the whole metal cap thing.... i think i really need to type on a board with all metal caps one of these days because i have a feeling that it could suck quite a bit if you're a very fast typer (mass being slow and everything). Anyone here have some experience with long/fast typing on full metal?

I have no issues with typing on my aluminium caps, I have no idea what my WPM is but I do type pretty damn fast!

It is so worth it.

[Netdewt]

I would want an Al spacebar that's brushed/sandblasted like Apple stuff.

[dorkvader]

I much prefer the finish on my Benchmade 470
http://www.benchmade.com/products/470
(looks better IRL)

[Upcboy]

Just an Update Should be in the shop this week (they actually offered to hire me and train me as a Machinist) so I hope to have a prototype by the end of the week.