geekhack
geekhack Community => Keyboard Keycaps => Topic started by: TastaturenAuslese on Sat, 15 August 2015, 20:01:01
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Hey guys!
So I'm looking into making my own keycaps now, and I've got some designs in clay ready. Looking to buy silicone for the molds now, and resin for the caps themselves. I've looked at guides that are up on reddit and here, but I need help with some clarifications. Also, let me know if this is better suited for the artisan section, although I feel like that section is more for those already established.
So for silicone:
- Should I be looking for harder and softer molds?
- I have two options right now, and they're both alumilite products, which seem to be well touted by those making artisans.
- Product A: Takes a bit longer to set but it comes out softer and more flexible.
- Product B: RTV Silicone, sets more quickly and, to my understanding, sets harder.
For resin:- I'm at a loss here. I don't know which type I should be looking for.
- My main question is: how long should I be looking at for demolding/hardening times for the resin?
- All the ones I've found in hobby stores are "super-quick set" and are done in 10 minutes, but people's guides and logs show that they usually take 24 or more hours before demolding the keycap.
- Is there any specific compound I should be looking for?
Any help would be appreciated guys, and I hope to share my (or rather our, since this is actually a project with another user here) work with you all as soon as I (we) can! :D :-* :-* :-*
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Work with what you can afford. Talk with the manufacturers of these materials about the dimensions of the parts you are making because they make money if you buy the right material and continue to buy from them.
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Can I ask where you found the "intro" guides on resin keycap making? I'm thinking of trying it but for some reason I can't find any stickies or wiki articles about it
Nvmd