18 August 2014 UpdateDid you know K3YD sells replacement spacebars--even ones that are a non-standard size?- 6.25x ("standard" size; fits Filco, Ducky, Poker, Das Keyboard, QFR, and more)
- 6.5x (with stems spaced 52.5mm from center; fits Quickfire TK, Quickfire XT, Corsair Vengeance K65/70/75/90/95, Logitech G710+, and more)
- 5.5x (with stems spaced 42.8625mm from center; fits Noppoo Choc Mini 84)
You can click the thumbnails on the product page to see a detailed preview of what each key looks like in a variety of materials.
Wondering how they look once they're printed? They look great!
Example 1,
Example 2Those are some of the most common spacebar types, but if you request a different size I'll see what I can do!
Do you want a custom design engraved or embossed in the front or top of the spacebar? Just let me know and I'll make it for you! You can choose from a variety of colors and materials. Also check out my other designs like novelty function row keys and novelty bottom-row modifiers.
23 June 2014 UpdateMore
New plastic colors are now available! 14 April 2014 UpdateMore
Lots of new keycaps have been added to the shop!
20 March 2014 UpdateMore
Hey GH! I'm proud to introduce to you my brand new keycap shop,
K3YD.
What is K3YD?K3YD is a 3D embossed keycap shop I have created on the website Shapeways. If you've never heard of them, Shapeways is a state-of-the-art company that allows artists to upload 3D models. Shapeways then 3D prints those models in a variety of materials/colors and delivers them right to your door.
I see the recent surge in the prevalence of 3D printing as the perfect opportunity to create mechanical keyboard accessories--especially keycaps. So I am offering my 3D modeling services to the community. I have modeled several different-sized Cherry MX keycaps, to which I can quickly add your own custom embossed designs.
Click here to visit K3YDThe shop currently has a fairly limited selection.
That's where you come in! K3YD is the
custom 3D keycap shop, after all. For absolutely no additional cost, you can submit as many custom designs as you would like. I will then create the keycap model and add it to the shop, where you can purchase it. You can submit as many requests as you'd like. Just contact me via any of the methods listed at the top of the shop and the process will begin.
Keycap Specifications:- Cherry MX switch compatibility (Topre/Buckling Spring/Alps may be available in the future)
- OEM profile (Cherry profile may be available in the future)
- R1, R2, R3, and R4 profiles
- Row number embossed under each keycap
Supported Features:The amazing thing about 3D printing is that the possibilities are limitless. K3YD's keycaps support the following features:
- Top-printed designs
- Front-printed designs
- Blank keycaps
- Irregular keycap sizes (usually for spacebar row)
- ANSI and ISO layouts
Material Options:Shapeways offers a wide variety of 3D printing materials. K3YD's keycaps can be printed in the following materials:
*Plastic has a coarse, textured feel
(similar to PBT)To see some example products for these materials,
click here.
Pictures:Note: I thought the designs didn't quite "pop" enough, so ALL designs in the shop are now embossed 2x higher than in the pictures below.
Left to right: White, Black, White Polished, Red, Pink, Blue, Violet (spacebar)
The keycaps are quite thick and have a very solid, sturdy construction.
The row number is embossed on the underside of each keycap.
Frequently Asked Questions:What are the keycaps like?- They're pretty awesome! The plastic ones I received have a slightly textured, coarse feel to them--very similar to PBT. All of the metal products I have seen printed on Shapeways look great, so I'm sure these keycaps would look great in metal as well. Overall, I'm very impressed with the 3D printing quality.
How well do they fit on the switches?- Pretty well! A few of the samples I bought were were a bit too tight, so I have modified the keycaps to have a slightly bigger stem hole. I don't think you should have any problems with tightness. If a keycap happens to be too loose, a simple fix is the Scotch tape trick.
What colors will be available?- See the Material Options section above. Plastic and metal options come with a variety of color and finish options.
Can keycaps be more than one color?- I'm afraid not. The only materials that supports multiple colors is sandstone, which is very brittle and thus unsuitable for keycaps. For full color details, click here. If you want a color other than the ones listed, you could try using Plasti Dip or some other type of spray/dye.
What types of designs can be requested?- I'm willing to try any design you can think of! However, keycaps are quite small so simple designs are more likely to look good than very detailed designs. Also, since keycaps can only be one color, try to avoid picking designs that rely heavily on color. Check out the shop for some good examples.
Will you make Topre/Buckling Spring/Alps keycaps?- Yes, if enough people want me to. Say so in the comments or else I'll have no idea if there's any interest.
Will you make keycaps in profiles besides OEM?- Yes, if enough people want me to. Say so in the comments or else I'll have no idea if there's any interest.
I can't wait to start taking requests and making custom keycap models for the mechanical keyboard community. Please post if you have any comments, questions, or concerns.