Very custom keycaps (FN40)

[swill]

Printed 40% function layer...

I would want F, J home keys as well...

Is this even possible?  If so, what is the best quality keycap I can get?  Thick PBT dyesub is probably what I would be targeting, but I would have to get a solid MOQ for that to be viable.

Motivation...
For the most part, the basic/shift layer of a 40% board is going to be somewhat natural and understandable.  If you can touch type you will have a pretty good idea what you are doing.  I think the main barrier to entry with a 40% board is an extremely complex Fn layer.  I would like to see the Fn layer printed and leave the more obvious layout to be explored blind.

I have designed this Fn layout to be viable for a software developer (or at least good enough for me, as a software developer).  I believe that I have implemented almost everything that a full sized board has to offer with this layout (missing pause and scroll lock, but I have doubled up + - * / . because I thought they were relevant with the numpad, so they could be added if need be. 

I would see this board primarily used as an enthusiasts road warrior board. 

This is what my basic/shift layer would look like (for now).

[PointyFox]

Sure.  They're just plastic with writing on them. 

[HPE1000]

Yeah, anything is possible, I am sure the easiest way to go about that would be seeing if wasd would do it. Although I am not sure if that is what you would want.

[swill]

I should probably rephrase the question.

If this is possible...  What is the best quality keycap I can get?  Thick PBT dyesub or doubleshots would be ideal.

[rowdy]

Thick PBT dyesub would require a custom order, and probably not meet MOQ.

DS would require custom molds - and be prohibitively expensive.

[swill]

Thick PBT dyesub would require a custom order, and probably not meet MOQ.

DS would require custom molds - and be prohibitively expensive.

Alright...  So what would be the best possible printing process I could expect to be able to get?  Maybe laser etched?  Maybe engraved?  Can you infil an engraved keycap?

The thicker the keycap the better as well.  Not sure what my options would be though...

[jonathanyu]

If I remember correctly, you can design you own keycap on wasd keyboard's website

[HPE1000]

If I remember correctly, you can design you own keycap on wasd keyboard's website

That is what I said earlier, I think that is going to be about the only way to do it if only 1 set is being made.

[SpAmRaY]

Unless you want to spend an insane amount of money and/or can get others interested in your layout.

[swill]

Unless you want to spend an insane amount of money and/or can get others interested in your layout.

Ya ok.  Since this is the Fn layer for a 40% board, I think it would have to be genius to get any sort of traction.  I don't think its there yet...

The reason I would want to print the function layer instead of the normal layer is because the regular layer is pretty much exactly what you expect (or there abouts).  On a 40%, if you have to go looking for a key, the function layer is where you would want the help.

With this keycap set, pretty much anyone could theoretically sit down and use it if they can touch type.

Something like this wouldn't suck I guess, but I would rather the Fn layer:  http://deskthority.net/wiki/File:HONEY_FORTY.png 

[tbc]

swill, that's genius.  your idea for printing your FN layer instead of printing QWERTY/DVORAK makes complete sense.


but yes, unless you want to spend several thousand on your set, WASD is the way to go.

[swill]

Maybe if/when the 40% board hits prime time, I can do an IC for something like this.  Getting thick PBT dyesub caps would be awesome.  What do you think the MOQ would be?  Come on... Break my heart... 

[HPE1000]

Maybe if/when the 40% board hits prime time, I can do an IC for something like this.  Getting thick PBT dyesub caps would be awesome.  What do you think the MOQ would be?  Come on... Break my heart... 

I think that depends on what you want the cost to be, the higher the MOQ the lower you can usually get the prices from what I have seen.

I would like to see 40% happen more, so hopefully this could be pulled off sometime.

[IvanIvanovich]

If you must use the exact key sizes you have shown, it's essentially going to limit you to SP keycap as pretty much no one else will offer those sizes in a one off or small run if they even have mold for that size/row combination.

[swill]

If you must use the exact key sizes you have shown, it's essentially going to limit you to SP keycap as pretty much no one else will offer those sizes in a one off or small run if they even have mold for that size/row combination.

Ya I was worried about that.  This GB has this layout, but they do not offer the right shift and fn in those sizes in any other format (ie: just row 3).

I was thinking of trying to maybe do the whole board in SA 'row 3' and only have the top fn layer printed, using something like this: http://deskthority.net/wiki/File:HONEY_NUMERIC_RED.png

The problem is that the 40% modifiers in that set also include row 2 and row 4, so the profile alignment won't be perfect. 

I think I will have more luck doing this if I just print the top fn layer and leave the fn + shift layer to be explored.  This way I can use a consistent profile keycap and that will simplify everything.  This will also make it easier for people to slightly modify the layout of their fn and fn + shift layers because the keys can move between rows without problems...

[swill]

Hmmm...  I might be able to do an all row3 board with these two sets.  I will have to try it tonight.

http://deskthority.net/wiki/File:HONEY_FUNMOD_BLACK.png
http://deskthority.net/wiki/File:HONEY_NUMERIC_RED.png

There may be hope for some form of this afterall... 

Edit:
I think this is as close as I can get ($68)...


Which is the simplified version of this...