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geekhack Community => Keyboard Keycaps => Topic started by: aggiejy on Tue, 12 July 2011, 12:42:25
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First, I'm not talking about a group buy... the tooling is crazy and PBT more expensive than ABS, so a few hundred sets isn't going to make much dent. But any information you've heard saying it's impossible is wrong. (It *is* impossible with Signature Plastic's machines though.)
Would this be just a "slight" novelty upgrade, or do you think demand would move ~1000 sets over a year? (Let's say, at a $50-$70 range)
Just curious. I personally want some, just not sure if I'd rather have them over a new car. :)
(And more importantly, if anyone knows of this being done before with keycaps, I would love to know that!)
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EDIT: There was a post from he who shall remain unnamed above this.
Thanks for the advice! I think that's probably right.
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Wasn't KBC working on this?
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I fully support key material alternatives, but I would have to second the need to multiple forum support on this. I have no dedication to pbt, since I wouldn't mind seeing POM doubles either. If you can get support from iMav, Sixty, and Imsto, then you might be on to something.
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They should be. All that doubleshot key molding equipment lying in Taiwan unused and unloved.
It's not, it's owned by someone, somewhere, and besides, much of it probably needs restoration and additional tooling to make it compatible with current mech boards, nevermind the fact that it probably has an unpopular font face. Also, PBT is harder to work with, engineers scrunch their eyebrows and scorn when you utter those initials...a person could get the idea that if you're asking for PBT, you're asking for less variety and higher cost.
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He's rolling in money with that Leopold markup.
Grr... yeah I was thinking about getting an otaku leopold and then saw it got more expensive.
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Of course we want PBT doubleshots.
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Is it possilbe to make PBT Doubleshots ?
As I know, technically ABS is the only material to make doubleshots....
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As long as we're going for stuff that doesn't currently exist, Delrin Doubleshots? Delrin 150 melts at 347 F (std pressure) so I'm not even sure if such a thing is possible...
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Aluminum or CF double shots would be cool. :D
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Aluminum or CF double shots would be cool. :D
lol. Yes, if you find the alien technology to do so, I will totally buy some. Maybe Carbon fiber with paladium lettering?
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Ha! :)
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Definitely would love some. Has anyone ever manufactured them? Are all the vintage Cherry doubleshots that get sold around here ABS?
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Definitely would love some. Has anyone ever manufactured them? Are all the vintage Cherry doubleshots that get sold around here ABS?
Not that I know of, and yes, those Cherry ones are ABS I believe. I guess there's not much point in going through the trouble being that PBT is harder to work with. But I have polymer experts in the family, and they about spit at me when I said I heard PBT two-shot injection mold for key caps wasn't possible. I've since dug in and talked to a few factories, and sure enough it's done every day. (Just not for keycaps.) But the tooling is a bit expensive. And the resin for the insert is normally something more similar to rubber for the binding. (Though, you probably couldn't tell once done.) If one of the manufacturers wanted to they could, but it probably wouldn't move many more keyboards.
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yea i would love a set. i talked to qtan about it but nothing is available yet so i had to get what i thought was the next best thing, PBT Engraved Keys.
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Well, that's a given considering you see a ton of double shot toothbrushes that use a rubbery material and maybe some polycarbonate.
Also, PBT double shots would be awesome, but where would you get the capital?
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I want a rubberized Colgate key!
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I would like a double shot titanium key with carbon lettering.
CAN IT BE DONE?
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It would be amazing. = D
DO IT!!!
[ATTACH=CONFIG]37993[/ATTACH]
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If it PBT double-shots are possible and less than $90 per set, I personally a good amount of people will jump on the bandwagon.
I would.
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If it PBT double-shots are possible and less than $90 per set, I personally a good amount of people will jump on the bandwagon.
I would.
In comparison with R4. I'd pay for PBT double-shots instead.
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If it PBT double-shots are possible and less than $90 per set, I personally a good amount of people will jump on the bandwagon.
I would.
That's less than most PBT dyesubs you know.
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That's less than most PBT dyesubs you know.
What I meant was, looking at how much R4 will cost, I may as well pay more to get something that's much nicer.
I'm willing to sell this man my soul if he gets me PBT double-shots.
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That's less than most PBT dyesubs you know.
Fair enough.
I'd consider paying up to maybe $110 then. Anything else for keycaps may not be worth it IMO.
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The way I see it, doubleshots have two advantages - contrast/clarity and better wear. Judging from how well Model M dyesub PBTs wear, I'm not sure if that's really a big reason to do DS PBTs. Contrast/clarity would remain the sole advantage, but how much would it be worth?