I just 3d printed a custom dsa spacebar for my Noppoo Choc mini

[luis911]

This imgur album shows a bit of what I did
http://imgur.com/a/ZNXKO

spent the better half of the day prototyping, but this is my final result. I'm pretty satisfied.

[tp4tissue]

This imgur album shows a bit of what I did
http://imgur.com/a/ZNXKO

spent the better half of the day prototyping, but this is my final result. I'm pretty satisfied.

Show Image

That's pretty cool...  is it solid?

[heedpantsnow]

Cool!  Can you sand it smooth?  I feel like 3d printing still always has lines in it.

[berserkfan]

can you do it for other people? is it worth doing it for others? many people here have custom needs eg 6.5x spacebars so I'm sure you could provide a valuable service.

[nova779]

That's pretty neat, how long did it take you to draw, or are there models available online that you used?

[luis911]

That's pretty neat, how long did it take you to draw, or are there models available online that you used?

Modeling took me about 2 hours, but that includes printing to check fitment and fixing the model in solidworks. I own a set of DSA caps so i was able to use a caliper to measure distances.

[katushkin]

Interesting. What does it feel like having a pretty much solid space bar compared to the usual one?

That's pretty awesome though

[luis911]

can you do it for other people? is it worth doing it for others? many people here have custom needs eg 6.5x spacebars so I'm sure you could provide a valuable service.

I need to fine tune my printing process so that the bottom of the spacebar comes out completely flat. however, if people are interested, respond to the thread, and I'll start buying what I need to make better spacebars. As of now the colors of plastic i have available are, black, white, midnight blue, clear, and army green. In the future, I want to offer a range of spacebars and keycaps. For spacebars i was thinking of designing them with intricate cut outs on the top surface, or even full out custom 3d designs that i can cone up with. Since im on break untill january 28, I will go full speed ahead and start coming up with designs.

[luis911]

Interesting. What does it feel like having a pretty much solid space bar compared to the usual one?

That's pretty awesome though

Its not 100% solid. It consists of a hexagon infill pattern like so

I have to admit, it feels and looks cool.

[katushkin]

Ah ok. But it does feel different?

[luis911]

Ah ok. But it does feel different?

Sure it does, it has more of a Thonk than the stock spacebar.  Also it has a rough texture so your finger grips the spacebar a bit better. Overall, I like it. I just want to tinker with other designs.

[spiceBar]

I like that.

I'm actually thinking about purchasing a 3D printer more and more.

What printer are you using?

[luis911]

I like that.

I'm actually thinking about purchasing a 3D printer more and more.

What printer are you using?

Makerbot replicator 2. 3d printers are exponentially more usefull if you know how to draw with CAD software. I actually won this printer in a raffle that makerbot was holding at the NYC auto show last year. I was really lucky, especially since I'm someone who had a huge interest in 3d printer prior to winning it.

[spiceBar]

I like that.

I'm actually thinking about purchasing a 3D printer more and more.

What printer are you using?

Makerbot replicator 2. 3d printers are exponentially more usefull if you know how to draw with CAD software. I actually won this printer in a raffle that makerbot was holding at the NYC auto show last year. I was really lucky, especially since I'm someone who had a huge interest in 3d printer prior to winning it.

I don't know how to draw with 3D software, but I'm not afraid to learn.

Thank you for the info.

[Ngt]

What kind of material can you use in a 3D printer? Do you have the choice for the plastic or is there only one material which is compatible with them? For example could you print with ABS or PBT?

[berserkfan]

can you do it for other people? is it worth doing it for others? many people here have custom needs eg 6.5x spacebars so I'm sure you could provide a valuable service.

I need to fine tune my printing process so that the bottom of the spacebar comes out completely flat. however, if people are interested, respond to the thread, and I'll start buying what I need to make better spacebars. As of now the colors of plastic i have available are, black, white, midnight blue, clear, and army green. In the future, I want to offer a range of spacebars and keycaps. For spacebars i was thinking of designing them with intricate cut outs on the top surface, or even full out custom 3d designs that i can cone up with. Since im on break untill january 28, I will go full speed ahead and start coming up with designs.

As geekhack's biggest supporter of win-win solutions, I really hope you can succeed in this project.

There are tons of geeks held hostage to certain manufacturers' idiosyncracies. EG Corsair Spacebar, Steelseries and TT Meka layouts, and so on. Many of these guys I have seen begging to buy spare spacebars but there is no one to sell.

