Keycaps

[Reloaded]

Are there going to be replacement keycaps for the ergo pro available?

PLEASE! I love this keyboard so ****ing much but my keycaps are getting really really shiny and feeling awkward

Are the laser etched legends susceptible to stain or are they still pure white?

on a few of my keys the letters started fading away but my main problem is the fact that the keys just feel glossy and shiny if you know what I mean. I just really dislike the feel of abs keycaps after a period of usage. I compare the feeling with a few leopold pbt sets I own and the pbt granites. It's a whole other world and that's why I would love to use decent pbt keycaps on my ergo pro!

[ctm]

Hmm... That's kind of a problem. I like black keycaps but I really hate stained legends.

[zombimuncha]

Hmm... That's kind of a problem. I like black keycaps but I really hate stained legends.

I plan on getting a BoW set and dyeing them black, so it's black legends on black caps. Unless Matias sell these black-on-black caps directly, that is.

[ctm]

Hmm... That's kind of a problem. I like black keycaps but I really hate stained legends.

I plan on getting a BoW set and dyeing them black, so it's black legends on black caps. Unless Matias sell these black-on-black caps directly, that is.

Great idea! If I dye the caps in different batches (I don't think I can find a large enough container to fit an entire set), is it likely that they end up in different shade?

[zombimuncha]

Hmm... That's kind of a problem. I like black keycaps but I really hate stained legends.

I plan on getting a BoW set and dyeing them black, so it's black legends on black caps. Unless Matias sell these black-on-black caps directly, that is.

Great idea! If I dye the caps in different batches (I don't think I can find a large enough container to fit an entire set), is it likely that they end up in different shade?

Haven't tried it yet, but my guess is yeah, they'll be different shades. Buy a cheap pot to dye them in. Maybe from a charity shop or something.

[chingdaotze]

Currently own a Quiet Pro for work, and looking to get a Tactile Pro for home.  Very excited for these keycaps!

[AfterPad]

I use a Laptop Pro with my iPad, definitely looking forward to these!

Grabbed some of the doubleshot ABS Alps caps on Massdrop, and they're quite good, but I'd gladly trade them out for PBT Matias caps

[ImbaHue]

I use a Laptop Pro with my iPad, definitely looking forward to these!

Grabbed some of the doubleshot ABS Alps caps on Massdrop, and they're quite good, but I'd gladly trade them out for PBT Matias caps

How's that working out for you? Since it's ABS, does it feel the same as the stock ones? Can't bring myself to get one from MD. 

[AfterPad]

I use a Laptop Pro with my iPad, definitely looking forward to these!

Grabbed some of the doubleshot ABS Alps caps on Massdrop, and they're quite good, but I'd gladly trade them out for PBT Matias caps

How's that working out for you? Since it's ABS, does it feel the same as the stock ones? Can't bring myself to get one from MD.

It's working well so far - I LOVE the feel of the new caps. They're ABS, yes, but they don't have the bumpiness of the laser etchings on the stock caps. They're a bit smoother, but in a good way - the grain of the plastic feels finer, if that makes sense.

My only issue is the fact that the layout doesn't perfectly translate to the Laptop Pro board. The modifiers fit, but they're slightly staggered, and only one shift key fits. Which is a shame, because the stock caps look far worse alongside the replacements.

It was my first time buying anything on MD, but no regrets

[Fuzzybear]

I also picked up a set of the Doubleshot ABS Dolch keycaps off MD, they are much better than my original Filco keycaps which started showing wear on the legends then went shiny within 8 months of use.

I'm still waiting for these PBT caps to come out, I've been waiting for a long time for a blank black PBT set!

[fuzzycuffs]

Any updates on these real PBT keycaps?  I feel the last update was "spending time in China" but yet still no ETA on release.

[ctm]

Matias, is the production going well?

[grav3serker]

I sent an email asking about these and the response was:

"Thanks for your email.
We are working on PBT key caps and hope to have some next year.

Please check back in the spring."

So let's hope Spring brings us PBT!

[Reloaded]

Im pretty sure thats exactly the same answer as last year
I really hope they are going to be released asap

[ctm]

Hopefully this will not be like Unicomp's SSK. I really want PBT on my ALPS board.

