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Author Topic: Printing my own Model M keycaps  (Read 3838 times)

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Offline TheRavenDog

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Printing my own Model M keycaps
« on: Fri, 07 December 2012, 00:23:36 »
Recently, I purchased some custom key caps from Unicomp and in general I'm pleased. But...

The color of the key caps, the feel of the plastic, and the quality of the printing are all different than the original keys from IBM.

Additionally, what Unicomp can print on a key is very unclear: the can print anything they've printed in the past (I think), but they can't provide a complete list of what they can print.

So here's my idea for a custom printing technology:

- Using a laser printer, print what you want on a clear sticker.
- Apply the sticker to a blank key (available from Unicomp or from old IBM Model M 122 terminal keyboards. Each one has 5 or 6 blank keys).
- Using a high-intensity light source (perhaps a DVD-burner laser), burn away the dark part of the sticker (where the printing was). This should essentially create a mask.
- Apply a small amount of ink to the key cap. Perhaps a Sharpie permanent marker would work. Perhaps a little acetone (or another solvent) would help the ink penetrate the plastic.
- Allow the ink to dry (or cook it into the plastic with a hair dryer).
- Remove the remains of the clear sticker (aka: the mask)

Is this crazy? Will the application of the high-intensity light source simply melt the sticker? Will the clarity of the lines be too poor?

Any help or additional ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Chris.
« Last Edit: Fri, 07 December 2012, 17:52:02 by TheRavenDog »
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Offline fohat.digs

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Re: Printing my own Model M keycaps
« Reply #1 on: Fri, 07 December 2012, 19:49:36 »
You will never know until you try it.

My guess is that the heat would make a nasty mess out of the adhesive sticker.

But I, too, would love to have some "special" key tops for my Model M/Fs

In particular, I would love to have "Mute" and "Windows"
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Offline clickclack

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Re: Printing my own Model M keycaps
« Reply #2 on: Fri, 07 December 2012, 20:37:21 »
This method has been tried with varying degrees of success. The problems you will face will be particle size too large and phase transition next to nonexistent. So penetration will be minimal. Heat will be difficult to apply but (not much is needed) solvent will likely ruin your masking or at the very least diffuse your efforts (pun intented) and will not be as effective on that plastic as other plastics. Some of my early keys are made via hybrid sublimation of sorts. But truth be told, it's closer to actual sublimation rather than the mask and puddle technique you're suggesting. The technique you suggest is an older one that is sometimes confused with solvent bonding, eventhough they share some characteristics.

You should be able to get something to work (even if not that well). If all else fails and you are out the price of the sharpie, shoot litster a pm as I think he is poised to corner the "custom image and legend printing on keycaps" market. Phew, that was a mouthful!  =P

Most importantly... have fun!

-cc   =)
« Last Edit: Fri, 07 December 2012, 20:39:19 by clickclack »
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Offline 0100010

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Re: Printing my own Model M keycaps
« Reply #3 on: Fri, 07 December 2012, 23:59:03 »
Can only say that Sharpie is not permanent and PBT laughs at acetone.  But I am unable to give any better suggestions.  I had thought about contacting a local laser etching firm, see if they could setup a jig for top or side etching of blank Unicomp keysets.
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Offline Hak Foo

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Re: Printing my own Model M keycaps
« Reply #4 on: Sat, 08 December 2012, 00:19:24 »
I'm pretty sure they have Mute and Windows glyphs available; we did a group buy a while back and I got them to outfit a 6110345.
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Offline TheRavenDog

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Re: Printing my own Model M keycaps
« Reply #5 on: Sat, 08 December 2012, 02:52:13 »
Quote from: 0100010 on Fri, 07 December 2012, 23:59:03
Can only say that Sharpie is not permanent and PBT laughs at acetone.  But I am unable to give any better suggestions.  I had thought about contacting a local laser etching firm, see if they could setup a jig for top or side etching of blank Unicomp keysets.

So true about Sharpie not being permanent. Finding a solvent for PBT is difficult: Hexaflouroacetone might work, but it's dangerous.

I noticed when I accidentally soaked some key caps in Hydrogen Peroxide for several days that the green dye-sublimation lettering dissolved from some (but not all) Alt keys. Strange.

Perhaps a solution is to use a dye sublimation printer with transfer paper. Print the mirror image, then use a heat press at 140+ degrees to transfer the image to the key. It might work.

I'm going to have to start doing some experiments...
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Offline fohat.digs

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Re: Printing my own Model M keycaps
« Reply #6 on: Sat, 08 December 2012, 09:17:22 »
Quote from: Hak Foo on Sat, 08 December 2012, 00:19:24
I'm pretty sure they have Mute and Windows glyphs available; we did a group buy a while back and I got them to outfit a 6110345.

Awesome!

How far back? I have been here almost 2 years, and I don't remember it. (But I don't pay much attention to Group Buys because they are 99% Cherry)
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"However, even though I was born in the Mesozoic, I do know what anyone who wants to reach out to young people should say: Billionaires took your money. They took your chance to buy a home. They took your chance at a good education. They stole your opportunities. Billionaires took the things you want in life. If you really want those things, you have to take them back.
That's the message. That's the whole message. Say that every day, not just to reach America's frustrated young white men, but people of every age, race, and gender.
Late-stage capitalism is a wealth-concentration engine, focused on vacuuming up every dollar and putting it in as few hands as possible. Republicans are helping that vacuum suck.
How does a tiny fraction of the population get away with this? They do it by dividing the other 99% of Americans against themselves."
- Marc Sumner 2025-05-30

Offline AKIMbO

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Re: Printing my own Model M keycaps
« Reply #7 on: Sat, 08 December 2012, 09:23:07 »
Unicomp won't do 1x size keycaps with windows logos.  Makes me sad, but it's the truth.  I need a 1x windows key for my 122.
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Offline TheRavenDog

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Re: Printing my own Model M keycaps
« Reply #8 on: Sat, 08 December 2012, 15:58:32 »
Quote from: AKIMbO on Sat, 08 December 2012, 09:23:07
Unicomp won't do 1x size keycaps with windows logos.  Makes me sad, but it's the truth.  I need a 1x windows key for my 122.

I don't understand what Unicomp will or will not print: it's confussing. Unicomp has printed single key windows logos in the past. Here's a board on eBay that has that key
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Unicomp-122-Key-PS2-Terminal-Emulator-Keyboard-UNI0T52-/370692099544?pt=PCA_Mice_Trackballs&hash=item564ef88dd8

Sadly, it's not buckling spring. I know because I got all excited and purchased two of them (really just for the single Windows and Menu keys) only to discover, that the keys are something else.

Here's a close-up picture of the key (and some dog hair):


The key stem:

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