so my idea is to use tactile switches and put some kind of translucent
rubbery / siliconey material on top to make it squishy.
so here my prototype.
it’s made out of 3 layers: top layer cut out of laser-friendly rubber,
underneath a frame holding the rubber in place on top of the bottom board
holding the tactile switches.
the problem i have is that those screws look really ugly and the rubber is
not translucent. ideally i would like the leds of the tactile switches to
shine through the rubber. so i need something different here.
the final result should look something like this:
[image: Inline images 1]
Hmm nice question. I have made some keytops before using a CNC machine to
make a mould and pouring in a silicone-esque compound. The stuff I used was
a rubber liquid used for casting and cost about £25. This seems close:
You would 3d print (or mill) a negative of the key panel with the raised
buttons and whatever tactile feedback you want to give.
Design it so the rubber can be released easily from the printed mould.
Coat the print with some oil or lubricant so the mould has a chance of
coming out
Then fill the print with the rubber compound, bake as per instructions.
When I did the above it was with an aluminium mould which was good for
reuse. I wouldn’t expect the 3d print to survive long.
You might find a 3d printer filament that is rubbery and transparent. Worth
looking
so my idea is to use tactile switches and put some kind of translucent
rubbery / siliconey material on top to make it squishy.
so here my prototype.
it’s made out of 3 layers: top layer cut out of laser-friendly rubber,
underneath a frame holding the rubber in place on top of the bottom board
holding the tactile switches.
the problem i have is that those screws look really ugly and the rubber is
not translucent. ideally i would like the leds of the tactile switches to
shine through the rubber. so i need something different here.
the final result should look something like this:
[image: Inline images 1]
so you could 3D print the keypad if you wanted…not sure how well leds
would shine through though. A considerable undertaking whichever method
you choose
Hmm nice question. I have made some keytops before using a CNC machine to
make a mould and pouring in a silicone-esque compound. The stuff I used was
a rubber liquid used for casting and cost about £25. This seems close:
You would 3d print (or mill) a negative of the key panel with the raised
buttons and whatever tactile feedback you want to give.
Design it so the rubber can be released easily from the printed mould.
Coat the print with some oil or lubricant so the mould has a chance of
coming out
Then fill the print with the rubber compound, bake as per instructions.
When I did the above it was with an aluminium mould which was good for
reuse. I wouldn’t expect the 3d print to survive long.
You might find a 3d printer filament that is rubbery and transparent.
Worth looking
so my idea is to use tactile switches and put some kind of translucent
rubbery / siliconey material on top to make it squishy.
so here my prototype.
it’s made out of 3 layers: top layer cut out of laser-friendly rubber,
underneath a frame holding the rubber in place on top of the bottom board
holding the tactile switches.
the problem i have is that those screws look really ugly and the rubber
is not translucent. ideally i would like the leds of the tactile switches
to shine through the rubber. so i need something different here.
the final result should look something like this:
[image: Inline images 1]
so you could 3D print the keypad if you wanted…not sure how well leds
would shine through though. A considerable undertaking whichever method
you choose
Hmm nice question. I have made some keytops before using a CNC machine to
make a mould and pouring in a silicone-esque compound. The stuff I used was
a rubber liquid used for casting and cost about £25. This seems close:
You would 3d print (or mill) a negative of the key panel with the raised
buttons and whatever tactile feedback you want to give.
Design it so the rubber can be released easily from the printed mould.
Coat the print with some oil or lubricant so the mould has a chance of
coming out
Then fill the print with the rubber compound, bake as per instructions.
When I did the above it was with an aluminium mould which was good for
reuse. I wouldn’t expect the 3d print to survive long.
You might find a 3d printer filament that is rubbery and transparent.
Worth looking
so my idea is to use tactile switches and put some kind of translucent
rubbery / siliconey material on top to make it squishy.
so here my prototype.
it’s made out of 3 layers: top layer cut out of laser-friendly rubber,
underneath a frame holding the rubber in place on top of the bottom board
holding the tactile switches.
the problem i have is that those screws look really ugly and the rubber
is not translucent. ideally i would like the leds of the tactile switches
to shine through the rubber. so i need something different here.
the final result should look something like this:
[image: Inline images 1]
so you could 3D print the keypad if you wanted…not sure how well leds
would shine through though. A considerable undertaking whichever method
you choose
Hmm nice question. I have made some keytops before using a CNC machine
to make a mould and pouring in a silicone-esque compound. The stuff I used
was a rubber liquid used for casting and cost about £25. This seems close:
You would 3d print (or mill) a negative of the key panel with the raised
buttons and whatever tactile feedback you want to give.
Design it so the rubber can be released easily from the printed mould.
Coat the print with some oil or lubricant so the mould has a chance of
coming out
Then fill the print with the rubber compound, bake as per instructions.
When I did the above it was with an aluminium mould which was good for
reuse. I wouldn’t expect the 3d print to survive long.
You might find a 3d printer filament that is rubbery and transparent.
Worth looking
so my idea is to use tactile switches and put some kind of translucent
rubbery / siliconey material on top to make it squishy.
so here my prototype.
it’s made out of 3 layers: top layer cut out of laser-friendly rubber,
underneath a frame holding the rubber in place on top of the bottom board
holding the tactile switches.
the problem i have is that those screws look really ugly and the rubber
is not translucent. ideally i would like the leds of the tactile switches
to shine through the rubber. so i need something different here.
the final result should look something like this:
[image: Inline images 1]
so you could 3D print the keypad if you wanted…not sure how well leds
would shine through though. A considerable undertaking whichever method
you choose
Hmm nice question. I have made some keytops before using a CNC machine
to make a mould and pouring in a silicone-esque compound. The stuff I used
was a rubber liquid used for casting and cost about £25. This seems close:
You would 3d print (or mill) a negative of the key panel with the
raised buttons and whatever tactile feedback you want to give.
Design it so the rubber can be released easily from the printed mould.
Coat the print with some oil or lubricant so the mould has a chance of
coming out
Then fill the print with the rubber compound, bake as per instructions.
When I did the above it was with an aluminium mould which was good for
reuse. I wouldn’t expect the 3d print to survive long.
You might find a 3d printer filament that is rubbery and transparent.
Worth looking
so my idea is to use tactile switches and put some kind of translucent
rubbery / siliconey material on top to make it squishy.
so here my prototype.
it’s made out of 3 layers: top layer cut out of laser-friendly rubber,
underneath a frame holding the rubber in place on top of the bottom board
holding the tactile switches.
the problem i have is that those screws look really ugly and the
rubber is not translucent. ideally i would like the leds of the tactile
switches to shine through the rubber. so i need something different here.
the final result should look something like this:
[image: Inline images 1]