[zombimuncha]

Hopefully this will not be like Unicomp's SSK. I really want PBT on my ALPS board.

It's a little bit scary how quiet Matias has been about it since the trip to China. No news is good news... right...?

[bcredbottle]

Hopefully this will not be like Unicomp's SSK. I really want PBT on my ALPS board.

It's a little bit scary how quiet Matias has been about it since the trip to China. No news is good news... right...?

I don't know why Matias has to do everything. There have already been two Alps keyset buys just that I know of. There's no reason we can't do a GB (maybe through SP?) for thick PBT Alps blanks.

[ctm]

Hopefully this will not be like Unicomp's SSK. I really want PBT on my ALPS board.

It's a little bit scary how quiet Matias has been about it since the trip to China. No news is good news... right...?

I don't know why Matias has to do everything. There have already been two Alps keyset buys just that I know of. There's no reason we can't do a GB (maybe through SP?) for thick PBT Alps blanks.

I think SP only makes think PBT. Also I don't seem to see SP doing ALPS PBT that is not in DSA profile.

[Matias]

Sorry for the radio silence -- lots of interesting stuff happening!  (and all taking longer than expected).  Anyway, on with the update...

I'm happy to report that the keycap tooling is essentially done -- with only a few minor things left to fix.

We've done sample injections in both ABS and PBT.  Both feel really great, and match up nicely with our previous caps -- so there's no issue mixing & matching new and old caps.

The main thing left to work out is how best to handle White legends on Black PBT.  Dyesub can't do this, so we're working with some material vendors to try and solve it.  It's the most common keycap colour, so it's really important that we find an acceptable solution.

We also received PBT doubleshot samples from Tai-Hao.  They're very nice, but they only cover the standard 101 keyset.  We're still waiting on the samples with transparent legends.

Let me know if there are any questions...

[bcredbottle]

Hopefully this will not be like Unicomp's SSK. I really want PBT on my ALPS board.

It's a little bit scary how quiet Matias has been about it since the trip to China. No news is good news... right...?

I don't know why Matias has to do everything. There have already been two Alps keyset buys just that I know of. There's no reason we can't do a GB (maybe through SP?) for thick PBT Alps blanks.

I think SP only makes think PBT. Also I don't seem to see SP doing ALPS PBT that is not in DSA profile.

We don't want thick PBT?

Not wanting DSA I understand.

[bcredbottle]

Sorry for the radio silence -- lots of interesting stuff happening!  (and all taking longer than expected).  Anyway, on with the update...

I'm happy to report that the keycap tooling is essentially done -- with only a few minor things left to fix.

We've done sample injections in both ABS and PBT.  Both feel really great, and match up nicely with our previous caps -- so there's no issue mixing & matching new and old caps.

The main thing left to work out is how best to handle White legends on Black PBT.  Dyesub can't do this, so we're working with some material vendors to try and solve it.  It's the most common keycap colour, so it's really important that we find an acceptable solution.

We also received PBT doubleshot samples from Tai-Hao.  They're very nice, but they only cover the standard 101 keyset.  We're still waiting on the samples with transparent legends.

Let me know if there are any questions...

Blanks solve all these problems.

[grav3serker]

Sorry for the radio silence -- lots of interesting stuff happening!  (and all taking longer than expected).  Anyway, on with the update...

I'm happy to report that the keycap tooling is essentially done -- with only a few minor things left to fix.

We've done sample injections in both ABS and PBT.  Both feel really great, and match up nicely with our previous caps -- so there's no issue mixing & matching new and old caps.

The main thing left to work out is how best to handle White legends on Black PBT.  Dyesub can't do this, so we're working with some material vendors to try and solve it.  It's the most common keycap colour, so it's really important that we find an acceptable solution.

We also received PBT doubleshot samples from Tai-Hao.  They're very nice, but they only cover the standard 101 keyset.  We're still waiting on the samples with transparent legends.

Let me know if there are any questions...

Thanks for the update! I'm excited to see these. Is there going to be a black on black (HHKB style) set available by any chance?

[ctm]

Hopefully this will not be like Unicomp's SSK. I really want PBT on my ALPS board.

It's a little bit scary how quiet Matias has been about it since the trip to China. No news is good news... right...?

