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geekhack Community => Keyboard Keycaps => Topic started by: TopreFan333 on Fri, 05 December 2014, 10:51:43

Title: are DSA-profile key caps made by Signature Plastics only?
Post by: TopreFan333 on Fri, 05 December 2014, 10:51:43
Sorry if this is a blatant noob question but does anybody besides SP make caps in DSA profile? I recently switched to DSA and find the uniformity of the profile eases my transition from my Macbook Air keyboard to my mechanical desktop keyboard -- but I haven't seen DSA caps anywhere else and it kinda sucks being locked into one supplier...
Title: Re: are DSA-profile key caps made by Signature Plastics only?
Post by: IvanIvanovich on Fri, 05 December 2014, 11:07:23
There are a few others that make dsa like caps like Devlin and GMK, but they are not as easy to get.
Title: Re: are DSA-profile key caps made by Signature Plastics only?
Post by: TopreFan333 on Fri, 05 December 2014, 11:12:44
aha, thank you!
Title: Re: are DSA-profile key caps made by Signature Plastics only?
Post by: ideus on Fri, 05 December 2014, 11:42:42
Ivan is the GH's oracle.  :thumb:
Title: Re: are DSA-profile key caps made by Signature Plastics only?
Post by: CPTBadAss on Fri, 05 December 2014, 11:51:45
Just as an aside, I believe DSA profile itself is a Signature Plastics only thing (http://www.keycapsdirect.com/key-caps.php). As Ivan said, there's other profiles that are like DSA but I don't think Devlin caps are DSA.
Title: Re: are DSA-profile key caps made by Signature Plastics only?
Post by: Puddsy on Fri, 05 December 2014, 12:02:41
Just as an aside, I believe DSA profile itself is a Signature Plastics only thing (http://www.keycapsdirect.com/key-caps.php). As Ivan said, there's other profiles that are like DSA but I don't think Devlin caps are DSA.

Has anyone done a devlin GB recently? I don't think I've ever seen one.
Title: Re: are DSA-profile key caps made by Signature Plastics only?
Post by: IvanIvanovich on Fri, 05 December 2014, 12:23:23
I've tried to contact Devlin several times to try and get something organized... they don't seem at all interested in working with individuals, only to sell direct to keyboard OEM.
Title: Re: are DSA-profile key caps made by Signature Plastics only?
Post by: Puddsy on Fri, 05 December 2014, 12:26:02
I've tried to contact Devlin several times to try and get something organized... they don't seem at all interested in working with individuals, only to sell direct to keyboard OEM.

That would explain it then.
Title: Re: are DSA-profile key caps made by Signature Plastics only?
Post by: IvanIvanovich on Fri, 05 December 2014, 14:16:04
Here's some old ones from Cherry...  spherical low profile (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cherry-Key-Cap-1-x-1-Light-Grey-MX-0739-0340-Genuine-Original-part-x-1pc-Offers-/231382891429?pt=UK_Computing_ComputerComponents_KeyboardsMice&hash=item35df7ebba5)
Title: Re: are DSA-profile key caps made by Signature Plastics only?
Post by: nubbinator on Fri, 05 December 2014, 14:38:46
I've tried to contact Devlin several times to try and get something organized... they don't seem at all interested in working with individuals, only to sell direct to keyboard OEM.

They told me I'd have to go through QWERKeys when I asked.  Dealing with them was a clustet**** for my GB, so I pushed a little and they said it was the only option. 

Supposedly their MOQ is also higher than GMK's while not being much cheaper.  While nicer than SP and more colors than GMK, they're not really worth trying, IMO.
Title: Re: are DSA-profile key caps made by Signature Plastics only?
Post by: ideus on Fri, 05 December 2014, 14:59:13
Here's some old ones from Cherry...  spherical low profile (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cherry-Key-Cap-1-x-1-Light-Grey-MX-0739-0340-Genuine-Original-part-x-1pc-Offers-/231382891429?pt=UK_Computing_ComputerComponents_KeyboardsMice&hash=item35df7ebba5)

The "DSA" cherry's look thicker than SP's, is that right?
Title: Re: are DSA-profile key caps made by Signature Plastics only?
Post by: IvanIvanovich on Fri, 05 December 2014, 18:05:41
Yeah they're pretty thick...
(http://i.imgur.com/6LrJ8VI.jpg)
Title: Re: are DSA-profile key caps made by Signature Plastics only?
Post by: ideus on Fri, 05 December 2014, 18:28:52
What keyboard models do carry those awesome key caps?
Title: Re: are DSA-profile key caps made by Signature Plastics only?
Post by: IvanIvanovich on Sat, 06 December 2014, 14:03:58
They are older Cherry M8 switch keyboard. I don't know exact model numbers... I'm not as knowledgeable on the pre MX things.
Title: Re: are DSA-profile key caps made by Signature Plastics only?
Post by: Zeal on Sat, 06 December 2014, 15:13:28
I have some M8 GMK Spherical samples, and the keycaps "bottom out" on the top housing of regular Cherry MX switches due to the shorter key-stem of the M8 keycap underneath.
I must say though, the M8 sphericals feel way nicer than SP's DSA since all of them are pretty much shaped like SP's homing "scoops" & are really smooth.

Not sure about the thickness of vintage Cherry M8 caps (as seen in Ivan's pic), but the M8 DS sample I received is ~1.7mm thick, with the top portion (second shot)~0.82mm thick. Whereas SP's ABS/PBT DSA caps are ~1.27mm thick.

Some pics  :)

(http://i.imgur.com/8fNV1ay.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/Go3XjNQ.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/LDSJrQT.jpg)