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I design mechanical keyboards! It's an expensive process. Prototypes typically cost $400-1000, and you absolutely must do an aluminium/brass/steel cnc prototype

I design mechanical keyboards! It's an expensive process. Prototypes typically cost $400-1000, and you absolutely must do an aluminium/brass/steel cnc prototype before you do a sale. 3D printed protos can help with fitiment though. Experimenting with materials, finish and functionality (mount system etc.) is a very exciting processs. Learning to design the last couple of years has been a fascinating experience. I now do semi-regular sales of ultra-high end keyboards that people seem to really enjoy. The one weird aspect, is you typically see keyboards go for 4-5x the price of sale on the aftermarket. It's not uncommon to see keyboards for sale for $3000-7000 nowadays. I think there is a bit of a "hypebeast" culture around it all.

janfoeh 5y ago
Fascinating! So you design the whole shebang, including keycaps? Maybe you're the person to ask: I've been thinking about switching back to a mechanical keyboard, but I am looking for a specific keycap form I haven't been able to find so far. If I cannot find these off the shelf somewhere - how realistic and achievable is it to have these custom-made for me specifically? By the way, what I am looking for is a square base with a recessed "mesa" - either rounded like the old Nixdorf/Siemens/Fujitsu KBPC S [1], or completely round like this vintage Nixdorf [2] or the Teenage Engineering OP-1 [3]. So if you or anyone else reading this has a pointer, I'd be grateful. [1] http://www.notebook-service.biz/bilder/Tastatur/Siemens/Tastatur_Siemens_Nixdorf_Trackball_S26381-K250-V121_3.jpg http://www.notebook-service.biz/bilder/Tastatur/Siemens/Tast... [2] https://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTA2NlgxNjAw/z/icUAAOSwBoxeB1t4/$_57.JPG?set_id=8800005007 https://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTA2NlgxNjAw/z/icUAAOSwBoxeB1t4/$... [3] https://teenage.engineering/products/op-1 https://teenage.engineering/products/op-1
- lewisflude 5y ago
  I do design keycaps (https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=107933.0 https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=107933.0) and keyboards (https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=108970.0 https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=108970.0) but they're seperate things! If you liked the OP-1, then you might like these caps! https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=110702.0 https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=110702.0 I know exactly what you mean when you describe that shape. I love that shape too! There are other sculpted profiles that sort of fit the bill in a way too, like this profile https://rama.works/kate-preview https://rama.works/kate-preview I'd be happy to talk more about keyboards! It's unrealistic to have a custom keycap set made for you outside of having it 3D printed (which is very doable), but if you work with a designer, you could potentially run it as a group buy if you're willing to put the time/effort in.
deleted 5y ago
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archi42 5y ago
Any resources you can point people too? I'm planning on doing a small custom built, but find deciding on north vs south orientation difficult.
- lewisflude 5y ago
  On YouTube there is a good video I can recommend by someone called Quantrik. Search "Quantrik 65% Tutorial" and you should find it. As for north/south facing stabilisers, I've heard people say all south facing sounds better. Sometimes spacebar is north facing, which allows for overall a smaller PCB profile as the stab holes jot out a bit. Feel free to DM me on Discord (Lewis Flude#0001) if you want to chat more!

janfoeh 5y ago

Fascinating! So you design the whole shebang, including keycaps? Maybe you're the person to ask: I've been thinking about switching back to a mechanical keyboard, but I am looking for a specific keycap form I haven't been able to find so far. If I cannot find these off the shelf somewhere - how realistic and achievable is it to have these custom-made for me specifically? By the way, what I am looking for is a square base with a recessed "mesa" - either rounded like the old Nixdorf/Siemens/Fujitsu KBPC S [1], or completely round like this vintage Nixdorf [2] or the Teenage Engineering OP-1 [3]. So if you or anyone else reading this has a pointer, I'd be grateful. [1] http://www.notebook-service.biz/bilder/Tastatur/Siemens/Tastatur_Siemens_Nixdorf_Trackball_S26381-K250-V121_3.jpg http://www.notebook-service.biz/bilder/Tastatur/Siemens/Tast... [2] https://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTA2NlgxNjAw/z/icUAAOSwBoxeB1t4/$_57.JPG?set_id=8800005007 https://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTA2NlgxNjAw/z/icUAAOSwBoxeB1t4/$... [3] https://teenage.engineering/products/op-1 https://teenage.engineering/products/op-1

lewisflude 5y ago
I do design keycaps (https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=107933.0 https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=107933.0) and keyboards (https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=108970.0 https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=108970.0) but they're seperate things! If you liked the OP-1, then you might like these caps! https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=110702.0 https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=110702.0 I know exactly what you mean when you describe that shape. I love that shape too! There are other sculpted profiles that sort of fit the bill in a way too, like this profile https://rama.works/kate-preview https://rama.works/kate-preview I'd be happy to talk more about keyboards! It's unrealistic to have a custom keycap set made for you outside of having it 3D printed (which is very doable), but if you work with a designer, you could potentially run it as a group buy if you're willing to put the time/effort in.

deleted 5y ago

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archi42 5y ago

Any resources you can point people too? I'm planning on doing a small custom built, but find deciding on north vs south orientation difficult.

lewisflude 5y ago
On YouTube there is a good video I can recommend by someone called Quantrik. Search "Quantrik 65% Tutorial" and you should find it. As for north/south facing stabilisers, I've heard people say all south facing sounds better. Sometimes spacebar is north facing, which allows for overall a smaller PCB profile as the stab holes jot out a bit. Feel free to DM me on Discord (Lewis Flude#0001) if you want to chat more!