And there are the bigass spacebars, 1.75x keys and other rare size keycaps, etc all needing someone to make keycaps the right size.

If you can solve this problem you can easily sell spacebars at a profit and still render a valuable service for everyone!

[luis911]

What kind of material can you use in a 3D printer? Do you have the choice for the plastic or is there only one material which is compatible with them? For example could you print with ABS or PBT?

ABS, yes, PBT no.
Most 3d printers support PLA or ABS plastic. My printer only supports PLA, although if I where to modify my printer and introduce a heated build plate, I can possible print with ABS filament. However, the texture and feel of a 3d printed keycap will obviously differ than that from a keycap created by a moulding process.

From experience, ABS is more difficult to print with, and not worth the hassle unless you need a part which will be subject to higher temperatures.

[CPTBadAss]

Cool!  Can you sand it smooth?  I feel like 3d printing still always has lines in it.

3D printing has lines in it because of how the parts are built up. Look up Fused Deposition Model printing for some more info if you're curious.


Luis911, this is really really cool. Thanks for sharing with us!

[Ngt]

What kind of material can you use in a 3D printer? Do you have the choice for the plastic or is there only one material which is compatible with them? For example could you print with ABS or PBT?

ABS, yes, PBT no.
Most 3d printers support PLA or ABS plastic. My printer only supports PLA, although if I where to modify my printer and introduce a heated build plate, I can possible print with ABS filament. However, the texture and feel of a 3d printed keycap will obviously differ than that from a keycap created by a moulding process.

From experience, ABS is more difficult to print with, and not worth the hassle unless you need a part which will be subject to higher temperatures.

Alright fair enough.

Off topic but I wonder if Bro Caps and other keycaps artisans like ClackFactory uses 3D printed models to realize their molds.

[heedpantsnow]

Cool!  Can you sand it smooth?  I feel like 3d printing still always has lines in it.

3D printing has lines in it because of how the parts are built up. Look up Fused Deposition Model printing for some more info if you're curious.


Luis911, this is really really cool. Thanks for sharing with us!

Yeah, I was just wondering if they've upped the fineness so that the lines disappear.

[luis911]

What kind of material can you use in a 3D printer? Do you have the choice for the plastic or is there only one material which is compatible with them? For example could you print with ABS or PBT?

ABS, yes, PBT no.
Most 3d printers support PLA or ABS plastic. My printer only supports PLA, although if I where to modify my printer and introduce a heated build plate, I can possible print with ABS filament. However, the texture and feel of a 3d printed keycap will obviously differ than that from a keycap created by a moulding process.

From experience, ABS is more difficult to print with, and not worth the hassle unless you need a part which will be subject to higher temperatures.

Alright fair enough.

Off topic but I wonder if Bro Caps and other keycaps artisans like ClackFactory uses 3D printed models to realize their molds.

I doubt it. They probably go straight from CAD files, to using a CNC machine to create the die used in the injection moulding process. In the manufacturing industry, 3d printing is mostly used as a method of rapid prototyping.

[luis911]

So, I managed to make some improvements with regards to warping. Here's some keyboard eye candy



This second image shows all of my prototypes starting with the first one on the left and the latest print on the right

[CPTBadAss]

Yeah, I was just wondering if they've upped the fineness so that the lines disappear.

I've worked with more expensive FDM printers and other printers at work but they still have those lines. There are ways to smooth it out. But like luis911 said, it's mainly for rapid prototyping. I know of a shop that does metal 3D printing which make jet engine parts. They have to hand polish and finish the parts to get the proper smooth finishes. They're not smooth out of the machine due to how the 3D printers AFAIK.

Anyways, sorry to hijack your thread luis911. Nice update!

[heedpantsnow]

Yeah, I was just wondering if they've upped the fineness so that the lines disappear.

I've worked with more expensive FDM printers and other printers at work but they still have those lines. There are ways to smooth it out. But like luis911 said, it's mainly for rapid prototyping. I know of a shop that does metal 3D printing which make jet engine parts. They have to hand polish and finish the parts to get the proper smooth finishes. They're not smooth out of the machine due to how the 3D printers AFAIK.

Anyways, sorry to hijack your thread luis911. Nice update!

Ok thanks! 

[heedpantsnow]

Luis911, I love the translucent one on the right...seeing the honeycomb inside is so stinking cool!

[luis911]

Luis911, I love the translucent one on the right...seeing the honeycomb inside is so stinking cool!

It is pretty cool, Here a closeup

[audioave10]

Hexagon Keycaps! I think you have something there worth looking into.