Zinc keycap for Topre switches.

[cookie]

Hello everybody,

Due to a friend of mine who is very competent in metal works and various crafting techniques, I got the Idea of producing Zinc keycaps for topre switches.
We've talked cursorily about what is possible and what is not and before we start crafting the molds I'd like to check if you  are interested in such a cap?

The fist step is this interest check here.
If the feedback is positive we are going to produce the fist prototype, probabbly the ESC or FN key and see how this will turn out.
We a concerned about the stem because zinc is a relatively soft material but we will figure something out.
If you are satisfied with the result we will evaluate the pricing and start producing on demand.

Next step would be a replacement spacebar for the HHKB/Realforce so that you guys can get rid of the cheap ABS one, but this step will take a while.
Last step would be a whole keycap set, but this will probably take a while.

What do you guys think?


Cheers!

[HoffmanMyster]

I'd like to see where this goes, so I'm interested.  fn key would be most sought after for me. 

[cookie]

Nice to hear that, I think we are aiming for both, ESC and FN key!

[ComradeSniper]

I'd definitely be interested in a zinc fn.

[Latin00032]

This sounds cool!

My first concern is the added weight of the zinc caps. They would have to be made to be light or they will affect the topre switch function.

The next concern is the wear on the caps. Many of the previous zinc caps look ugly when they start wearing out.

I'm very interested anyway.

[frosty]

If the zinc spacebar would be produced, is it light enough to not actuate the 35g topre?

[Puddsy]

If the zinc spacebar would be produced, is it light enough to not actuate the 35g topre?

nope, zinc is pretty heavy

I don't think it would even work on 45g topre, but I could be wrong

[nya]

Don't forget us JP users when you build the sets! 

[cookie]

the 35g topre spacebar is a good point, I have to evaluate this! But a solution could be a stronger support spring.
I am not sure if it is possible to cast a zinc keycap which is the same weight as the pbt cap, the cap would turn out too thin and could start deforming over the time.

I personally would like to see a zinc cap age over the time, turning from a factory new look into a used one.

Don't forget us JP users when you build the sets! 

Fair enough I'll put a JP FN key on the list, this would be equivalent to the window key on the ANSI version!

[dustinhxc]

Interested in a fn key. 

[byker]

Would definitely be interested!

[ComradeSniper]

If the zinc spacebar would be produced, is it light enough to not actuate the 35g topre?

nope, zinc is pretty heavy

I don't think it would even work on 45g topre, but I could be wrong

Well, the steel brobot V2 works on 45g topre. It's pretty sluggish, but the switch still holds it up, and I'm pretty sure that zinc is less dense than steel so it should work.

Edit: Oh, spacebar. Nevermind, I dunno about that.

[HendyZone]

Would be interested on Esc and FN for sure

[dorkvader]

If the zinc spacebar would be produced, is it light enough to not actuate the 35g topre?

nope, zinc is pretty heavy

I don't think it would even work on 45g topre, but I could be wrong

I don't think a zinc spacebar would weigh 50 grams (remember the spring on the spacebar switch: adds about 15g but I can measure for sure if you like) but you can replace it with a stronger spring if you like. It could still work.

[HPE1000]

Interested in a zinc esc key 

[cookie]

If the zinc spacebar would be produced, is it light enough to not actuate the 35g topre?

nope, zinc is pretty heavy

I don't think it would even work on 45g topre, but I could be wrong

I don't think a zinc spacebar would weigh 50 grams (remember the spring on the spacebar switch: adds about 15g but I can measure for sure if you like) but you can replace it with a stronger spring if you like. It could still work.

I am aiming for a cap you can just put in your keyboard and it works. There are possibilities to make the cap a bit lighter but without some test runs I can't tell how they will feel.
I only have a HHKB Pro2 and Pro1 available to test the caps.