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geekhack Community => Keyboard Keycaps => Topic started by: JeremyFXDWG on Thu, 02 June 2016, 12:30:31

Title: DSA Backlit Caps
Post by: JeremyFXDWG on Thu, 02 June 2016, 12:30:31: I know this is a crazy specific ask but is there any DSA caps with clear legends to let the back light shine through. I like the backlit keys on my Mac however hate the actuall keyboard and am in the process of building my first custom.

Thanks,
Jeremy
Title: Re: DSA Backlit Caps
Post by: xtrafrood on Thu, 02 June 2016, 14:57:36: Not to my knowledge, at least not in any shop that deals in USD directly. If you're glued to the idea of DSA maybe find some clear top gaterons or just buy some clear switch tops. Certain DSA colors allow enough light to pass through to cause a sort of glow which can sometimes allow you to see the legends. Check out Varmilo Mint keycaps on youtube (skip to the backlight part of the Awesome Sauce video) if you want a clear picture of how PBT can be illuminated.

There are some PBT keycaps with POM infill for backlighting but most are OEM or Cherry profile /shrug
Title: Re: DSA Backlit Caps
Post by: romevi on Thu, 02 June 2016, 14:59:32: Pretty sure they don't exist. I wonder if it's possible to make, though.
Title: Re: DSA Backlit Caps
Post by: JeremyFXDWG on Thu, 02 June 2016, 15:23:00: Thanks for the responses. I figured they didn't exist but figured I would ask. I will look at different color options as suggested.

Or maybe I should just learn to type without looking at the keys....
Title: Re: DSA Backlit Caps
Post by: romevi on Thu, 02 June 2016, 15:25:18: Quote from: JeremyFXDWG on Thu, 02 June 2016, 15:23:00
I should just learn to type without looking at the keys....

:cool:
Title: Re: DSA Backlit Caps
Post by: izilla on Thu, 02 June 2016, 15:47:04: SP is the only manufacturer of DSA profile keys that I know of but they do other shine through caps in OEM profile and the others so I think it would just be a matter of tooling their machines (which I am sure would require a large order/interest).
Title: Re: DSA Backlit Caps
Post by: rowdy on Thu, 02 June 2016, 21:57:56: If DSA are doubleshot, why not just use transparent plastic for the legends?

No retooling required.
Title: Re: DSA Backlit Caps
Post by: FrostyToast on Thu, 02 June 2016, 23:03:18: (http://i.imgur.com/IpoTS53m.jpg?1)

It's been sort of done.
Once.
And in the reverse of what you want.
Title: Re: DSA Backlit Caps
Post by: rowdy on Fri, 03 June 2016, 05:56:53: Quote from: FrostyToast on Thu, 02 June 2016, 23:03:18
Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/IpoTS53m.jpg?1)

It's been sort of done.
Once.
And in the reverse of what you want.

Is there some technical reason why the transparent plastic can't be used for the legends?

And the non-transparent used for the skirt?
Title: Re: DSA Backlit Caps
Post by: Lepidus on Fri, 03 June 2016, 06:59:17: Quote from: rowdy on Fri, 03 June 2016, 05:56:53
Quote from: FrostyToast on Thu, 02 June 2016, 23:03:18
Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/IpoTS53m.jpg?1)

It's been sort of done.
Once.
And in the reverse of what you want.

Is there some technical reason why the transparent plastic can't be used for the legends?

And the non-transparent used for the skirt?

It can be done, but the doubleshot pattern ruins it.

(http://cdn.keypuller.com/2014/10/cherry-replica-3-i3oilermaker-960x615.jpg)
Title: Re: DSA Backlit Caps
Post by: zombiegristle on Fri, 03 June 2016, 07:01:28: Quote from: Lepidus on Fri, 03 June 2016, 06:59:17
Quote from: rowdy on Fri, 03 June 2016, 05:56:53
Quote from: FrostyToast on Thu, 02 June 2016, 23:03:18
Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/IpoTS53m.jpg?1)

It's been sort of done.
Once.
And in the reverse of what you want.

Is there some technical reason why the transparent plastic can't be used for the legends?

And the non-transparent used for the skirt?

It can be done, but the doubleshot pattern ruins it.

Show Image
(http://cdn.keypuller.com/2014/10/cherry-replica-3-i3oilermaker-960x615.jpg)

They weren't DSA, but Vortex managed it at least once. Apparently they're not available anymore, though...

http://www.amazon.com/Vortex-Black-Doubleshot-backlit-Keycaps-Pc/dp/B00XABAR2M/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1464955244&sr=8-3&keywords=pbt+backlit+doubleshot (http://www.amazon.com/Vortex-Black-Doubleshot-backlit-Keycaps-Pc/dp/B00XABAR2M/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1464955244&sr=8-3&keywords=pbt+backlit+doubleshot)
Title: Re: DSA Backlit Caps
Post by: xtrafrood on Fri, 03 June 2016, 13:36:47: Quote from: zombiegristle on Fri, 03 June 2016, 07:01:28
Quote from: Lepidus on Fri, 03 June 2016, 06:59:17
Quote from: rowdy on Fri, 03 June 2016, 05:56:53
Quote from: FrostyToast on Thu, 02 June 2016, 23:03:18
Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/IpoTS53m.jpg?1)

It's been sort of done.
Once.
And in the reverse of what you want.

Is there some technical reason why the transparent plastic can't be used for the legends?

And the non-transparent used for the skirt?

It can be done, but the doubleshot pattern ruins it.

Show Image
(http://cdn.keypuller.com/2014/10/cherry-replica-3-i3oilermaker-960x615.jpg)

They weren't DSA, but Vortex managed it at least once. Apparently they're not available anymore, though...

http://www.amazon.com/Vortex-Black-Doubleshot-backlit-Keycaps-Pc/dp/B00XABAR2M/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1464955244&sr=8-3&keywords=pbt+backlit+doubleshot (http://www.amazon.com/Vortex-Black-Doubleshot-backlit-Keycaps-Pc/dp/B00XABAR2M/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1464955244&sr=8-3&keywords=pbt+backlit+doubleshot)

There is another company on Amazon (Buliezhe?) that sells backlight compatible PBT keycaps. Search for "backlight pbt keycaps" and they're the first set you see. Really colorful, almost too colorful for some I guess. But yea, still not DSA. These look like they're OEM or Cherry profile
Title: Re: DSA Backlit Caps
Post by: izilla on Fri, 03 June 2016, 13:38:14: So I went ahead and just emailed SP and they said they don't have backlit keycaps. But the transparent plastic is out of stock too so maybe they are discontinued.
Title: Re: DSA Backlit Caps
Post by: JeremyFXDWG on Sat, 04 June 2016, 21:33:07: Thanks for all the info and thanks for emailing SP. Its weird to me that they don't do it. I might have to expand the search to different profiles.
Title: Re: DSA Backlit Caps
Post by: izilla on Tue, 07 June 2016, 10:15:01: Quote from: JeremyFXDWG on Sat, 04 June 2016, 21:33:07
Thanks for all the info and thanks for emailing SP. Its weird to me that they don't do it. I might have to expand the search to different profiles.

Yea I like backlighting too and DSA profile but its hard when only SP does that profile. There are some on shapeways (https://www.shapeways.com/product/UMAFN8BAW/customisable-cherry-mx-keycap-dsa-profile) you could print but would be pretty expensive.