Materials for Custom Key Caps

[OnTheBrink]

So I drew up a design for a custom 3-D key cap that is being made into a 3-D model so I can send it to a machine shop for a professional mold. Big ups to Bro Bot for that recommendation.

I will be showing the design very soon. RaVNzCRoFT is helping me convert my artwork into a 3-D file. Big thanks to him as well.

However, my question is about materials for the key cap itself. I may have some 3D printed for test samples on the design etc.. but the main ones will be made by hand with some special keys being hand painted.

I wanted to know what material is recommended for the custom caps itself? What materials for coloring are recommended and does any artisan or otherwise have a vendor they recommend?

Thank you.

[Pacifist]

most people buy from shapeways. Experiment with what they have and then buy a final one in high quality of the material you see fits your needs the best

[OnTheBrink]

most people buy from shapeways. Experiment with what they have and then buy a final one in high quality of the material you see fits your needs the best

Thanks pacifist. But if I am getting a mold made to create the caps by hand, isn't shapeways just for having them 3D printed?

[Oobly]

AFAIK, most custom cap makers use some form of resin. Easy to mold and gives good detail.

[Photekq]

I think you should experiment with casting from silicone moulds before you go and spend a lot of money on a machined mould.

[noisyturtle]

Pretty much what Oobly and Photekq said, the best caps are crafted from some form of resin blend. What that blend is for each artisan is like their Coca-Cola formula and different types of plastics and techniques can give a wide array of different effects. One of the pleasures of collecting

One of the best entry points aside from 3D printing is pressure molding.

[OnTheBrink]

Pretty much what Oobly and Photekq said, the best caps are crafted from some form of resin blend. What that blend is for each artisan is like their Coca-Cola formula and different types of plastics and techniques can give a wide array of different effects. One of the pleasures of collecting

One of the best entry points aside from 3D printing is pressure molding.

Excellent. Thank you for the information. I'm going to have a few keys 3D printed just to see how the cap comes with my design and I plan on taking this slowly. So it will be a while before I do have a machine mold made etc.. I was just expressing my plans.

I'm fully aware it's going to be a lot of trial and error. I'm going to shop around for some resin materials while I wait for the 3D caps to be printed (the model and design is nearly complete).

Any idea on a good vendor for the resins and/or some basic mixes I can start out with?

Edit: Amazon has some high rated casting resin. I'll probably start with that and experimenting with different brands. What about coloring though? Is that just mixing colored resin or is something added?

[Xowie]

Pretty much what Oobly and Photekq said, the best caps are crafted from some form of resin blend. What that blend is for each artisan is like their Coca-Cola formula and different types of plastics and techniques can give a wide array of different effects. One of the pleasures of collecting

One of the best entry points aside from 3D printing is pressure molding.

Excellent. Thank you for the information. I'm going to have a few keys 3D printed just to see how the cap comes with my design and I plan on taking this slowly. So it will be a while before I do have a machine mold made etc.. I was just expressing my plans.

I'm fully aware it's going to be a lot of trial and error. I'm going to shop around for some resin materials while I wait for the 3D caps to be printed (the model and design is nearly complete).

Any idea on a good vendor for the resins and/or some basic mixes I can start out with?

Edit: Amazon has some high rated casting resin. I'll probably start with that and experimenting with different brands. What about coloring though? Is that just mixing colored resin or is something added?

Have you checked out Binge's thread? (http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=46284.0) There are a couple of other really good thread floating around as well that I cant think of at the moment.