How to Create 3D Printed Keycaps for Your Keyboard

If you have used a mechanical keyboard, you may have removed and installed keycaps. With 3D printing, people can design personalized keycaps and print them out to install on the keyboard, giving your keyboard a brand new look. This article will introduce how to design and print your own 3D printed keycaps.

Source:deigge, https://www.printables.com/model/818377-flat-xda-icon-keycaps

The difference between 3D printed keycaps and traditional keycaps

Customization

3D printed keycaps: You can design unique shapes, complex patterns, and even customize logos or textures to your preferences.

Traditional keycaps: Usually limited to pre-made designs and colors, requiring a lot of modifications to personalize.

Production process

3D printed keycaps: Usually use FDM or SLA technology, SLA can provide more details than FDM.

Traditional keycaps: Use injection molding for mass production, which is cost-effective for large-scale production.

Material selection

3D printed keycaps: Can be made of materials such as PLA, ABS, PETG, nylon or resin.

Traditional keycaps: Usually made of ABS or PBT plastic.

Product Quality

3D printed keycaps: Require precise measurements to fit the switch, and durability depends on the material and print quality. Resin prints are more fragile but have rich details, while ABS and PLA prints have medium strength. 3D printed keycaps need to be post-processed, including sanding, painting, and polishing.

Traditional keycaps: Usually stronger due to industrial-grade materials and manufacturing processes.

Cost

3D printed keycaps: Good for designing individual special keycaps, especially if you have a home printer, where one kilogram of filament can print hundreds of keycaps.

Traditional keycaps: It is more affordable to buy standard sets, but custom designs can be expensive due to tooling and production costs.

How to 3D print your own keycaps

Step 1: Design the keycaps

Designing the keycaps is key to ensuring they fit and function correctly. First, use calipers to measure the original keycaps on your keyboard, including height, depth, stem size, and wall thickness. Most mechanical keyboards use Cherry MX compatible stems, which require a cross groove at the bottom of the keycap. Then, use 3D modeling software such as Fusion 360, Blender, etc. to design, and ensure that the keycap wall thickness is between 1.5mm and 2mm to balance flexibility and durability. For a better typing feel, you can add a slight curvature or texture to the surface. If you are new to modeling, you can download keycap design files from websites such as makerworld, Cults3D, Thingiverse, etc., which have a lot of interesting and unique customized keycaps.

Step 2: Adjust the printer settings

Adjust the 3D printer settings to adapt to flexible filaments for the best printing results. Set the extruder temperature to 200–230°C, the bed temperature to 40–60°C to ensure good adhesion of the filament, and the printing speed to 20–30mm/s to prevent the filament from warping. For a smooth surface, a 0.1mm layer height is recommended, and an infill ratio of 10–20% is recommended for a soft key feel. To avoid curling, apply a glue stick or build plate bonding aid before printing, and disable the cooling fan until the first few layers are complete.

Step 3: Post-process the keycaps

Post-process the keycaps to ensure they are smooth and fit securely to the keyboard switch stems. Once printed, use a utility knife or sandpaper to trim excess filament and smooth out rough edges. Test the keycaps on the switch stems and make minor adjustments as needed to achieve the best fit. The keycaps can also be painted with flexible paint to give them a unique look.

Step 4: Assemble and Test

When the keycaps are complete, install them on the keyboard and test them thoroughly to ensure they are functioning properly. If a loose fit is found, the stem slot size in the design file can be adjusted and reprinted. For warping issues, check the bed bonding for consistency and reduce the print speed. If there are surface imperfections, the uniformity of the layers can be improved by sanding or adjusting the printer settings. After these steps, you can create a set of keycaps that are both practical and personalized.

If you want to try making your own 3D printed keycaps, but lack high-quality equipment or material support, you might want to learn about the professional 3D printing services provided by JLC3DP. Whether it is a simple standard keycap or a full-color resin keycap with a complex design, JLC3DP can complete it and deliver it directly to your home. Learn more and make your keyboard unique from now on!