Author Topic: Aluminum Keycaps (Read 10375 times)

lxrogers · « **on:** Thu, 07 April 2016, 01:37:34 »

I'm working on a set of aluminum keycaps for a full aluminum keyboard, but after quite a bit of research I can't seem to find any aluminum keycaps.

Has anybody here bought any, made any, or even seen pictures of them? I'm worried that there is a reason that nobody has made any before.

To me it seems like a decent metal for keycaps: rugged once anodized, light, aesthetically matching with aluminum cases.

TalkingTree · « **Reply #1 on:** Thu, 07 April 2016, 04:48:13 »

Quote from: lxrogers on Thu, 07 April 2016, 01:37:34

Has anybody seen pictures of them?

HolyOOPS are made out of aluminum. There's also a modifiers set.

rurushu · « **Reply #2 on:** Thu, 07 April 2016, 05:49:43 »

If not mistaken last time got one korean keyboard enthusiast called ScarFace made a set of aluminium keycaps, i think only the alphas and not the modifiers.

but that one is like... years ago though... and I only saw one people in GH last time who got the keyset, the user is "long-something" or "something-long".

Edit: found already, the user is longweight https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=36620.0

Zar7 · « **Reply #3 on:** Thu, 07 April 2016, 15:12:27 »

I did actually had the chance to try out the aluminium keycaps on my friend's Pok3r. It's a TtEsports's metal keycaps. Personally, I don't really like it, because of the slippery finish on the surface.
After using them for two weeks, my friend bailed out on the metal caps because it started to show some serious wear (the metal coating rubbing off, with yellowish colors started popping out) on his WASD keys.

Probably the main reason why most manufacturers avoid making aluminium caps is because of their high cost and inconsistent durability. They wear off in weeks if you game and type on the same keyboard.
PBT probably is your best choice: durable and thick.

lxrogers · « **Reply #4 on:** Sat, 07 May 2016, 15:14:43 »

Here is my first prototype:

things to improve:

somehow soften the edge around the top, is a little sharp
find softer beads for the bead blast
improve the cut-out operation so i don't get those hanging pieces along the bottom

Photekq · « **Reply #5 on:** Sat, 07 May 2016, 15:17:53 »

Quote from: rurushu on Thu, 07 April 2016, 05:49:43

If not mistaken last time got one korean keyboard enthusiast called ScarFace made a set of aluminium keycaps, i think only the alphas and not the modifiers.

but that one is like... years ago though... and I only saw one people in GH last time who got the keyset, the user is "long-something" or "something-long".

Edit: found already, the user is longweight https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=36620.0

http://www.otd.kr/bbs/board.php?bo_table=f8&wr_id=662&sca=&sfl=mb_id%2C1&stx=maniabyh

http://www.otd.kr/bbs/board.php?bo_table=f8&wr_id=681&sca=&sfl=mb_id%2C1&stx=maniabyh

http://www.otd.kr/bbs/board.php?bo_table=f8&wr_id=704&sca=&sfl=mb_id%2C1&stx=maniabyh

http://www.otd.kr/bbs/board.php?bo_table=f8&wr_id=724&sca=&sfl=mb_id%2C1&stx=maniabyh

http://www.otd.kr/bbs/board.php?bo_table=f8&sca=&sfl=mb_id%2C1&stx=maniabyh&page=2

lxrogers · « **Reply #6 on:** Sat, 07 May 2016, 20:52:56 »

wow amazing find.. they look pretty good casted. Is the diagram on there showing the different sizes? It seems like there isn't any profiling on these

Photekq · « **Reply #7 on:** Sat, 07 May 2016, 20:56:54 »

Quote from: lxrogers on Sat, 07 May 2016, 20:52:56

wow amazing find.. they look pretty good casted. Is the diagram on there showing the different sizes? It seems like there isn't any profiling on these

They're Cherry profile, so each row does have a different profile.

FrostyToast · « **Reply #8 on:** Sat, 07 May 2016, 21:15:12 »

Those caps aren't the easiest to find and a full set can cost around $3-400.
I had a few chances to get those caps but I passed them all up since I wasn't $400 interested.
I hope you get to find your dream caps!

rurushu · « **Reply #9 on:** Sun, 08 May 2016, 20:47:53 »

Quote from: Photekq on Sat, 07 May 2016, 15:17:53

Quote from: rurushu on Thu, 07 April 2016, 05:49:43
If not mistaken last time got one korean keyboard enthusiast called ScarFace made a set of aluminium keycaps, i think only the alphas and not the modifiers.

but that one is like... years ago though... and I only saw one people in GH last time who got the keyset, the user is "long-something" or "something-long".

Edit: found already, the user is longweight https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=36620.0
http://www.otd.kr/bbs/board.php?bo_table=f8&wr_id=662&sca=&sfl=mb_id%2C1&stx=maniabyh

http://www.otd.kr/bbs/board.php?bo_table=f8&wr_id=681&sca=&sfl=mb_id%2C1&stx=maniabyh

http://www.otd.kr/bbs/board.php?bo_table=f8&wr_id=704&sca=&sfl=mb_id%2C1&stx=maniabyh

http://www.otd.kr/bbs/board.php?bo_table=f8&wr_id=724&sca=&sfl=mb_id%2C1&stx=maniabyh

http://www.otd.kr/bbs/board.php?bo_table=f8&sca=&sfl=mb_id%2C1&stx=maniabyh&page=2

Damn Photekq, you managed to find back those threads in otd....

Photekq · « **Reply #10 on:** Sun, 08 May 2016, 21:23:55 »

Quote from: rurushu on Sun, 08 May 2016, 20:47:53

Damn Photekq, you managed to find back those threads in otd....

