Double-shot moulding

Double-Shot Molding, Double-Shot, Dual-Injection Molding or Insert Molding is the process of molding plastic around a preformed metal or plastic insert. This has been a popular process to create very durable keycaps in the past. Recently, the process has become more rare and is usually only used on separate keycap orders from companies such as Signature Plastics or on special keyboards used as military or medical equipment. There currently is no mainstream keyboard being produced that still uses double-injection molded keycaps. Until early 2010, Cherry still offered double-shot molded keycaps as an option for their POS and special-order keyboards. Since then, production has been ultimately stopped and all keyboards with double-shot molded keycaps have been recalled.

Production

As the name suggests, Double-shot molding is a two step process. In the first step, the legend or graphics to be placed on the keycap, are molded in plastic. The plastiic insert, resulting from the first step, is then placed in another mold, while plastic is inserted under heat to combine both molds to a single piece keycap.