Keycaps
| Picture | Component name, description and buying instructions | Need | Store |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Cheapest backlit MX keycaps, white and black, you can buy them in bulks for about $5 a 104-key set (order by price and free shipping) | 1 | Aliexpress (direct) Aliexpress (search) |
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Optional DSA MX keycaps (Cool Jazz), many colors including translucent black, ~$0.20 a cap | 44 | Aliexpress (color) Aliexpress (black) |
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Optional expensive MDA VoID, MX keycaps with 1u Raise/Lower, made especially for 40% keyboards, $78 + shipping (use https://zenmarket.jp for shipping) | 1 | Booth.pm |
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Cheap Kailh LP Keycaps from Kailh, they sell in bulks, $15.99 a 60 pcs/lot ~ $0.26 a cap. Transparent choc keycaps are more comfortable but they're NOT Choc spacing (larger than 18x17 mm), so they won't fit Ferris etc. Buy black or white keycaps for Choc spacing (white are rather yellow-ish so maybe only buy black ones). | 44 | Aliexpress (various) Aliexpress (backlit) |
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Optional expensive MBK choc (LP) keycaps (Corne-ish Zen uses them). Choc spacing (17.5x16.5 mm). | 44 | SplitKB Littlekeyboards Boardsource |
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MBK Clone choc keycaps (Chocfox), Cost $25/50 pcs. Official dimensions are 16.5x16.5mm so they DO fit choc spacing boards (18x17mm PCBs), see chocfox site. They are square, so there are 1mm horizontal gaps on choc spacing, a bit worse than MBK. | 1 | Aliexpress Chosfox |
TL;DR: the best profile is still OEM (or Cherry, if you want a profile that is little bit lower). Though countored profiles for small keyboards (it's just 3 rows) don't matter that much. You could easly get away with DSA or XDA, if you really like them.
Custom Cherry MX keycaps can be ordered on WASD website:
- http://www.wasdkeyboards.com/index.php/products/keycap-set/104-key-cherry-mx-keycap-set.html
- http://www.cy384.com/projects/atreus-keyboard.html (example design)
Rolio46 keyboard uses custom MBK keycaps (choc profile) with backlighting:
- https://fkcaps.com/custom/FGE2DW (example design)
- https://github.com/MickiusMousius/Rolio46Keyboard (example keyboard)
You can do your own dye-sublimation using dye-sublimation toner and curling flat iron (video):
You can also do laser toner transfer using 3d printer with a laser etching mount:
You can also do black laser toner transfer the same way as you do DIY PCBs, it works just as well.