Yeah, I'm alright at navigating OTD

eohmiller · « **Reply #11 on:** Fri, 13 May 2016, 15:34:38 »

You are gonna pay top dollar for them unfortunately...

Moistgun · « **Reply #12 on:** Fri, 13 May 2016, 15:38:17 »

Quote from: Photekq on Sun, 08 May 2016, 21:23:55

Quote from: rurushu on Sun, 08 May 2016, 20:47:53
Damn Photekq, you managed to find back those threads in otd....
Yeah, I'm alright at navigating OTD

You should give tours.

Live stream

whezil · « **Reply #13 on:** Thu, 07 January 2021, 11:12:40 »

CNC Machined Aluminium SA profile keycap, machined by me.

blawb · « **Reply #14 on:** Sun, 10 January 2021, 01:15:35 »

Quote from: whezil on Thu, 07 January 2021, 11:12:40

CNC Machined Aluminium SA profile keycap, machined by me.
(Attachment Link)

Thank texture is gorgeous!

whezil · « **Reply #15 on:** Sun, 17 January 2021, 06:05:20 »

Quote from: blawb on Sun, 10 January 2021, 01:15:35

Quote from: whezil on Thu, 07 January 2021, 11:12:40
CNC Machined Aluminium SA profile keycap, machined by me.
(Attachment Link)

Thank texture is gorgeous!

I'm glad you like it. I see it as sort of a fingerprint of the keycap, making it unique. Also sort of looks like ripples in a pond. I was just playing around with some surface designs and wanted to see how they would turn out.

whezil · « **Reply #16 on:** Thu, 27 May 2021, 09:31:33 »

Fresh out of the machine. WZL Version 0.0 Cherry R1 1U(Aircraft Grade Aluminium)

Volny · « **Reply #17 on:** Fri, 28 May 2021, 05:49:45 »

I've got some cheapish novelty keycaps that are made from "aluminium alloy", whatever exactly that entails. Not the exact ones in the picture but very similar. The feel is really nice, and actually feels very similar to ceramic: slightly cool to the touch, rounded edges, rock solid, with a smooth silky gloss but enough friction to get a good press. I really like the feel, and I'm not sure that I would enjoy pure aluminium quite as much. Though take my comments with a grain of salt since I can only go on the feel of the sides, as the top of these particular cat paw keycaps are actually silicon.

However, one problem they have is that they are very loose fitting. Perhaps it's just these particular keycaps, but I can imagine that this could be a common problem with any keycaps made from such a rigid metal. Make the 'stem socket' too tight and you surely risk the keycap macerating the plastic stem. Make it sufficiently loose to prevent damage, and the looseness will be exacerbated by the extra heft of the metal keycap. I think this is another reason why plastics like PBT are the more sensible choice. Their significant elasticity and low hardness means that a tight stem socket will firmly hug the stem without wearing it down.

fohat.digs · « **Reply #18 on:** Fri, 28 May 2021, 08:17:23 »

It would make sense to intentionally make the mounting loose and expect users to use tiny squares cut from plastic bags to snug them up. That would be a solution that would best allow preservation the stems and allow easy reversibility.

Suds · « **Reply #19 on:** Sat, 29 May 2021, 20:41:44 »

I've seen some metal caps which use four posts to surround the cross stem, rather than the typical cross shaped socket. Doing this, and making the posts sufficiently thin, would allow them to bend a bit and work with the friction fit that MX mount requires.

I think you would also need to round off the posts a little - the metal is so much harder than the plastic that it will easily cut into the stem if it has any edge on it at all.

rowdy · « **Reply #20 on:** Sun, 30 May 2021, 17:04:13 »

In almost anything metal-against-plastic, the plastic is going to come off worse.

Something like fohat's suggestion works well for slightly loose plastic keycaps, and likely would the same for slightly loose metal keycaps.

whezil · « **Reply #21 on:** Mon, 31 May 2021, 04:00:21 »

RE the 4 messages above mine. You do not need to insert any wedges/do anything weird like that. If the keycap fits too tightly, you use a screwdriver to gently open the + slightly. If it is not tight enough you wrap a pair of pliers in plastic/a plaster and squeeze gently on the +. I have not had any issues with my tolerances of my alu keycaps so far with Gateron switches. Cherry are a lot tighter and need to be opened slightly. Each manufacturer has different tolerances on their switch stem. I have measured many switches and notice they vary a lot. Luckily alu is quite soft so you can make the adjustments required for your switches without damaging the keycap/stem.

dervisvid · « **Reply #22 on:** Wed, 13 April 2022, 05:37:14 »

Different companies use different mechanical switches to build their keyboard, and not every switch is compatible with every type of keycap. The most common type of keycaps are for Cherry MX switches, but some companies like Razer have their own colors and names for their switches.

Versaknight · « **Reply #23 on:** Wed, 13 April 2022, 08:27:00 »

Aluminum can be quite brittle and can break easily which is a shame given the cost it takes to make good alu keycaps

Darthbaggins · « **Reply #24 on:** Wed, 13 April 2022, 15:21:29 »

Quote from: dervisvid on Wed, 13 April 2022, 05:37:14

Different companies use different mechanical switches to build their keyboard, and not every switch is compatible with every type of keycap. The most common type of keycaps are for Cherry MX switches, but some companies like Razer have their own colors and names for their switches.

The majority tend to stick with a MX-Style stem centered in the switch (this exlcudes all the other variations of switches - IE Topre, ALPS, etc). . Razer uses an MX stem unless it's their membrane boards, also Logitech had used the Romer-G which was a box style stem but mounting for caps was not the standard (or what has become common/standard). So these AL caps will work on the majority of the boards/switches in todays standard consumer market when it comes to mechanical boards.

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Author Topic: Aluminum Keycaps (Read 10375 times)