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geekhack Community => Keyboard Keycaps => Topic started by: jmchargue on Mon, 14 October 2013, 13:23:05

Title: Best home keycap printing methods.
Post by: jmchargue on Mon, 14 October 2013, 13:23:05

I refuse to believe that stickers are the only option for DIY key legends. Anyone have any experience with printing their own, or have heard of the best methods and practices?

Title: Re: Best home keycap printing methods.
Post by: Linkbane on Tue, 15 October 2013, 02:48:28

Quote from: jmchargue on Mon, 14 October 2013, 13:23:05

I refuse to believe that stickers are the only option for DIY key legends. Anyone have any experience with printing their own, or have heard of the best methods and practices?

You said that you don't want stickers, but most non-hand-done printing methods require expensive machinery. You might be able to ask imsto, feng, etc.

Title: Re: Best home keycap printing methods.
Post by: Binge on Tue, 15 October 2013, 03:05:51

Quote from: jmchargue on Mon, 14 October 2013, 13:23:05

I refuse to believe that stickers are the only option for DIY key legends. Anyone have any experience with printing their own, or have heard of the best methods and practices?

Balderdash indeed.  If you can find a method that is reliable... let me know :D

Title: Re: Best home keycap printing methods.
Post by: Findecanor on Tue, 15 October 2013, 03:36:51

If you would be content with side-printed caps, you could use waterslide decals, which looks much better than stickers.
There is waterslide decal paper for both laser and ink-jet printers available in hobby stores.

Title: Re: Best home keycap printing methods.
Post by: terran5992 on Tue, 15 October 2013, 04:07:33

You could use a permanent marker to draw on the blank keycaps or a sharpie knife to engrave them

Title: Re: Best home keycap printing methods.
Post by: IvanIvanovich on Tue, 15 October 2013, 10:57:30

Dry transfer, and waterslide + clearcoat are two methods you can try out. If you use good protective clearcoating they can last quite awhile.

Title: Re: Best home keycap printing methods.
Post by: apaskal on Fri, 29 August 2014, 00:49:21

Is this good idea to use 500MW laser power DIY mini laser engraving machine?
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/-/1969154933.html

Title: Re: Best home keycap printing methods.
Post by: berserkfan on Fri, 29 August 2014, 08:26:10

Quote from: apaskal on Fri, 29 August 2014, 00:49:21

Is this good idea to use 500MW laser power DIY mini laser engraving machine?
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/-/1969154933.html

Anyone knows about laser ETCHING machines? At that kind of price it is worth trying out if the engraving machine you linked to can also etch.