APL keycaps for Keycool 87, PBT dye-sub, IBM layout, $230

[nkzt]

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

[Photekq]

Okay now THAT is awesome!

[Pacifist]

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?

[nkzt]

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.

[Techno Trousers]

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.

[dorkvader]

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.

[SpAmRaY]

good to see innovation, hopefully you can refine the process to bring the price down some