Hello all,

After trying to find good choc v1 compatible keycaps, I found some STLs on GitHub for some Chicago Stenographer ones.

My 3D printer is just an A1 mini (can only print PLA and PETG - maybe TPU?). Do you think it’s a good idea to use PLA for keycaps?

Have MBKs right now on my Chocofi but was hoping for something more sculpted to get a little less fat finger typing.

I know most people order Nylon SLS prints from online but since I already have a 3D printer I was hoping to avoid that.

Bad idea?

  • Grass@sh.itjust.works
    1·
    8 days ago

    what model are you printing? if it has the cad for adjusting tolerances, print a few to find the loosest one that will hold to some moderately aggressive typing and you should be fine. If its too tight it can be hard to get them off depending on how beefy the stem hole surroundings are. I only really print abs so I don’t know about pla specific but I did a set for a friend in sparkle orange and months in all I hear about them is how much he loves them. I thought they looked kinda mediocre to be honest though, I could have tuned printer more before committing to the whole set. Bambu you probably don’t have to worry about that from what I’ve heard though.

    edit: I somehow missed that you mentioned the model right at the beginning…

  • tpihkal@lemmy.world
    11·
    14 days ago

    I have no experience with printing key caps but do have experience with FDM and MSLA printing. I don’t think PLA is probably your best choice, but PLA+ might be. TPU would be too soft (tough) and standard PLA might be to brittle (hard). Physics sounds weird irl.

    • paradoxicator@lemmy.worldOP
      1·
      14 days ago

      You’re right - my main concern is the stem breaking in the switch. The choc switches are a little difficult if the little keycaps stems break in them.😕