Self-made laser engraving possible?

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copter
Last Man Standing

24 Mar 2015, 00:10

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.

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wcass

25 Mar 2015, 21:05

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.

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sphinx
Major Bummer

26 Mar 2015, 15:34


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Mal-2

27 Mar 2015, 01:09

Do not look into laser with remaining eye!

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.

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copter
Last Man Standing

28 Mar 2015, 01:36

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.

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Eszett

28 Mar 2015, 01:41

I wonder why there is still no service as “LASER-engrave your text/logo to blank keycap” for 2$ the piece. There would be hell of customer demand for such a service.

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copter
Last Man Standing

28 Mar 2015, 01:54

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.

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scottc

28 Mar 2015, 02:05

7 - 10 USD per keycap?!

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copter
Last Man Standing

28 Mar 2015, 02:11

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

User avatar
Eszett

28 Mar 2015, 03:18

@copter And the quality of the plastic? Is it cheap and thin ABS? or something better?

Charger

28 Mar 2015, 04:38

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 lol

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

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copter
Last Man Standing

28 Mar 2015, 14:35

@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.

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