Producing one's own calculator keys?

[blackjetrock]

(07-25-2023 10:53 AM)n3mmr Wrote:  Could one produce one's own keys and key-top labels?
How? 3d printing? Casting? Whittling?

I'm also interested in making calculator keys. I made English keys for a MK-52:

https://youtu.be/7eO5XgGStMQ

These were 3D FDM printed on a linked frame, then I transferred the print bed to a CNC
machine and engraved the keytop legends. The frame was a good way to hold the keys
and also align them, although the alignment wasn't perfect and I had quite a few engraving
'misses'. The keys were then removed from the frame and hand finished a bit and then
I filled the engraved legends with white air-dry clay.

They looks OK, the tops are better than the sides which look FDM 3D printed. I don't know
how well the clay will stand up to use as I don't use the calculator much.

I think resin 3D printing would lead to much better keys, which could probably be made
without needing the engraving step that I used. You'd still need some way to colour the
legends, though.

I think, with a bit of experimentation I could machine keys from a sheet of acrylic and engrave
the legends as part of the same process. That would be what I would try if I needed another set.
You'd then have a cleaner side to the key. A lot of keys require features to hold them into the
keyboard, like a ridge around the base. This should be able to be CNC'd as well.

Andrew