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geekhack Projects => Making Stuff Together! => Topic started by: mkeeley on Sun, 15 May 2016, 05:33:56

Title: Coral Reef Key Cap
Post by: mkeeley on Sun, 15 May 2016, 05:33:56
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7168/26930376422_a48c37e735_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/H2KdES)

(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7235/26991092136_ea096a1b04_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/H87pkw)

My first play with polyclay. Someone said they liked the marine & pond scenes people do with polyclay in Altoids tins so thought I'd see if I could shrink that down to keycap size for them.

It's not fully pushed on in the pics as the clears on the Pok3r are a pretty snug fit and didn't want to risk damaging it when it's removed, it's also on a little wonky because of that. All the way down it's not much taller than standard escape key. It looks a bit delicate but is actually pretty solid. As you can imagine the parts are pretty tiny, lots of swearing as I tried to get the hang of things. The clownfish isn't painted it's layers of clay.

I used a Pok3r alpha key that I sanded down to give more work room. I sanded the top flat and made the sides thinner. Did test a spare ABS key but, as expected, it went a bit gooey. The Pok3r caps are the only PBT's I have but as they've been swapped out it's no loss (plus they're not the best quality anyway).

If they like it I was thinking of a version encased in clear resin, means there could be more variation in height and also allow for more fine detail that wouldn't be squished. But not for a while, have to do some more practicing first.

Anyway, I'm fairly happy with how it turned out and learnt a bunch of things along the way (like start with something larger!).


Title: Re: Coral Reef Key Cap
Post by: suicidal_orange on Sun, 15 May 2016, 08:54:36
That is some seriously impressive sculpting!

As the clownfish is singled out as not printed does that mean everything else is?  Amazing painting skills too if so :eek:
Title: Re: Coral Reef Key Cap
Post by: juahenza on Sun, 15 May 2016, 09:03:32
very welldone.  :thumb:
Title: Re: Coral Reef Key Cap
Post by: Waateva on Sun, 15 May 2016, 09:34:51
Wow, amazing work!
Title: Re: Coral Reef Key Cap
Post by: mkeeley on Sun, 15 May 2016, 10:57:47
very welldone.  :thumb:

Thanks. No nothing was painted it's just that I've seen most people paint the stripes on the clownfish I decided to layer the clay instead. Would have liked to add more fine details but would have been too fragile, next time though.
Title: Re: Coral Reef Key Cap
Post by: Leslieann on Sun, 15 May 2016, 17:15:40
Fantastic work, I want one!

Encased to look like water would be an awesome way to finish and protect it.
Title: Re: Coral Reef Key Cap
Post by: Halverson on Sun, 15 May 2016, 17:19:28
Way cool! Amazing sculpting :)


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Title: Re: Coral Reef Key Cap
Post by: Natatat on Sun, 22 May 2016, 04:01:29
Awwww love the detail ! Great job!
Title: Re: Coral Reef Key Cap
Post by: mkeeley on Sun, 22 May 2016, 07:32:42
Thanks, was a good experience. Am doing some more playing and sort of thinking about the best way to encapsulate it in resin to allow proper layering.