Why there are so few topre keycaps?

[beartung]

I am a fan of hhkb but I am very sad about the few options of keycaps. All I have got now are some red/orange blanks from EK, and a blue ESC from Japan amazon. And I am really depressed with the CC and Brobot keycaps cause they are too hard/expensive to get.

I am dreaming to get this:



Could someone give me some suggestion?

[atlas3686]

Realforce has stopped producing keycaps so the caps available are very limited. You are lucky you have some red and orange blanks. I think Taobao still has some printed ones but that is about all I know of.

Goodluck 

[Puddsy]

I haven't seen any on taobao in a while.

But yeah, realforce stopped producing keycaps about 6 months-a year ago, so they've been really hard to find. I was lucky enough to find a realforce with a pink set already on it.

[lunr]

I think EK still have the pink sets... but yeah, they are rare as f**k now. I think Taobao still have some but they are really expensive (170+). You're best bet is probably post or check the classified section and hope for the best.

[beartung]

Realforce has stopped producing keycaps so the caps available are very limited. You are lucky you have some red and orange blanks. I think Taobao still has some printed ones but that is about all I know of.

Goodluck 

Thanks for reply. I am in China but I can't find any non-printed blanks too for a while... With some luck, I bought a gasmask topre yestoday and the price is 145rmb(which means about 24$ T_T)  That's why I jumped to here.

So if anyone who has green non-printed blanks to trade/exchange, please PM me! And I am seeking for a Hack Orange CC too.

I can purchase by Paypal or transfer green ones with my red/orange non-printed blanks.

[noisyturtle]

Demand is there, and soon someone will pick up the baton and the market will be flooded with more Topre options then you ever dreamt possible.

[SpAmRaY]

Demand is there, and soon someone will pick up the baton and the market will be flooded with more Topre options then you ever dreamt possible.

tai hao topre caps  )

[Puddsy]

Demand is there, and soon someone will pick up the baton and the market will be flooded with more Topre options then you ever dreamt possible.

tai hao topre caps  )

Doubleshot topre might not be that bad

[thestage]

I think EK still have the pink sets...

their pink stock seems to be quite strange.  I tried to order some maybe a week ago and got a "this item is sold out message," so I asked EK if there was any chance they'd get new caps.  They basically said no.  Then I randomly tried to order the pinks again a couple days ago and the order went through, with the confirmation message and tracking number showing up in my inbox today.

[dustinhxc]

That's like when I ordered the white blanks. It was sold out, but I clicked order anyways. I got them in the mail a few days later. damn that board is sexy.

[Pacifist]

That's like when I ordered the white blanks. It was sold out, but I clicked order anyways. I got them in the mail a few days later. damn that board is sexy.

lucky

[Pacifist]

Demand is there, and soon someone will pick up the baton and the market will be flooded with more Topre options then you ever dreamt possible.

tai hao topre caps  )

10,000 MOQ+ we pay for tooling

[dustinhxc]

That's like when I ordered the white blanks. It was sold out, but I clicked order anyways. I got them in the mail a few days later. damn that board is sexy.

lucky

Yeah I was like well maybe ill get on a waiting list, then they shipped it lol

[beartung]

Demand is there, and soon someone will pick up the baton and the market will be flooded with more Topre options then you ever dreamt possible.

Really? Wish it comes true. There are many fans of hhkb in China here and so few colorful topre keycaps. So the realfore/hhkb blanks on Taobao were at least 45rmb/1 keycap(7+$) when they were avaiable.

[rowdy]

Demand is there, and soon someone will pick up the baton and the market will be flooded with more Topre options then you ever dreamt possible.

tai hao topre caps  )

That would be nice.  They do a Dolch set, more or less ...

But would they be able to cater for the unique HHKB layout and legends?

[Xowie]

I have been eyeing green blanks since I got my HHKB, they don't seem to pop up in the classifieds to often. The wait continues...

[admiralvorian]

If I could find a blue blank set for my hhkb i would be so happy

[exitfire401]

I can't lie...with how much demand I'm seeing for Topre caps, I'm half debating investing in the tooling myself.

[dndlmx]

I can't lie...with how much demand I'm seeing for Topre caps, I'm half debating investing in the tooling myself.

If the MX sliders don't eat up most of your market.
Perhaps not everyone is willing to modify their keyboard to that extent, still...

[exitfire401]

I can't lie...with how much demand I'm seeing for Topre caps, I'm half debating investing in the tooling myself.

If the MX sliders don't eat up most of your market.
Perhaps not everyone is willing to modify their keyboard to that extent, still...

