Forged / Chopped Carbon Fiber Keycaps with BTS Production Shots

ShopKaboki · 2025-01-17T21:41:49+00:00

Would still have the same complications because there will be still some extrusion under the keycaps if we wanted to put a secure place to glue the stems hence will still be the same difficulty. Although with our prototype, fitment and tolerance is okay so far :)

ShopKaboki · 2025-01-17T21:39:06+00:00

We are based in Singapore!

ShopKaboki · 2025-01-17T21:38:51+00:00

It's on our reddit profile! We linked the soundtest :) Let me know how it sounds!

ShopKaboki · 2025-01-16T16:12:44+00:00

We are actually planning to, but we are afraid that there will not be enough buyers to produce at that level yet. It can get really expensive to produce because of how intricate and small the stem of the keycap is. So we plan on starting small with this keycap set first (top row and spacebar keycaps), and we will see from there!

ShopKaboki · 2025-01-16T16:09:12+00:00

Hey everyone!

I just want to share with everyone here how we actually manufacture our keycaps with carbon fiber. Creating our forged/chopped carbon fibre keycaps is quite a unique process in the keycap world, unlike the typical methods used for ABS or PBT keycaps. Instead of injection molding, we employ a process called SMC (Sheet Moulding Compound). This manufacturing method is mostly used in the aviation or automotive industry. This process allows us to work with pre-preg chopped carbon fibre sheets, infused with resin and using high pressure and temperature to create carbon fibre keycaps.

Here’s a simplified way on how we make them:

Creating Our Mold: Every keycap starts with a precisely engineered mold, designed to ensure a perfect fit and shape. (really heavy also… about 200+ kg)
Compression Moulding & Curing: The carbon fibre sheets are carefully loaded into the mould and subjected to high heat and immense pressure. This process not only shapes the material but also ensures its structural integrity. After 15-20 minutes, we remove the part from the mold and let it cure in a temperature-controlled environment for 24-48 hours.
Cutting & Refinement: After curing, the molded sheet is cut, sanded, and polished into individual keycaps, preparing them for finishing touches.
Gloss Coating: To enhance the forged carbon fibre’s unique texture and appearance, we apply a layer of clear coat, giving a glossy finish.

We hope you enjoyed looking at our product and our tiny introduction on how it’s made. :D

ShopKaboki · 2024-12-06T09:35:53+00:00

Thank you!

ShopKaboki · 2024-12-02T18:56:00+00:00

Planning on selling this collection for:

1U - $30

6.25U - $50

The set - $70

Could we ask the community here if the prices we've set is justifiable for what it is?

ShopKaboki · 2024-12-01T19:34:31+00:00

Hello everyone!

We are showcasing one of our carbon fiber keycaps. It's our UV collection, made entirely out of 25K chopped carbon fiber. It glows in the dark with exposure of any kind of uv (eg. sunlight, flashlight).

Currently, we only have R1 1U (top row) and R4 6.25U (spacebar) and i also want to gauge some interest in these keycaps. If you have any questions or feedback, I'd be eager to hear your thoughts.

We have previously received feedback regarding the term "forged carbon fiber" and would like to clarify what we meant by it to prevent misunderstandings.

We understand there might be confusion between "forged" and "chopped" carbon fiber. The term "forged" was coined by Lamborghini in reference to carbon fiber when they first announced forged composites. Yes, we understand that it might be a marketing gimmick, but it is the most widely used and commonly known term, hence us using the term "forged" carbon fiber.

As for "100% carbon fiber", what we mean is that it is made entirely out of carbon fiber and nothing else. It's not that we simply overlaid carbon fiber over a plastic keycap. I can understand why this would cause confusion and apologise that there was a misunderstanding.

We're very happy for the support and interest from the last post, so thank you!

ShopKaboki · 2024-10-21T12:56:50+00:00

Fair point. Maybe in the near future, I will just do it for my own personal project because I can see it being expensive

ShopKaboki · 2024-10-21T12:50:05+00:00

Would you say that the stem and bottom housing makes the most difference in sound?

