Keyboard Builders' Digest / Tips & Tricks
Leather keycaps
Ataruno is working on various keycaps made of leather.
Published February 20, 2022
While browsing Twitter, I stumbled upon the latest subproject of Ataruno, who is the designer of the MooseDash split and also the guy behind the MooseChair project. In addition, he's apparently into leather crafting – and as it's often the case, combining different hobbies may result in spectacular achievements. As an inspiration, check out what is he up to with regards of blending leather craft with keycap making.
After playing with some 3D-printed keycaps and making a DIY leather mousepad for his MooseChair, Ataruno dipped his toes into leather keycap making.
As usual, his new project started out with a concept drawing:
試作中のアルチザンキーキャップ「育てるキーキャップ」のコンセプトイラスト⌨
— あたるの⌨キーボード&技術アカ (@ataruno_key) February 13, 2022
3Dプリンタで印刷したステム受けと、レザークラフトで作った上部を組み合わせたキーキャップ。使い込んで色が変化する革を使えば、タイピングしていくごとに”育って”いきます！#自作キーボード #キーキャップ #keycap pic.twitter.com/vhfKa1VLF1
At the moment, there are at least three kinds of leather caps: a plain one, a 3D model, and an earlier stitched version.
Cutting the leather into small blocks, sharpening or rounding the corners, and branding the workpiece results in the plane cap.
A 3D printed stem part is then attached to the leather block to turn it into an MX or Choc V2 compatible keycap:
By reworking the elk illustration of the MooseDash into the shape of the engraving, then printing it with a SLA printer, Ataruno was able to engrave it firmly on the leather and this tiny cute 3D-printed branding tool withstood even the blow of a mallet:
He even created a 3D-printed jig to keep the stem holder part firmly in the center. (If it wouldn't be aligned perfectly, adjacent keycaps would interfere with each other.)
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The three-dimensional molded leather keycaps are made via a 3D-printed mold and the cross section of the leather is also carefully polished (more pics here):
Put the wet leather in between the molds, wrap it by rubber bands, put weight on it or use clamps, then leave it to dry.
おおお！立体成型のそれっぽい！
— あたるの⌨キーボード&技術アカ (@ataruno_key) February 14, 2022
革が厚すぎて凹側の隅っこまで当たってない？高さが少し短いけどまぁまぁ良いのでは？凸側をもう少し膨らませれば端まで届くかなぁ。 pic.twitter.com/jSXfTC7NUW
While it's possible to make a full set, due to the lot of time and effort put into making, shaping and polishing these, it's more reasonable to think of them as artisan keycaps.
More info: https://twitter.com/ataruno_key
Published on Sun 20th Feb 2022. Featured in KBD #66 (source).
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