Really wouldn't be too worried about it. There are enough people that are afraid to crack open their keyboard that I would feel secure enough doing it. Hell, if I go through with the tooling for one, it's not hard to add the other.

[sth]

I can't lie...with how much demand I'm seeing for Topre caps, I'm half debating investing in the tooling myself.

If the MX sliders don't eat up most of your market.
Perhaps not everyone is willing to modify their keyboard to that extent, still...

Really wouldn't be too worried about it. There are enough people that are afraid to crack open their keyboard that I would feel secure enough doing it. Hell, if I go through with the tooling for one, it's not hard to add the other.

yeah... i've already taken out all of my sliders once to add dental bands. i don't plan on removing them all again anytime soon
but i could live with some Apple Extended replica dyesubs on my hhkb... just saying.

[exitfire401]

I can't lie...with how much demand I'm seeing for Topre caps, I'm half debating investing in the tooling myself.

If the MX sliders don't eat up most of your market.
Perhaps not everyone is willing to modify their keyboard to that extent, still...

Really wouldn't be too worried about it. There are enough people that are afraid to crack open their keyboard that I would feel secure enough doing it. Hell, if I go through with the tooling for one, it's not hard to add the other.

yeah... i've already taken out all of my sliders once to add dental bands. i don't plan on removing them all again anytime soon

Yeah, after silent modding my 55g Realforce, getting ready to do the same to an HHKB, and fully modding a Race 2, I think I'm done tinkering for the next couple of months haha.

[atlas3686]

Also don't think I would modify any of my boards maybe just an esc or something for fun.

[dndlmx]

I was psyched at the idea, wanted to do the whole hhkb. Slowly lost enthusiasm, got blanks. 
Someone should do printed alternate layouts. Or a uniform profile for topre.

[avtar]

I can't lie...with how much demand I'm seeing for Topre caps, I'm half debating investing in the tooling myself.

Depending on how serious you are about this you may want to contact Brian at EliteKeyboards if you haven't already.

[exitfire401]

I can't lie...with how much demand I'm seeing for Topre caps, I'm half debating investing in the tooling myself.

Depending on how serious you are about this you may want to contact Brian at EliteKeyboards if you haven't already.

As the days go on, I'm getting more and more serious about it, but I have not contacted him. I should look into it.

[sth]

I can't lie...with how much demand I'm seeing for Topre caps, I'm half debating investing in the tooling myself.

Depending on how serious you are about this you may want to contact Brian at EliteKeyboards if you haven't already.

As the days go on, I'm getting more and more serious about it, but I have not contacted him. I should look into it.

you have a lot of options for retail outlets that offer way better international shipping rates

don't get me wrong i have never had a problem with EK but they're not known for their flexibility when it comes to product offerings or distribution.

[exitfire401]

I can't lie...with how much demand I'm seeing for Topre caps, I'm half debating investing in the tooling myself.

Depending on how serious you are about this you may want to contact Brian at EliteKeyboards if you haven't already.

As the days go on, I'm getting more and more serious about it, but I have not contacted him. I should look into it.

you have a lot of options for retail outlets that offer way better international shipping rates

don't get me wrong i have never had a problem with EK but they're not known for their flexibility when it comes to product offerings or distribution.

It would depend on a lot of factors who I went with if I decided to do it.

[avtar]

you have a lot of options for retail outlets that offer way better international shipping rates

don't get me wrong i have never had a problem with EK but they're not known for their flexibility when it comes to product offerings or distribution.

I meant more so for getting insight into the costs involved for tooling. I chatted briefly with Brian while ordering some stuff and he mentioned that this was something he had looked into in the past.

[exitfire401]

you have a lot of options for retail outlets that offer way better international shipping rates

don't get me wrong i have never had a problem with EK but they're not known for their flexibility when it comes to product offerings or distribution.

I meant more so for getting insight into the costs involved for tooling. I chatted briefly with Brian while ordering some stuff and he mentioned that this was something he had looked into in the past.

I'm sure. For how much shipping from Japan is (in bulk at least) I can only imagine investing in tooling and producing in-house would be much cheaper in the long run.

[avtar]

Also the fact that Topre doesn't seem to want to be in the after-market keycaps business so that affects everyone including EK.

[exitfire401]

Also the fact that Topre doesn't seem to want to be in the after-market keycaps business so that affects everyone including EK.

Exactly, and if they don't want the business, then why shouldn't a young entrepreneur pick up the slack?   