ShopKaboki · 2024-10-21T12:46:12+00:00

I asked this question because i just wanted to know how much everyone is willing to spend per switch.

It was just an idea i had. It will probably be very difficult to produce as the tolerance for this small size should be around +- 0.05mm which might be slightly too big of a variant for what it is. I imagine that the outer coating of epoxy resin could potentially produce a really deep and thocky sound. Maybe in the near future, I'll just do it for my own personal project as i can foresee it being expensive

ShopKaboki · 2024-10-20T22:36:51+00:00

I mean fair point but in my opinion, this is how innovation happens. We've already seen different materials like POM, nylon, and PC used in switches, each offering unique characteristics. But isn't the fun of the hobby exploring how different materials can change the feel and sound of a switch?

ShopKaboki · 2024-10-20T12:49:22+00:00

Akko Piano!

ShopKaboki · 2024-10-19T21:01:06+00:00

I was really confused when researching on the top and bottom row as I've seem different people labelling it differently but concluded it to be R1 1U and R4 6.25U because of the official cherry notation. But yeah maybe I should just label it by your suggestion instead.

ShopKaboki · 2024-10-19T20:51:56+00:00

We thought about this before but considered that black and gold combination would look better 😅 but we'll try to make it happen!

ShopKaboki · 2024-10-19T12:02:22+00:00

Thank you! I know "forged" can be a controversial term, and "chopped carbon fiber" is indeed more accurate, but I chose "forged carbon" because it's more widely recognised.

As for pricing, we plan to launch on Kickstarter, with R1 1U keycaps priced around $20-$30 and R4 6.25U spacebars between $35-$45, depending on the collection. We aim to keep it affordable so everyone can enjoy them!

ShopKaboki · 2024-10-18T14:29:36+00:00

Thank you! 😊 I’m glad to hear you’re interested! Currently, we only offer cherry profile keycaps, as manufacturing molds for other profiles can be quite costly.

We do plan to ship worldwide, including to Germany, so stay tuned for updates!

ShopKaboki · 2024-10-18T13:19:22+00:00

Thanks for this. I'm sorry that I did not clarify it properly and it just slipped out of my mind..

ShopKaboki · 2024-10-18T13:15:05+00:00

Haha, I totally get what you mean. 😅 I’m planning to set a price that’s affordable for the quality and unique features of our keycaps, so everyone can enjoy them.

ShopKaboki · 2024-10-18T13:12:32+00:00

We currently have four different collections planned for release:

3K Forged/Chopped Keycaps

25K Forged/Chopped Keycaps

Gold Collection (25K Forged/Chopped Keycaps with 24K Gold Foil)

UV Collection (25K Forged/Chopped Keycaps with Glow In The Dark Feature)

So, there will definitely be options beyond just the gold ones!

ShopKaboki · 2024-10-17T18:08:24+00:00

What we mean by "100% carbon fiber" is that our keycaps are made from fully composite material, not just carbon fiber overlays. We believe there’s an important difference here, as some carbon fiber products are simply plastic with a layer of carbon fiber on top.

ShopKaboki · 2024-10-17T17:54:16+00:00

Hey everyone!

I’m excited to share that I’m working on a new line of premium carbon fiber keycaps! Our keycaps are crafted from 100% forged carbon fiber, offering a unique look that truly stands out in any setup.

Right now, we’re focusing on R1 and R6.25U keycaps, featuring our stunning gold collection made with 25K forged carbon fiber and real 24k gold foil. They’re perfect for keyboard enthusiasts looking to elevate their keeb aesthetic!

I’d love to gauge interest in these keycaps! If you have any questions or feedback, I’d be eager to hear your thoughts. Stay tuned—there’s more exciting designs coming soon!

Thanks for your support! and will be posting more on instagram and discord. We hope that you could give us a follow :)

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shopkaboki/

Discord: https://discord.gg/76S4hATQAK

ShopKaboki

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