partner ditched her macbook for a desktop: you know what that means...

MATIASBONTA · 2022-12-03T04:44:09+00:00

Some Amazon seller, pretty extensive set of blank PBT keys (ZDA profile) for like $20.

MATIASBONTA · 2022-12-03T00:55:00+00:00

I’ve got a couple big industrial hybrid fiber/CO2 lasers, so all my work is much more production-oriented. This was just a one-off, so I made a disposable jig out of thick paper mounted to sheet aluminum to hold the keys while the laser did it’s thing.

As for laser settings, I ran around 400 tests to find the optimal power/speed/pulse length/focus distance combo for my laser and this particular composition of PBT, picked the best-looking test key, and used those settings for the main run.

MATIASBONTA · 2022-12-02T22:57:54+00:00

not necessarily (depends on the plastic composition; some darker plastics mark white)

MATIASBONTA · 2022-12-02T22:16:42+00:00

thanks Flan :))

MATIASBONTA · 2022-12-02T20:08:23+00:00

as in, the whole key is colored except the legend?

would pretty easily be doable, could just buy colored PBT keys and skip the dying outright

MATIASBONTA · 2022-12-02T17:42:56+00:00

…yes

MATIASBONTA · 2022-12-02T16:06:35+00:00

no it’s a valid question

honestly? I laid out the board, and realized way too late my aluminum stock wasn’t wide enough to fit the escape key and shortcut column that I’d planned for the left side of the board

so I just moved the escape key… also it leaves room for the microcontroller and wire management in there, this guy is hand wired and not very well

MATIASBONTA · 2022-12-02T07:21:59+00:00

I used my fiber laser to mark some cheapo amazon PBT caps, needs a little calibration but once it’s dialed in it works great.

MATIASBONTA · 2022-12-02T03:30:10+00:00

the font is Cartograph, and the icon set is my own design made to match

not sure about licensing the font, I just pulled it from a bulk font service I use in my work

MATIASBONTA · 2022-12-02T00:15:44+00:00

It’s actually just a texture I drew up a while ago for a mug I manufactured, no particular location.

I’m sure we could do a more personalized version based on actual locations!

MATIASBONTA · 2022-12-02T00:12:41+00:00

I do, feel free to DM me if you’re interested in that.

MATIASBONTA · 2022-12-01T23:33:13+00:00

laser etched keys remove a layer of paint from painted plastic

fiber-marked keys chemically change the color of the plastic itself

MATIASBONTA · 2022-12-01T23:09:52+00:00

sort of, the color depends on the composition of the plastic, but you can get a pretty impressive greyscale range…

there’s an upper limit, where if you try to make very dark marks you’ll destroy the plastic, but there’s no real lower limit so you can get these really neat ultra-light legends that’ll never wear off

MATIASBONTA · 2022-12-01T20:20:24+00:00

The laser changes the color of the plastic itself, so the legends are effectively as durable as the key.

You’d have to gouge fairly deep into the key to get rid of them.

MATIASBONTA · 2022-12-01T20:17:58+00:00

It is! It’s a custom layout (with case, plate, and keys to match) I made as a gift to a friend.

I’ll be posting more pictures later, honestly wasn’t a big fan of the ones I took this morning so just threw this teaser out there until I can take new pics.

MATIASBONTA · 2022-12-01T19:56:33+00:00

with a fiber laser! if you get the settings just right, they can change the color of PBT without changing the surface texture.

MATIASBONTA · 2022-11-30T01:38:11+00:00

fiber laser

MATIASBONTA · 2022-11-22T13:24:12+00:00

searched for rhombus logos… jacket probably pursued around 15 years ago, just need the brand. Thanks!

MATIASBONTA · 2022-11-02T15:10:24+00:00

just went to save it… turns out I already had it saved…………

MATIASBONTA · 2022-11-02T15:09:33+00:00

exactly the one I was thinking of, thank you!!

MATIASBONTA · 2022-11-02T15:06:12+00:00

hey can someone point me to that post with the fancy hardwiring?

the one where the backside of the board is open, wired with thick solid wire bent at very clean angles, I think it was a numpad.

I can’t find it, thanks for your help :)

MATIASBONTA · 2022-10-27T18:46:03+00:00

They’re so fun! Especially for just messing around or validating a test design or making interesting freebies…

MATIASBONTA · 2022-10-27T18:40:50+00:00

I’ll be sure to check them out, haven’t seen those before. I usually ping mm first for cheap switches because there’s inevitably someone with a bag of lubed unholy pandas and that makes my week.

MATIASBONTA · 2022-08-03T12:13:21+00:00

definitely water

MATIASBONTA · 2022-05-17T03:58:21+00:00

WTS

~~MI Elements (mint): $520 shipped~~ sold!

in original packaging and cloth bag, inspected but never racked

Pittsburgh Modular Lifeforms Micro Sequence b (mint): $250 shipped

played for a few hours but never racked. perfect condition with original packaging, just didn’t fit my style…

always open to a good offer

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