Keyboard Builders' Digest / Tips & Tricks
3D printed PLA/mussle shell keycaps
This Planck EZ by Shib_Mc_Ne features 3D printed PLA/mussle shell keycaps. With source files.
Published May 23, 2021
Flat keycaps for an ortholinear keyboard with Cherry MX switches.
Source files:https://www.prusaprinters.org/prints/67474-flat-mx-keycap
Quick and dirty combination of the following models :
- keycap: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4571242
- shank: https://www.prusaprinters.org/prints/35594-tight-cherry-mx-cap
The base plastic is PLA, but the added mussel shell powder gives it a cool "natural" look. One downside is that it grinds the nozzle a bit.
Bought from: https://francofil.fr/product/filament-pla-moule/
They also sell wheat and coffee filaments, as well as several others. It seems like you can add almost anything to PLA if you grind it fine enough.
This filament is sometime a little hard to print, but there were no issues during printing (Prusa i3 MK3S).
The fit of the shank on Cherry switches was perfect with Prusa's "Generic PLA" settings.
Published on Sun 23rd May 2021. Featured in KBD #27 (source).
Related
Keycap vacuum coating
Drygol's first attempt to keycap vacuum coating failed, but the idea is not bad (blog) - article posted by LASERman71.
Custom keycaps using waterslide decals
How to DIY custom print keycaps using waterslide decals. A video by YOHONB.
Home-made double-shot caps
For his 3D printed low-pro keyboard, Pavlo Khmel uses self-made double-shot keycaps.
Keycaps, design and free kittens
Simon, co-founder of FK, looks back on 2022 where new projects were born, and into 2023 where more are coming. He is on a journey to make custom keycaps, new profiles and designer collaborations.
Keycap set configurator
An interactive configurator for a keycap set GB by catecholate.