If you use the right ink, the right plastic keycaps made for mechanical keyboards, and the right settings on your laser, you can effectively dye-sublimate any design you want.
this post was submitted on 25 May 2024
68 points (91.5% liked)
I Made This
2401 readers
8 users here now
Did you make something? Do you want the fleeting rush of endorphins that come with affirmation from strangers? Do you think what you made is neat? Share it here!
Paintings, movies, music, drawings, models, gardens, houses, snowmen, sandcastles - if you made it, you can post it.
RULES:
Some things you make are not to be shared. These include:
- Messes
- Children
- Biological... byproducts
- Bigotry
Do not be a jerk.
- No racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, classism, or bigotry of any kind.
- Don't try to sell stuff unless people ask. You can post your Etsy (or similar) if someone prompts you. No spamming self-promotion.
<3
founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
view the rest of the comments
I'm using Cricut Infusible Ink markers. They were pretty much made for this, using heat to dye polyester-based materials, like PBT. I just have a 5w diode laser, and I do it "low and slow," 2% power and 45mm/minute. Black and blue still work best, but the red (pink) and green can be nice too.
I have done two entire keyboards worth. The gray DSA i did in black are holding up great, but the legends went on wonky because I hadn't refined my workflow. The next batch I did was on this same type of white XDA but while alignment was vastly improved, the ink didn't go on as well. The only thing I did differently with these two was make sure to clean the caps with IPA first.