Self-made laser engraving possible?
- copter
- Last Man Standing
- Location: Helsinki, Finland
- Main keyboard: Filco Majestouch 2 TKL, CM Rapid-I
- Main mouse: SS Rival 100, Corsair M45
- Favorite switch: MX Brown
- DT Pro Member: 0089
I have been wondering what kind of equipment would be needed to make key cap markings myself into blank caps? There seems to be all kinds on laser engraving machines available.
There is so few ISO sets available and even less for my layout, but then availability of blank sets seem to be pretty good.
I can see that getting the caps positioned properly is going to be an issue, but that can be worked out.
There is so few ISO sets available and even less for my layout, but then availability of blank sets seem to be pretty good.
I can see that getting the caps positioned properly is going to be an issue, but that can be worked out.
- wcass
- Location: Columbus, OH, USA
- Main keyboard: ibm model m
- Main mouse: kensington expert mouse
- Favorite switch: buckeling spring
- DT Pro Member: 0185
I've wanted to do this for some time, but I don't have the time or the space for a big machine. Would really like to dye white PBT caps and use a laser to engrave the legend back to white. I figure that a 1-3 watt unit should cut deep enough as the dye does not go very deap.
- sphinx
- Major Bummer
- Location: Lisbon, Portugal
- DT Pro Member: -
video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjLvPvITL7I
project: http://davidegironi.blogspot.it/2014/07 ... RQYkuHUknI
this might work!
project: http://davidegironi.blogspot.it/2014/07 ... RQYkuHUknI
this might work!
- Mal-2
- Location: Los Angeles, CA
- Main keyboard: Cherry G86-61400
- Main mouse: Generic 6-button "gaming mouse"
- Favorite switch: Probably buckling spring, but love them Blues too
- DT Pro Member: -
- Contact:
Do not look into laser with remaining eye!sphinx wrote: ↑video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjLvPvITL7I
project: http://davidegironi.blogspot.it/2014/07 ... RQYkuHUknI
this might work!
Seriously though, when this question first appeared, I thought about a LightScribe-capable drive but figured it would only track on one axis, since it would ordinarily rotate the disc to track the other axis. It never occurred to me to stack the tracking from two drives, CNC-mill style.
- copter
- Last Man Standing
- Location: Helsinki, Finland
- Main keyboard: Filco Majestouch 2 TKL, CM Rapid-I
- Main mouse: SS Rival 100, Corsair M45
- Favorite switch: MX Brown
- DT Pro Member: 0089
Hmm. Do we really need as much as 1-3W, I was more thinking about something like this: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DIY-Desktop-M ... 234d5edfa6
That would easily fit into my garage and with proper positioning + source file I think whole set could be printed at the same time, like WASD for example does.
That would easily fit into my garage and with proper positioning + source file I think whole set could be printed at the same time, like WASD for example does.
- copter
- Last Man Standing
- Location: Helsinki, Finland
- Main keyboard: Filco Majestouch 2 TKL, CM Rapid-I
- Main mouse: SS Rival 100, Corsair M45
- Favorite switch: MX Brown
- DT Pro Member: 0089
I ordered some caps from WASD, into which I was able to put my own graphics so yes the service is there, but they are 7-10 USD a piece + shipping + custom fees & taxed to EU.
I noticed that there has been discussion about this in GH, but didn't find any results that actually have worked. Ordering one of those smaller devices would not cost much for trial & error.
I noticed that there has been discussion about this in GH, but didn't find any results that actually have worked. Ordering one of those smaller devices would not cost much for trial & error.
- copter
- Last Man Standing
- Location: Helsinki, Finland
- Main keyboard: Filco Majestouch 2 TKL, CM Rapid-I
- Main mouse: SS Rival 100, Corsair M45
- Favorite switch: MX Brown
- DT Pro Member: 0089
http://www.wasdkeyboards.com/index.php/ ... ngles.html
7 USD for text and 10 USD for graphics.
EDIT: MAX Keyboards is selling printed singles too with 7 USD and quantities over 5 with 5 USD: http://www.maxkeyboard.com/products/che ... eycap.html
7 USD for text and 10 USD for graphics.
EDIT: MAX Keyboards is selling printed singles too with 7 USD and quantities over 5 with 5 USD: http://www.maxkeyboard.com/products/che ... eycap.html
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- Main keyboard: diy
- Main mouse: logitech g602
- Favorite switch: cherry mx black
- DT Pro Member: -
I made one of those before and stuck it in an ammo can, maybe I should put an arduino back in it and start messing with it again lolsphinx wrote: ↑video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjLvPvITL7I
project: http://davidegironi.blogspot.it/2014/07 ... RQYkuHUknI
this might work!
it would leave a mark in black plastic when i tried it before but other then that about all it could do was cut construction paper so it was not the best laser cutter lol
http://i.imgur.com/hHJbGNel.jpg
- copter
- Last Man Standing
- Location: Helsinki, Finland
- Main keyboard: Filco Majestouch 2 TKL, CM Rapid-I
- Main mouse: SS Rival 100, Corsair M45
- Favorite switch: MX Brown
- DT Pro Member: 0089
@Eszett, ones I got from WASD were UV coated ABS like ones they sell in full sets. They feel pretty nice, but are quite think / light.