ABS vs. POM and Laser Infill vs. What?

[Muirium]

So, say theoretically I was just finishing off a review of the Matias Ergo Pro. In theory! And I didn't know how to describe these caps…

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They're the usual white on black "don't touch them it'll wear off!" style, much like CM used on the NovaTouch. I hardly mentioned them in that review because if you're using stock caps on a NovaTouch you, sir, are doing it wrong!

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But the Ergo Pro has pretty unusual caps to suit its layout, so they're more important in this review.

And I… uh… don't know if they're ABS or POM. (I assume ABS. They don't feel extra slippy like I heard POM does, if that's accurate.) And I don't know for sure the name for their legend printing technique. The white legends are clearly embossed from the cap surface. That's laser infill, right?

Gimme some terminology, I want it nerdy!

And, uh, forget I didn't already know this stuff when you see the review. Hypothetically…

[Techno Trousers]

They're ABS, and per Matias the legends are "UV printed." It's supposed to be more durable than the old pad printing, but only time will tell, I guess.

[Muirium]

Thanks Techno. A fortuitous first post! I wonder if their laser is the UV part…

[Techno Trousers]

Here's a URL to where I saw Matias' original post on another forum, in case you need more info.

https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=45 ... msg1327193

Actually, rereading that thread, these caps are supposed to be UV printed PBT.

[Muirium]

Ah, very good. I see Matias posted a couple of pictures of what he described as PBT spacebars. Was that just the white one? In any case I can't feel a difference between the spacebars on this and the other keys, apart from texture and their convex shape, just like the Control key.

Of course, now I get why Control is convex too. It's a cost saving technique so they could reuse the (identically sized) spacebar a third time!

Edit: UV printed PBT? No mention of material on their product page. I guess I'd better ask them! I'll be impressed if that's the case.

[SL89]

This is the part when Ripster rushes in, screams Keyboard Science and drops various solvents on your keys until he melts them to ascertain their material!

[Muirium]

A knowing nod to whoever digs up the appropriate Reddit link to where he's done just that already.

[zts]

I think you won't go wrong if you use either "UV coated" or "UV printed" ABS. UV coated is probably a more precise term describing the actual process of coating keys. WASD Keyboards is using these terms interchangeably, but the term coating seems to be the essence:

The UV coating does slightly change the feel of the key compared to a normal uncoated ABS keycap. The coating gives the key slightly more texture. Improved durability will keep the "feel" of the key consistent.

and

With UV printing, the durability of the print and the key surface is dramatically increased compared to uncoated ABS keys. Laser etched legends can wear and fade with use as the plastic surface itself is worn by contact. This is also the cause of "key shine" where the areas most touched becomes slick and shiny. The protective coating is harder than most plastics including ABS, PBT, and POM.

A pad with a coat ... basically. The quotes are from: http://support.wasdkeyboards.com/custom ... v-printing

[seebart]

Practically, I'm looking forward to your Matias Ergo review. We know about the cap printing now. That's a nice preview.

[wlhlm]

There you go: https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyb ... ey_science

[SL89]

As someone who had the WASD keycaps I can say they are nothing special. They shine very quickly, im not sure if that is the UV coating you are talking about. When compared to my ABS DSA Skull Squadron which had about the same hours put on them, the shine was negligible if at all. I think WASD is tooting it's own horn in this case.

[Muirium]

I was talking about this with someone senior at Matias. These caps are ABS, and the legends are entirely lasered. What you see is a hard white foam left over after an ultaviolet laser boils the surface of the plastic. No coating. Apparently long lasting too.

Something I didn't notice, but a friend did, is they look different when in low light. It was really dark here yesterday as the rain started again, and he was adamant the legends weren't pure white. He was right. It's hard to describe but take a look if you get your hands on one. Thats no ink. It really is a microscopic roughness.