Wondering how I can obtain some unusual sized keycaps.

[Dihedral]

I'm planning a custom board and require some odd sized keycaps. I need:

R2 1 x 2 (That's the size of an ANSI backspace just in enter key level size)

R1 1 x 2.5

Preferable Blank PBT

Anyone have any ideas where I can get these, at a reasonable price?

[mozaiq]

Have you thought about getting your keycaps in a uniform profile, i.e. each row has the same profile? Not everyone likes it (personally I haven't tried this yet) but this would make the search much easier. DSA would be an example that is regularly available via groupbuys. Also there is always a possibility to get DSA profile blanks directly from pimpmykeyboard.com.

[berserkfan]

the size reqs are very interesting. Even with my sea of keycaps I doubt I have something like that in ABS (let alone PBT). Are you going for custom PCB? If you are, I very strongly suggest you respect keycap sizing norms, because otherwise you might not be able to find any keycaps for your hard work!

[Oobly]

^^ +1 to this. Adjust the design to allow standard size keycaps. Really opens up the options for keycaps and also possible marketability / adoption of the design. Even the 40% Smallfry board which uses standard sizes, but in odd positions is hard to find a nice set of keycaps for, especially sculptured.

[Dihedral]

I just tyed a long response and hit back  -_-

These special keys are modifiers. I am making a board similar to ANSI but with the difference in size between the mods on each side evened out. I will look into using standard caps but not sure if they will work.

[Dihedral]

Success... I think? SP offers all these sizes in it's DCS Row 4. Will I need to try and pick these up from their overstock section?

[berserkfan]

Success... I think? SP offers all these sizes in it's DCS Row 4. Will I need to try and pick these up from their overstock section?

I think their inventory is currently closed thanks to the pregnancy of M Petersen? I check monthly hoping to get my 6x space bars too.

That said if you have to rely on Row 4 for your mods it's not a good thing because Row 4 is high and many people have a problem with that if you're going to locate them at Shift or something.

[Dihedral]

Success... I think? SP offers all these sizes in it's DCS Row 4. Will I need to try and pick these up from their overstock section?

I think their inventory is currently closed thanks to the pregnancy of M Petersen? I check monthly hoping to get my 6x space bars too.

That said if you have to rely on Row 4 for your mods it's not a good thing because Row 4 is high and many people have a problem with that if you're going to locate them at Shift or something.

It's not that much higher is it? I'm away from my board right now but i think the small step up to the mods might be quite nice?

[Oobly]

Success... I think? SP offers all these sizes in it's DCS Row 4. Will I need to try and pick these up from their overstock section?

I think their inventory is currently closed thanks to the pregnancy of M Petersen? I check monthly hoping to get my 6x space bars too.

That said if you have to rely on Row 4 for your mods it's not a good thing because Row 4 is high and many people have a problem with that if you're going to locate them at Shift or something.

It's not that much higher is it? I'm away from my board right now but i think the small step up to the mods might be quite nice?

In DCS profile, Row 4 is the ZXCV row and the same profile is used for the modifer row, so it should be just fine. Row 1 is the number row and Row 5 is the F-key row (probably only designed after the main areas and they didn't want to call it Row 0, I guess.).

May have to wait for Melissa to come back after maternity leave (sometime in January I'd guess) to ask about ordering ovestock keycaps.

[Dihedral]

Will row 4 keys be ok for modifiers all the way up to Row 2?

[IvanIvanovich]

If you will be less picky, there are some old terminal boards that can often be had for cheap such as Wyse, Link, Reynolds, etc. that have 2 units enter and 2.5 units ctrl, but you will have to settle for abs doubleshots.
It probably would be better to redesign... if your goal is to make the board more symmetrical usually a 1.75 enter is used to match the caps lock on the other side, with both shifts as 2.25 and a 1.5 backspace. Those will still be obscure, but not quite as obscure as what you are currently after.

[berserkfan]

If you will be less picky, there are some old terminal boards that can often be had for cheap such as Wyse, Link, Reynolds, etc. that have 2 units enter and 2.5 units ctrl, but you will have to settle for abs doubleshots.
It probably would be better to redesign... if your goal is to make the board more symmetrical usually a 1.75 enter is used to match the caps lock on the other side, with both shifts as 2.25 and a 1.5 backspace. Those will still be obscure, but not quite as obscure as what you are currently after.

Just to add my geekhack experience.

If you're designing your own keyboard, you will eventually need PCB and casing. You need people's support to get economies of scale. It is incredibly expensive to make just 1 plate or casing.

If you have weird spacings or require hard to get keycaps, it is unlikely that people will support your keyboard. You will just incur higher costs on yourself.

[Dihedral]

If you will be less picky, there are some old terminal boards that can often be had for cheap such as Wyse, Link, Reynolds, etc. that have 2 units enter and 2.5 units ctrl, but you will have to settle for abs doubleshots.
It probably would be better to redesign... if your goal is to make the board more symmetrical usually a 1.75 enter is used to match the caps lock on the other side, with both shifts as 2.25 and a 1.5 backspace. Those will still be obscure, but not quite as obscure as what you are currently after.

Just to add my geekhack experience.

If you're designing your own keyboard, you will eventually need PCB and casing. You need people's support to get economies of scale. It is incredibly expensive to make just 1 plate or casing.

If you have weird spacings or require hard to get keycaps, it is unlikely that people will support your keyboard. You will just incur higher costs on yourself.

Thanks for the input.

It will probably be a hand built case - And from what I've seen single layer pcb is not extremely expensive... or maybe im wrong.

[Oobly]

If you're okay with going plateless, a homemade case and single layer PCB is fine and the PCB doesn't have to cost much, especially if you can find a local service to do it.

I made my DIY board by modifying an existing plate (which may also be an option in your case, but it means you may sacrifice the board it came from) and making a case.

[Dihedral]

If you're okay with going plateless, a homemade case and single layer PCB is fine and the PCB doesn't have to cost much, especially if you can find a local service to do it.

I made my DIY board by modifying an existing plate (which may also be an option in your case, but it means you may sacrifice the board it came from) and making a case.

What are the disadvantages of not having a plate?

[berserkfan]

If you're okay with going plateless, a homemade case and single layer PCB is fine and the PCB doesn't have to cost much, especially if you can find a local service to do it.

I made my DIY board by modifying an existing plate (which may also be an option in your case, but it means you may sacrifice the board it came from) and making a case.

What are the disadvantages of not having a plate?

The more I see this, the more I think you need to read more threads in the archives. Call this friendly discouragement, but costs are seriously going to be more than you expected if you insist on going 'unique'

[jalaj]

dunno if the max keyboard keycap sets will have what you're looking for, but they're usually good sets to have for the various keycap sizes and profiles

http://www.maxkeyboard.com/products/parts-and-accesssories/key-cap/full-keycap-sets.html

[jacobolus]

Can you post a diagram of your desired layout? You might find http://www.keyboard-layout-editor.com a useful resource.

[Dihedral]

Can you post a diagram of your desired layout? You might find http://www.keyboard-layout-editor.com a useful resource.

Sure: here

[Oobly]

You can create your own set of Row 3 blank PBT caps from here: http://keyshop.pimpmykeyboard.com/products/full-keysets/dsa-blank-keys

Just add all the types you want (in the colours you want) and then change the quantities in your basket. It's a "flat" profile, so any key can fit on any row.

[jacobolus]

I recommend just using 1.5u keys instead:

[Dihedral]

I recommend just using 1.5u keys instead:

Show Image

I considered a layout like this but I think I will be able to aquire the more unusual caps.