Author Topic: APL keycaps for Keycool 87, PBT dye-sub, IBM layout, $230  (Read 6656 times)

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Offline nkzt

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APL keycaps for Keycool 87, PBT dye-sub, IBM layout, $230
« on: Fri, 23 May 2014, 22:14:31 »
The new age, keycap DIY printing has been started! This is the first item from the age.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/189473627/apl-keycaps-for-keycool-87-pbt-dye-sub




Offline Photekq

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Re: APL keycaps for Keycool 87, PBT dye-sub, IBM layout, $230
« Reply #1 on: Fri, 23 May 2014, 22:18:36 »
Okay now THAT is awesome!
https://kbdarchive.org/
github
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Offline Pacifist

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Re: APL keycaps for Keycool 87, PBT dye-sub, IBM layout, $230
« Reply #2 on: Fri, 23 May 2014, 22:19:43 »
That's pretty pricey, esp when you can get imsto to do dyesubs at around $2 each, and in even bigger batches, a third of the price of these

But this is sorta interesting. How much does tooling cost?

Offline nkzt

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Re: APL keycaps for Keycool 87, PBT dye-sub, IBM layout, $230
« Reply #3 on: Fri, 23 May 2014, 22:41:18 »
Oh imsto can print to front side? I didn't know that.
Money I paid for my instruments and materials are about $1000 without trial and error cost. Some jigs are handmade and take much labor.

Offline Techno Trousers

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Re: APL keycaps for Keycool 87, PBT dye-sub, IBM layout, $230
« Reply #4 on: Fri, 23 May 2014, 22:51:11 »
Wow, that's super cool. I don't know what your cost in materials and labor is, but if you can make a profit at about half of what you are charging, I think you will have as many orders as you can handle. I'm afraid $250 for a shipped custom key cap set is going to be a tough sell.

Then again, I see people paying well over $100 for GMK ABS sets, so you never know.

I've been spoiled by IBM's fantastic PBT caps, so I would like to get MX PBT sets someday.

Offline dorkvader

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Re: APL keycaps for Keycool 87, PBT dye-sub, IBM layout, $230
« Reply #5 on: Sat, 24 May 2014, 17:53:53 »
These are really well done!

@technotrousers: not all IBM PBT is fantastic.l They have changed surface roughness a few times, and some of the dyesubbing is sorta bad.

Offline SpAmRaY

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Re: APL keycaps for Keycool 87, PBT dye-sub, IBM layout, $230
« Reply #6 on: Sat, 24 May 2014, 18:43:06 »
good to see innovation, hopefully you can refine the process to bring the price down some  :thumb:
« Last Edit: Tue, 27 May 2014, 06:34:14 by SpAmRaY »