Keycaps with same profile in all rows (staircase)

[ekaggen]

I really like my Novatouch TKL but my non-standard touch typing style doesn't play well with contoured keycaps. The only row that feels natural for me is the home row.

I want to swap my keycaps for ones with the same row contour (ideally Cherry Row C). The issue that I found is that not all keycaps come in this row style, the right shift being the most notable example (SP has DCS row 3 for the other required sizes). I looked at SP's DSA caps but I don't want flat keys so those are out.

For reference my goal is to change the profile of my keyboard to "Staircase" (http://deskthority.net/wiki/Keyboard_profile). I'm willing to spend a fair bit to achieve this.

I would appreciate any advice on this. I can think of 3 options myself:

1. 3D print my own keycaps
con: The feel of 3d printed keycaps is a bit rough for my liking

2. Get a custom mold + run done through some company like Signature Plastics
con: Seems very very expensive for a single set (I'd like to keep this under $300).

3. Find a keyboard that comes with non-cherry mx keycaps that all have the same row contour and salvage those.
con: I don't know where to start looking. If anyone here knows of one that would solve my issue right away.

4. Go for flat keycaps (like DSA)
con: This one is pretty easy but I do still want a "staircase". I might try it and see if DSA hurts less.

Does anyone have similar issues or am I alone here?

[rowdy]

Welcome to Geekhack!

DSA is a low profile uniform keycap, er, profile from Signature Plastics.

SA is a high profile and sometimes uniform (usually R3) profile from SP.

They also have a G20 set that is, AFAIK, also uniform profile.

http://pimpmykeyboard.com/keysets/

Apart form that you'd be up to design your own set and get someone to build the molds to make it.

[ekaggen]

Welcome to Geekhack!

DSA is a low profile uniform keycap, er, profile from Signature Plastics.

SA is a high profile and sometimes uniform (usually R3) profile from SP.

They also have a G20 set that is, AFAIK, also uniform profile.

http://pimpmykeyboard.com/keysets/

Apart form that you'd be up to design your own set and get someone to build the molds to make it.

Thanks! I think I might try out a set of DSA to see if it plays well with my hands, since its a much cheaper experimentation option.

Any ideas how much custom molds might end up running? Could buy all blank 1x1s and then get the larger keys custom made.

[rowdy]

Welcome to Geekhack!

DSA is a low profile uniform keycap, er, profile from Signature Plastics.

SA is a high profile and sometimes uniform (usually R3) profile from SP.

They also have a G20 set that is, AFAIK, also uniform profile.

http://pimpmykeyboard.com/keysets/

Apart form that you'd be up to design your own set and get someone to build the molds to make it.

Thanks! I think I might try out a set of DSA to see if it plays well with my hands, since its a much cheaper experimentation option.

Any ideas how much custom molds might end up running? Could buy all blank 1x1s and then get the larger keys custom made.

For custom molds I think you'd be looking in the tens of thousands.  If you wanted something like doubleshot uniform row X.

SP has a mix and match option where you can buy keycap singles in whatever row you want.  Blanks but.  And that gets expensive compared to buying a single full set.

Actually WASD might be able to do something if you order printed singles (if you wanted printed keycaps).  Of course things like Ctrl, Shift, Caps and so on are almost never made in profiles other than the one they are generally intended for.

[nickw]

You could get close using blanks from Signature Plastics SA Row 2/4
Both rows are the same profile, just flipped.  You would be stuck with a row 3 (flat) for your shift keys, enter, and space, but it gives you a nice not-too-extreme staircase, and the 7 degrees difference on the flats isn't too odd, IMO, since those keys are "special" in my brain.  YMMV.

I only bought 1u keys for a board that I'm making, but here's some pics to give you an idea of the profile:

[jacobolus]

You might enjoy this project of mine if you need pictures helping to describe this kind of thing:
https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=68550


I’d recommend trying to get a set of DCS row 3 blanks from SP. But you’re certainly right that uniform DSA or similar would be easier to find, especially if you need legends on the keys.

[ika]

If you get a Data911, those keycaps are cylindrical and sculpted/slanted but all the same profile.