Cherry black keycaps

[CX23882]

What method do Cherry use to produce black keycaps with White lettering? It looks almost as if the White is inlaid to the surface of the caps. Underneath they are solid black so they're not double shot like some people have.

[itlnstln]

Laser etching.  They laser etch the top similarly to how they would do a white key, then they fill it with white plastic.  Durable, yes, but not the cleanest printing I have ever seen.

[CX23882]

Thanks for the information. Hopefully they should last a long time then, assuming that the white doesn't wear unevenly compared to the black. What I can see on mine is that the white isn't 100% consistent - some areas are bright white whereas others are slightly duller. I like the look though.

I've had the G80-3000 for around a year now, and still no sign of key wear, not even on the space bar despite doing a lot of typing (wouldn't it be cool if you could get counters from keyboards for number of key presses, as you can for backlight hours from the service menu of LCD monitors). My Logitech at work is beginning to get a shiny space bar after only a couple of months. The amazing thing is that the Cherry keycaps never feel dirty. They have a weird texture - it almost feels like a teflon pan, if that's the best way to describe it. Is this not ABS plastic?

I wish that somebody would order a run of ISO-layout Cherry G80-3000 with brown switches. Sometimes the blue switches are just too clicky, even though they feel great. I think I'm going to order a Filco from The Keyboard Company when the UK boards arrive, but there is something endearing about the Cherry G80-3000; especially the model I have which doesn't have the Cherry logo in the top left corner - kind of like a debadged Golf R32. It just looks so run of the mill, until you start typing on it.

[timw4mail]

It's probably POM plastic if it feel slippery like Teflon. As I've inquired before, PTFE (teflon) doesn't seem to make for a very good keycap.

[itlnstln]

To be honest I like the Cherry G80-3000 (I have one with browns - ANSI) better than my Filco.  I like the softer keystroke and sound.  I find the browns a little more tactile in the PCB mounting method, too.  Since the switches are PCB-mounted, you could easily trade the switch guts out with a used brown 'board.

[itlnstln]

It's probably POM plastic if it feel slippery like Teflon. As I've inquired before, PTFE (teflon) doesn't seem to make for a very good keycap.

This is correct.  The black laser-etched keys are POM; the white ones are PBT.

[timw4mail]

This is correct.  The black laser-etched keys are POM; the white ones are PBT.

The Compaq MX11800 has PBT keycaps. (It's white). Strangely enough, it seems most computer fans are also made of PBT.

[itlnstln]

The Compaq MX11800 has PBT keycaps. (It's white). Strangely enough, it seems most computer fans are also made of PBT.

I just find it odd that they use differenct plastics for both caps. I would imagine PBT or POM would work in either color. I guess they don't, though, and that's why they're different plastics.
 
Those crafty German engineers.

[itlnstln]

I doubt it's white plastic. Probably just another paint variant like everybody else. Should last a lot longer though since it's sitting on a rough etched surface.

True. Whatever it is, it's layered in there pretty thick. So much so, that it looks like plastic, but you're probably right. Plastic might be a little too expensive of a process for something like this.

[lowpoly]

I doubt it's white plastic.  Probably just another paint variant like everybody else.  Should last a lot longer though since it's sitting on a rough etched surface.

It's plastic embedded into the surface of the keycap.

[itlnstln]

It's plastic embedded into the surface of the keycap.

And there you have it.  That's why Cherry key caps are the sh*t.  Other than the soft edges on the text, they are quite durable and show now signs of wear in the 6-7 months I have had it.  For the record, I brought the Cherry back to work today.  I was disappointed in Filco keycaps.  I would really like a set of POM replacements.  I need to keep looking around eBay, too for some Cherry replacements for the Filco like Ripster.

[CX23882]

The thing that I find incredible with the Cherry caps is that not only is the lettering durable, but the plastic seems very difficult to wear down, period. There is not even a hint of shine on my G80-3000, and that's after a lot of use as well as being ``naughty'' and using it whilst eating. It was the same story with the Cherry Cymotion board before it (similar method of lettering), as well as the Cymotion I used at my old job.

[itlnstln]

Really, I couldn't be happier with my Cherry keyboard.  I wish Majestouch would start stocking them.  I would be buying more keyboards if he did.
 
I would imagine if he did stock them, they would be similar to the ones I see on the Asian sites with the full-color Cherry logo.  I like the tan logo, personally, as I think the full-color version looks a little cheap, but I wouldn't complain about that if they were available here.

[lowpoly]

User ssb gave a POM-capped Cherry keyboard to one of the secretaries at his work and claims that the spacebar got shiny after a month:

Being the curious guy that I am, I had to ask ssb about an update here, and he replied (thanks!) that after about a month or so the space bar started getting shiny, so it's now up to par with his Realforce.

http://geekhack.org/showpost.php?p=112109&postcount=76

[itlnstln]

I have seen where people that use hand lotion, make up, etc. will wear just about any type of plastic to a piano gloss finish.  That stuff will also take the paint off mice and stuff.  Most of the ladies around the office have some pretty gross keyboards and mice.  BTW, it's not just women, either, there are plenty of guys around here with equally nasty keyboards/mice, but women tend to use hand lotion and make up more than men (as you would hope).

[timw4mail]

I don't think the lettering on the keycaps is plastic for the laser-etched keys, as I have not been able to get some of the "dirt" out of this Cherry board's letters.

[lowpoly]

Which Cherry keyboard was that?

I removed the windows logo from a black POM key for my Mini project. There was no way to scratch the 'paint' off with a sharp knife. In the end I sanded the logo away by putting a screw into a power drill and glueing sand paper to the screw's head.

It's definitely not paint.

[timw4mail]

Which Cherry keyboard was that?

I removed the windows logo from a black POM key for my Mini project. There was no way to scratch the 'paint' off with a sharp knife. In the end I sanded the logo away by putting a screw into a power drill and glueing sand paper to the screw's head.

It's definitely not paint.

It's a Cherry G80-8963LUBUS-2 with brown switches. At least, I wasn't able to with a little rubbing alcohol, which usually cleans up dirt on keycaps very easily.

[itlnstln]

Ssb also said ALL the keycaps he tried (including Topres and double shots) got shiny in a month.

I used my Cherry for a month straight here at work on two or three separate occasions, and my keys still look brand new.  He may have oily skin, food oils, etc. on his fingers when he types.  There are a lot of things that can speed wear of plastics.  I, for one, always wash my hands before typing.

[lowpoly]

It's a Cherry G80-8963LUBUS-2 with brown switches. At least, I wasn't able to with a little rubbing alcohol, which usually cleans up dirt on keycaps very easily.

Ah, OK. I looked at your sig and wasn't sure we weren't talking about the G84, suddenly. So what does it mean, that dirt can't be removed easily?

Are you sure about the embedded plastic in the lasered keys??  Paint that is put into laser etched grooves would be hard to get out by just scratching it.

I tried to scratch it with the tip of a very pointy knife. Felt like plastic to me.
No idea how it is actually done. Might be heat applied with a laser while feeding white plastic for ex. as a foil.