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geekhack Projects => Making Stuff Together! => Topic started by: Keyboardnoobb on Thu, 02 April 2015, 10:15:38

Title: What do artisan key cap makers use?
Post by: Keyboardnoobb on Thu, 02 April 2015, 10:15:38

Hello everyone. I was curious as to what artisan key cap makers use: resin or injection molding,  and if injection molding,  can you really do that at home? I'll be honest,  I'm curious because I have a really great idea for a key cap that I think many people here would like,  but I'm not sure if anyone would like a resin key cap.

Title: Re: What do artisan key cap makers use?
Post by: nubbinator on Thu, 02 April 2015, 12:03:18

Play and experiment.  The only way to figure things out is to research and find what works best for you.  Everyone does things differently due to the resins and materials they use as well as environmental factors and tools available.  There is no easy ABC answer.

Title: Re: What do artisan key cap makers use?
Post by: BlueNalgene on Thu, 02 April 2015, 12:13:25

Quote from: Keyboardnoobb on Thu, 02 April 2015, 10:15:38

Hello everyone. I was curious as to what artisan key cap makers use: resin or injection molding,  and if injection molding,  can you really do that at home? I'll be honest,  I'm curious because I have a really great idea for a key cap that I think many people here would like,  but I'm not sure if anyone would like a resin key cap.

Artisan makers that provide info on their process usually use an injected resin process.  Hot melt injection can be done at home, and there are some instructables out there which describe a method for making an injection oven.  This has been, as far as I know, largely unexplored by this community.

There are some great resources for beginning the casting process that I would recommend.  Particularly, I have felt these threads the most useful:

Binge's Capcraft Hub (https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=46284.0)

Booper's Adventures in keycap making! (https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=67744.0)

Messycap's Experiments (https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=67898.0)

I also have a thread where I have been documenting my attempts and failure analysis.  You might find it useful, but modesty prevents me from including it with the above list.

BlueNalgene doing strange things (https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=67663.0)

Perhaps these will answer some of your questions.  And if in doubt, ask.

Title: Re: What do artisan key cap makers use?
Post by: Keyboardnoobb on Thu, 02 April 2015, 22:24:10

I really appreciate the help everyone. I just wasn't sure if there was maybe a preferred method. And I've seen some home injection mold machines,  but they're at least 500, so I didn't want to put that much into it. I'll just hope for the best with the resin. Tanks again.

Title: Re: What do artisan key cap makers use?
Post by: heedpantsnow on Thu, 02 April 2015, 22:59:15

Good luck!

Title: Re: What do artisan key cap makers use?
Post by: Keyboardnoobb on Fri, 03 April 2015, 07:39:44

Quote from: heedpantsnow on Thu, 02 April 2015, 22:59:15

Good luck!

I appreciate it!