Factors in Keycap Design for Your Keyboard Business

Posted by Rob A on September 8th, 2019

Mechanical keyboards have quickly gained a cult following in recent years. Since they've become customizable, collecting them has become a hobby for some. Additionally, more and more mainstream brands are investing and collaborating with the enthusiast community. For example, Razer made keycap sets, while HyperX created its alloy switches.

If you're planning to get into the niche business of manufacturing keyboards, one thing that you need to think about is how to make your keycaps. Their design and quality have a big impact on whether consumers will buy your products. Here are some aspects you need to decide on when developing them.

                         
Materials
Keycaps are usually made from two major types of plastic: acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), although anodized aluminum products are becoming popular. Keyboard enthusiasts argue which of the three is best. They all agree that the quality of the keysets depends on the competence of the maker. If you're planning to mass produce your design, make sure that your manufacturer sets a high standard for all projects.

If you're from the Golden State, it also helps if your manufacturer offers a product prototype design service in California. Testing is a crucial step in learning about the compatibility of your materials with other aspects of your keycap.

Legends
There are several ways in which manufacturers put legends on keycaps: pad printing, dye sublimation, and double-shot molding. Learn about each process below:

Pad printing - Graphics are printed on the surface of the keycaps using a pad dipped in pigment. A clear coating is used to seal the design. It's the cheapest option, but its ink is most prone to wear.

Dye Sublimation - The pigment penetrates the plastic for a permanent stain. It's more expensive than pad printing, but its ink doesn't wear off. Dye sublimation requires your print to be darker than your material. With that said, you can't have white legends since nothing's lighter than that.

Double-Shot Molding - Two layers of plastic are molded into each other. One is the base, while the other is the design. While double-shot keycaps are the most expensive of all, they never fade and they get shiny.

When choosing a manufacturer to mass-produce your keycaps, contact someone who makes use of all these processes. That way, you can see which works best with your material. You can examine the quality of your prints upon seeing your product design prototype in California.

Profile
This is a make-or-break factor for your keysets. Keep in mind that enthusiasts purchase keyboards not only for their design but also for their ease of use. Make your keycaps' profile is comfortable to type on. The more ergonomic it is; the more enticed people will be to buy it.

You can't use SA, DSA, and DCS profiles since they're owned by Signature Plastics, while Cherry is patented by GMK. In short, you have to make your own configuration. You need the guidance of engineers and designers to help you create something nice to touch. A manufacturing company that houses these experts can help you during product development.

These are the most important things to consider when making keycap sets. Always keep them in mind when choosing a manufacturer for mass production, and ensure you can get a product design prototype in California. Creating samples will allow you to get feedback from enthusiasts in the community.