I don't know why Matias has to do everything. There have already been two Alps keyset buys just that I know of. There's no reason we can't do a GB (maybe through SP?) for thick PBT Alps blanks.

I think SP only makes think PBT. Also I don't seem to see SP doing ALPS PBT that is not in DSA profile.

We don't want thick PBT?

Not wanting DSA I understand.

Sorry that was a typo. I meant thin PBT.

[ctm]

Sorry for the radio silence -- lots of interesting stuff happening!  (and all taking longer than expected).  Anyway, on with the update...

I'm happy to report that the keycap tooling is essentially done -- with only a few minor things left to fix.

We've done sample injections in both ABS and PBT.  Both feel really great, and match up nicely with our previous caps -- so there's no issue mixing & matching new and old caps.

The main thing left to work out is how best to handle White legends on Black PBT.  Dyesub can't do this, so we're working with some material vendors to try and solve it.  It's the most common keycap colour, so it's really important that we find an acceptable solution.

We also received PBT doubleshot samples from Tai-Hao.  They're very nice, but they only cover the standard 101 keyset.  We're still waiting on the samples with transparent legends.

Let me know if there are any questions...

One way to have white on black dye-sub is to print a black legend mask on a white keycap and then cover the legend part and dye the entire keycap to black. I learn about this method from here https://www.etsy.com/listing/217761281/wasd-keycap-set-for-cherry-mx-switch?ref=shop_home_feat_3. Not sure if this is too time consuming for producing in mass quantity.

[Matias]

Thanks for the update! I'm excited to see these. Is there going to be a black on black (HHKB style) set available by any chance?

It's unlikely to be a standard item -- but we do have a plan that could make it happen...

A major goal of ours is to facilitate group buys organized by the community.  That means more group buys, and lower MOQs for those group buys.

One way to have white on black dye-sub is to print a black legend mask on a white keycap and then cover the legend part and dye the entire keycap to black. I learn about this method from here https://www.etsy.com/listing/217761281/wasd-keycap-set-for-cherry-mx-switch?ref=shop_home_feat_3. Not sure if this is too time consuming for producing in mass quantity.

That is one of the ways we're considering, but it is more labour intensive -- because we'd have to separately dyesub the sides of the keys first, and then dyesub the legend.  It's an extra step, further complicated by the fact that the keys are not all the same shape.

It also has potential for longer life backlit keys.

Blanks solve all these problems.

I wish it were that simple... 

[ctm]

For the legend part, any plan to make caps lock keycap with Ctrl legend?

[Matias]

For the legend part, any plan to make caps lock keycap with Ctrl legend?

Yes, absolutely.  The Ergo Pro already supports swappable Caps/Ctrl, and so will our 60% keyboard.

[ctm]

For the legend part, any plan to make caps lock keycap with Ctrl legend?

Yes, absolutely.  The Ergo Pro already supports swappable Caps/Ctrl, and so will our 60% keyboard.

Awesome!! Love to see Ctrl at the right place.

[zeroswitch]

Have you considered any option for front printed thick PBT keycaps?

[zombimuncha]

Sorry for the radio silence -- lots of interesting stuff happening!  (and all taking longer than expected).  Anyway, on with the update...

I'm happy to report that the keycap tooling is essentially done -- with only a few minor things left to fix.

We've done sample injections in both ABS and PBT.  Both feel really great, and match up nicely with our previous caps -- so there's no issue mixing & matching new and old caps.

The main thing left to work out is how best to handle White legends on Black PBT.  Dyesub can't do this, so we're working with some material vendors to try and solve it.  It's the most common keycap colour, so it's really important that we find an acceptable solution.

We also received PBT doubleshot samples from Tai-Hao.  They're very nice, but they only cover the standard 101 keyset.  We're still waiting on the samples with transparent legends.

Let me know if there are any questions...

Hi Matias,
If the only cause of delay is the WoB colourway, could you not just go to market with the other colourways sort of now-ish, and release the WoB's later when they're ready?

How about a cheeky little Black-on-Dark-Grey Group Buy, before the official release, while we're waiting?

