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geekhack Community => Keyboard Keycaps => Topic started by: AlphaStudios on Thu, 28 April 2022, 12:43:41

Title: Has anyone made a keycap from machined brass or bronze?
Post by: AlphaStudios on Thu, 28 April 2022, 12:43:41: Would it be too heavy or does that not matter?
Title: Re: Has anyone made a keycap from machined brass or bronze?
Post by: PurpleOmega on Sat, 30 April 2022, 06:07:08: A lot of the keycaps use aluminium currently. However, there have been instances of brass keycaps. Bronze however is a lot more rare. I guess the weight on such artisans doesn't really matter too much, but just make sure its not super dense and don't weigh too much so that the switch compresses on its own.
Title: Re: Has anyone made a keycap from machined brass or bronze?
Post by: suicidal_orange on Sat, 30 April 2022, 08:21:45: Yes weight matters - if your keycap weighs more than the spring takes to compress the key will be constantly held down, and most people use springs <50g. If you can make it thin enough it could work...
Title: Re: Has anyone made a keycap from machined brass or bronze?
Post by: rcaldejr on Sat, 30 April 2022, 09:53:34: You'd probably be able to counter the weight of the bronze with a heavier spring, and if you calculate it right, could get the same 50g switch press.
Title: Re: Has anyone made a keycap from machined brass or bronze?
Post by: AlphaStudios on Sun, 01 May 2022, 20:19:27: Kind of obvious now that I think of it. My CAD software tells me a brass one would be 12g - so well within whats decent IMHO.