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geekhack Community => Keyboard Keycaps => Topic started by: nsrexler on Sun, 05 May 2013, 21:18:04

Title: Unusual Keycap Materials
Post by: nsrexler on Sun, 05 May 2013, 21:18:04: I've seen plastics (ABS, PBT, POM, polycarbonate, PVC), metals (aluminum, titanium, zinc, pewter), and even wood, but what are some more unusual materials that keycaps can be made out of?
I think glass or ceramic keycaps would be pretty neat, although they might be rather heavy and somewhat brittle.
Title: Re: Unusual Keycap Materials
Post by: kelske on Sun, 05 May 2013, 22:39:33: Someone should make a set of Kevlar keycaps ;D
Title: Re: Unusual Keycap Materials
Post by: gnubag on Sun, 05 May 2013, 22:51:57: didn't people make keycaps out of rubber (urethane) too?
Title: Re: Unusual Keycap Materials
Post by: Sifo on Sun, 05 May 2013, 22:52:56: CHOCOLATE KEYCAPS PLEASE
Title: Re: Unusual Keycap Materials
Post by: rowdy on Sun, 05 May 2013, 22:54:35: Ice would make cool backlight-friendly keycaps.

Note: the use of the word "cool" was deliberate.
Title: Re: Unusual Keycap Materials
Post by: Michael on Sun, 05 May 2013, 22:55:13: Quote from: rowdy on Sun, 05 May 2013, 22:54:35
Ice would make cool backlight-friendly keycaps.

Note: the use of the word "cool" was deliberate.

(http://i0.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/000/000/681/what-you-did-there-i-see-it.thumbnail.jpg)
Title: Re: Unusual Keycap Materials
Post by: rowdy on Sun, 05 May 2013, 23:35:14: Ivory? (For the conservation-challenged.)

Then you could tickle the ivories.

Without a piano.

Which could lead to the phrase: What tickles your ivories?
Title: Re: Unusual Keycap Materials
Post by: clickclack on Mon, 06 May 2013, 00:56:10: bewbz
Title: Re: Re: Unusual Keycap Materials
Post by: Sifo on Mon, 06 May 2013, 01:16:26: Quote from: clickclack on Mon, 06 May 2013, 00:56:10
bewbz

No wonder clacks feel so good...
Title: Re: Unusual Keycap Materials
Post by: BlueBär on Mon, 06 May 2013, 01:50:03: Concrete could be pretty interesting. I'll experiment with that when my caps finally arrive (it has a few blanks included to do the molds).
Title: Re: Re: Re: Unusual Keycap Materials
Post by: SmallFry on Mon, 06 May 2013, 02:00:37: Quote from: Sifo on Mon, 06 May 2013, 01:16:26
Quote from: clickclack on Mon, 06 May 2013, 00:56:10
bewbz

No wonder clacks feel so good...
There was such a clack, though I've only faintly heard of them, sadly.
Title: Re: Unusual Keycap Materials
Post by: Krogenar on Mon, 06 May 2013, 08:15:54: Quote from: gnubag on Sun, 05 May 2013, 22:51:57
didn't people make keycaps out of rubber (urethane) too?

I could have sworn I saw someone offering them, but I can't remember who it was.

I'd like to see chalkboard-paint covered keycaps, so you could hand-write the legends. Typing would probably wear them off, though.
Title: Re: Re: Unusual Keycap Materials
Post by: SmallFry on Mon, 06 May 2013, 08:24:05: Quote from: Krogenar on Mon, 06 May 2013, 08:15:54
Quote from: gnubag on Sun, 05 May 2013, 22:51:57
didn't people make keycaps out of rubber (urethane) too?

I could have sworn I saw someone offering them, but I can't remember who it was.

I'd like to see chalkboard-paint covered keycaps, so you could hand-write the legends. Typing would probably wear them off, though.
SP offered rubber caps.
Title: Re: Unusual Keycap Materials
Post by: CPTBadAss on Mon, 06 May 2013, 08:26:19: I know there are some rubber covered caps from NewEgg (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA1HC0D18108) but it's only WASD.
Title: Re: Unusual Keycap Materials
Post by: Lastpilot on Wed, 15 May 2013, 09:19:52: Is carbon fiber possible? Maybe.
Title: Re: Unusual Keycap Materials
Post by: ITzNybble on Wed, 15 May 2013, 13:20:55: Quote from: Lastpilot on Wed, 15 May 2013, 09:19:52
Is carbon fiber possible? Maybe.

I would think so as long as you mold it correctly, carbon fiber is obviously the fiber plus some kind of resin so it would make sense that you could do it not sure if you would want to though.