[avtar]

[exitfire401]

Show Image

That is the hope sir. haha. This conversation is just continuing to motivate me

[Belfong]

I for one will take two set of blanks from you. You gonna go with PBT? Why not partner with Signature Plastic? The other thing I am curious about is that if Topre decided to stop, can't they sell the tooling for second hand? Unless it is a copy right thing and they want to protect their market. But yeah, I think the demand is there!

[exitfire401]

I for one will take two set of blanks from you. You gonna go with PBT? Why not partner with Signature Plastic? The other thing I am curious about is that if Topre decided to stop, can't they sell the tooling for second hand? Unless it is a copy right thing and they want to protect their market. But yeah, I think the demand is there!

We would have to go with PBT (just for quality's sake). And SP is someone I really want to get in contact with, but haven't. I know they've contemplated getting into topre for a while and just haven't.

[Belfong]

SP knows how to do PBT space bar based on the recent Granite GB. PBT space bar! That would kick all the other Topre blanks' asses!

[exitfire401]

SP knows how to do PBT space bar based on the recent Granite GB. PBT space bar! That would kick all the other Topre blanks' asses!

And end the complaints of 90% of people who have topre sets.

[Belfong]

And don't stop at blanks. Be creative. Do a Macross set for HHKB. Or SPH profile... the possibilities are endless. I shudder to think what the future holds.... This is exciting times for Topre lovers!

[exitfire401]

And don't stop at blanks. Be creative. Do a Macross set for HHKB. Or SPH profile... the possibilities are endless. I shudder to think what the future holds.... This is exciting times for Topre lovers!

My ultimate goal would be a Topre Dolch replica set =D

[atlas3686]

And don't stop at blanks. Be creative. Do a Macross set for HHKB. Or SPH profile... the possibilities are endless. I shudder to think what the future holds.... This is exciting times for Topre lovers!

My ultimate goal would be a Topre Dolch replica set =D

Yes!!! I would definitely be interested in a blank set or two. Imagine Hyper Fuse for Topre 

[exitfire401]

And don't stop at blanks. Be creative. Do a Macross set for HHKB. Or SPH profile... the possibilities are endless. I shudder to think what the future holds.... This is exciting times for Topre lovers!

My ultimate goal would be a Topre Dolch replica set =D

Yes!!! I would definitely be interested in a blank set or two. Imagine Hyper Fuse for Topre 

I have a feeling a ****load of ICs will be coming to GH if this goes through. 

[rowdy]

And don't stop at blanks. Be creative. Do a Macross set for HHKB. Or SPH profile... the possibilities are endless. I shudder to think what the future holds.... This is exciting times for Topre lovers!

My ultimate goal would be a Topre Dolch replica set =D

... that suits HHKB

[exitfire401]

And don't stop at blanks. Be creative. Do a Macross set for HHKB. Or SPH profile... the possibilities are endless. I shudder to think what the future holds.... This is exciting times for Topre lovers!

My ultimate goal would be a Topre Dolch replica set =D

... that suits HHKB

Also suits my black realforce.

[rowdy]

And don't stop at blanks. Be creative. Do a Macross set for HHKB. Or SPH profile... the possibilities are endless. I shudder to think what the future holds.... This is exciting times for Topre lovers!

My ultimate goal would be a Topre Dolch replica set =D

... that suits HHKB

Also suits my black realforce.

At least there's nowhere near as many Topre layouts as MX  - there's a mind-bogglingly large number of MX layouts that need all sorts of add-on keycap sets.

[exitfire401]

And don't stop at blanks. Be creative. Do a Macross set for HHKB. Or SPH profile... the possibilities are endless. I shudder to think what the future holds.... This is exciting times for Topre lovers!

My ultimate goal would be a Topre Dolch replica set =D

... that suits HHKB

Also suits my black realforce.

Agreed. Vastly simplifies things. And hell, just adding a couple of caps to a tkl set makes it universal between TKL and HHKB
At least there's nowhere near as many Topre layouts as MX  - there's a mind-bogglingly large number of MX layouts that need all sorts of add-on keycap sets.

[sth]

you heathens. keep your cherry fonts away from my cup rubber and on cherry where it belongs.

that said it would be waaay cooler if you could get bsp to do the molds with different stems. nicer caps than SP.

[noisyturtle]

"I have a dream that one day little Topre caps and little Cherry caps will frolic together in groupbuys far and wide"
-some guy

[rowdy]

MX stems are round with a "+" in the middle.

Can you drill out the "+" to make it "O", then cut a notch in the top and bottom to turn it into Topre compatible?

[thestage]

MX stems are round with a "+" in the middle.

Can you drill out the "+" to make it "O", then cut a notch in the top and bottom to turn it into Topre compatible?

I would imagine a makeshift stem like that wouldn't fit very well.