How do those Tai-Hao PBT doubleshots sound? I tried their ABS doubleshots but didn't like the sound - it's higher pitched (relative to stock thin ABS) and makes my Click switches sound more like MX Blues - do the PBT's do the same thing?

[ctm]

Sorry for the radio silence -- lots of interesting stuff happening!  (and all taking longer than expected).  Anyway, on with the update...

I'm happy to report that the keycap tooling is essentially done -- with only a few minor things left to fix.

We've done sample injections in both ABS and PBT.  Both feel really great, and match up nicely with our previous caps -- so there's no issue mixing & matching new and old caps.

The main thing left to work out is how best to handle White legends on Black PBT.  Dyesub can't do this, so we're working with some material vendors to try and solve it.  It's the most common keycap colour, so it's really important that we find an acceptable solution.

We also received PBT doubleshot samples from Tai-Hao.  They're very nice, but they only cover the standard 101 keyset.  We're still waiting on the samples with transparent legends.

Let me know if there are any questions...

Hi Matias,
If the only cause of delay is the WoB colourway, could you not just go to market with the other colourways sort of now-ish, and release the WoB's later when they're ready?

How about a cheeky little Black-on-Dark-Grey Group Buy, before the official release, while we're waiting?

How do those Tai-Hao PBT doubleshots sound? I tried their ABS doubleshots but didn't like the sound - it's higher pitched (relative to stock thin ABS) and makes my Click switches sound more like MX Blues - do the PBT's do the same thing?

+1 for Black-on-Dark-Grey GB!

[grav3serker]

Sorry for the radio silence -- lots of interesting stuff happening!  (and all taking longer than expected).  Anyway, on with the update...

I'm happy to report that the keycap tooling is essentially done -- with only a few minor things left to fix.

We've done sample injections in both ABS and PBT.  Both feel really great, and match up nicely with our previous caps -- so there's no issue mixing & matching new and old caps.

The main thing left to work out is how best to handle White legends on Black PBT.  Dyesub can't do this, so we're working with some material vendors to try and solve it.  It's the most common keycap colour, so it's really important that we find an acceptable solution.

We also received PBT doubleshot samples from Tai-Hao.  They're very nice, but they only cover the standard 101 keyset.  We're still waiting on the samples with transparent legends.

Let me know if there are any questions...

Hi Matias,
If the only cause of delay is the WoB colourway, could you not just go to market with the other colourways sort of now-ish, and release the WoB's later when they're ready?

How about a cheeky little Black-on-Dark-Grey Group Buy, before the official release, while we're waiting?

How do those Tai-Hao PBT doubleshots sound? I tried their ABS doubleshots but didn't like the sound - it's higher pitched (relative to stock thin ABS) and makes my Click switches sound more like MX Blues - do the PBT's do the same thing?

+1 for Black-on-Dark-Grey GB!

+2!

[Matias]

Okay, good news...

Samples of the few remaining problematic keycaps arrived yesterday.  I will check them tomorrow.  If they are good, then the tooling is officially done.   

Also, it looks like we now have laser-etching working for White on Black PBT.  I'm waiting to receive samples.

[ctm]

Okay, good news...

Samples of the few remaining problematic keycaps arrived yesterday.  I will check them tomorrow.  If they are good, then the tooling is officially done.   

Also, it looks like we now have laser-etching working for White on Black PBT.  I'm waiting to receive samples.

Awesome! Can't wait to see! 

[Fuzzybear]

Excellent news! One step closer to those thick blank black PBT Keycaps!

Any approximate timeline for when production will kick off assuming the tooling is indeed officially done?
 

[Matias]

Keycap tooling is officially DONE!   

Still waiting on samples of the White laser on Black PBT.  We won't be selling PBT caps until the legend printing process is worked out.  Best guess is Feb/March.  I'm booked for China mid-to-end of January.

Exciting things ahead...

[ctm]

Keycap tooling is officially DONE!   

Still waiting on samples of the White laser on Black PBT.  We won't be selling PBT caps until the legend printing process is worked out.  Best guess is Feb/March.  I'm booked for China mid-to-end of January.

Exciting things ahead...

ALPS revival!

[ctm]

Keycap tooling is officially DONE!   

