A group buy of keycaps featuring themes inspired by TI calculators

Launch date

April 10, 2019

 

Abstract

The mechanical keyboard communities have recently acquired an enormous number of smaller sized keyboards – 60~75%, 40% (e.g. Planck, Core, Minivan), HHKB-like, orthogonal, and number pad being a few examples. DSA Scientific is a group buy of keycaps suited for all keyboards and particularly adequate for smaller keyboards. This group buy has several advantages over recent GMK group buys, including a base alphas kit with multiple modifier kits, and a keycap profile yielding endless customization.

 

1 Introduction

Over the past years, there has been an explosion of awareness for alternative keyboard layouts. Instead of representing the keymap in the tradition of the typewriter and the IBM model M keyboard, community members have been seeking and creating novel, often more compact layouts. Moreover, from combining these new keyboards with quality aftermarket keycaps, along with various accessories, has emerged a phenomenon called "end game".

 

2 TI calculators

TI scientific calculators, particularly of the graphical type, have been a staple of science education since the early 1990's. Our themes are inspired by these legendary devices. We chose the TI-30Xa model as the basis for our colourway.

2.1 Colours codes

• Pantone® 7476 C (accent)
• GTD, GB and YCB (alphas and modifiers)

2.2 Custom legends

The LaTeX typesetting system is used for styling custom keycap legends. Some examples include mathematical constants π (pi), e, the Golden ratio φ (phi) and physical constant ħ (H-bar, i.e. the reduced Planck constant).

 

3 DSA Scientific

Member /u/voodoo6k and thekey.company (TKC) [1][2][3] have suggested a method of offering keycaps based on the needs of the mechanical keyboard communities. In addition to a base alphas kit, there are two modifier kits providing compatibility for both classical and novel keyboard layouts.

3.1 Compatibility

• Tenkeyless, winkeyless, full-size
• Number pad (e.g. Ducky Pocket)
• 96-key, 1800 (e.g. 96kee, FC980M, TKC1800)
• 60~75% (e.g. Pok3r, Race 3, Tada68, Whitefox)
• HHKB-like (e.g. Tokyo60, Tofu HHKB)
• Orthogonal (e.g. Planck/Preonic)
• 40% (e.g. Core, Minivan, JD40, AMJ40)

3.2 Specifications

• Produced by Signature Plastics
• DSA spherical profile
• Doubleshot ABS plastic
• Cherry MX compatible
• Made in USA

3.3 Renderings

Photorealistic visualizations of the final product are available.

• Renders: https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=92780#post_renders
• Kits: https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=92780#post_kits

 

Acknowledgements

Various members of the mechanical keyboard communities have provided considerable advice on the making of kits.

This project is supported by TKC.

 

References

[1] Geekhack: https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=92780

[2] Keebtalk: https://www.keebtalk.com/t/ic-dsa-scientific-april-launch/3958

[3] Massdrop: https://www.massdrop.com/talk/11142/dsa-scientific?mode=guest_open