Still waiting on samples of the White laser on Black PBT.  We won't be selling PBT caps until the legend printing process is worked out.  Best guess is Feb/March.  I'm booked for China mid-to-end of January.

Exciting things ahead...

Is dye-sub working?

[Matias]

Keycap tooling is officially DONE!   

Still waiting on samples of the White laser on Black PBT.  We won't be selling PBT caps until the legend printing process is worked out.  Best guess is Feb/March.  I'm booked for China mid-to-end of January.

Exciting things ahead...

ALPS revival!

It will be more than a revival.  We're working on things never before seen.   

Is dye-sub working?

Dye-sub is a solved problem.

[zombimuncha]

This is great news! Thanks for all your hard work to make this happen, Matias.
So what about thick ABS? Is that happening? If so, would it use lasered legends for all colourways?

[Matias]

This is great news! Thanks for all your hard work to make this happen, Matias.
So what about thick ABS? Is that happening? If so, would it use lasered legends for all colourways?

We can do thick ABS and thick PBT.  We can also do backlit caps.

ABS would be laser or UV printing.

[zombimuncha]

This is great news! Thanks for all your hard work to make this happen, Matias.
So what about thick ABS? Is that happening? If so, would it use lasered legends for all colourways?

We can do thick ABS and thick PBT.  We can also do backlit caps.

ABS would be laser or UV printing.

Great! I assume you'll be selling both, but my preference for ABS would be for UV over laser+infill. The legends on my QuietPro and V80 became stained fairly quickly, and AFAIK there's no way to remove the stains.

[ctm]

So when shall we have the group buy up and running?

[Matias]

So when shall we have the group buy up and running?

Can't answer that until we have the legend printing worked out.  Best guess is around March/April.  We're gearing up for CES now and Chinese New Year wipes out most of February.

This is great news! Thanks for all your hard work to make this happen, Matias.
So what about thick ABS? Is that happening? If so, would it use lasered legends for all colourways?

We can do thick ABS and thick PBT.  We can also do backlit caps.

ABS would be laser or UV printing.

Great! I assume you'll be selling both, but my preference for ABS would be for UV over laser+infill. The legends on my QuietPro and V80 became stained fairly quickly, and AFAIK there's no way to remove the stains.

Okay, noted.  BTW, for anyone who hasn't already voted, the poll is still open.

[jacobolus]

Thick PBT blanks in white will be amazing. Can then be easily dyed to any color.

Thick PBT caps with black dyesub on white would also be awesome. (Again, can then be dyed any color.)

[Fuzzybear]

Great! I assume you'll be selling both, but my preference for ABS would be for UV over laser+infill. The legends on my QuietPro and V80 became stained fairly quickly, and AFAIK there's no way to remove the stains.

Have you tried "Retro-bright?" It's a DIY concoction of 3% - 5% Hydrogen Peroxide, Oxyclean and some corn starch, followed by short exposure to sunlight and some scrubbing.

[ctm]

Great! I assume you'll be selling both, but my preference for ABS would be for UV over laser+infill. The legends on my QuietPro and V80 became stained fairly quickly, and AFAIK there's no way to remove the stains.

Have you tried "Retro-bright?" It's a DIY concoction of 3% - 5% Hydrogen Peroxide, Oxyclean and some corn starch, followed by short exposure to sunlight and some scrubbing.

Will retro bright also whiten the black keycap itself?

[zombimuncha]

Great! I assume you'll be selling both, but my preference for ABS would be for UV over laser+infill. The legends on my QuietPro and V80 became stained fairly quickly, and AFAIK there's no way to remove the stains.

Have you tried "Retro-bright?" It's a DIY concoction of 3% - 5% Hydrogen Peroxide, Oxyclean and some corn starch, followed by short exposure to sunlight and some scrubbing.

Will retro bright also whiten the black keycap itself?

So I need to retrobrite my stock WoB lasered caps every 3 months? Not keen

[Fuzzybear]

Will retro bright also whiten the black keycap itself?

No, it doesn't bleach black keycaps, it maybe could if you use some very high (lab grade) concentration of hydrogen peroxide, but even then I doubt it.

[Matias]

Okay, I've got the lasered PBT samples.  Legends are still a little dark and not white enough, so we're going to keep working on it.

Will keep you posted...