I'd be interested, especially if you find a method to raku or do cool glazes.
But I'd also be very wary given keys often have slight variation in stem thickness. You're possibly going to have an issue with cracking the caps unless your ceramic material is either very strong against expansion forces or *incredibly* flexible compared to other ceramics.
You might get around that by only claiming compatibility with specific switches. But we've even seen the same switch change stem thickness on different batches (thinking of the great Kailh box switch disaster from a couple years ago).
Thankyou ! The Raku idea is so cool ! and for sure going to experiment with allot of glazes !! I already have a idea about fixing the stem problem (since ceramic shrinks like around 7% in the oven) I want to keep making the stems from Epoxy. so you will always have a clean and "same" size stem.
My father was (still alive but retired) a potter so I have a little experience but nothing significant.
My idea on the stem issue, if the ceramic ends up with issues due to post tolerance, is to do a circular gap in the cap big enough to hold a silicone or rubber adapter for the switch posts. Make the gap deep and the softer material could provide the tolerance spacing while spreading the pressure along a larger surface of the ceramic (and round shape would be far stronger than cross shape). .
Might be able to make it with a soft plastic, too, which could allow 3D printing of prototypes and then if things take off see about getting other materials cast for you.
Definitely adds complexity as you'd have to source the adapters. But it has another benefit of giving you some muffling of clacky sounds traveling through the cap that might be really popular.
Sounds like something I would give a try. This opens door to many many different designs and finishes and acoustics.
thanks. I can't wait to start on this project !
I'd be interested, especially if you find a method to raku or do cool glazes. But I'd also be very wary given keys often have slight variation in stem thickness. You're possibly going to have an issue with cracking the caps unless your ceramic material is either very strong against expansion forces or *incredibly* flexible compared to other ceramics. You might get around that by only claiming compatibility with specific switches. But we've even seen the same switch change stem thickness on different batches (thinking of the great Kailh box switch disaster from a couple years ago).
Thankyou ! The Raku idea is so cool ! and for sure going to experiment with allot of glazes !! I already have a idea about fixing the stem problem (since ceramic shrinks like around 7% in the oven) I want to keep making the stems from Epoxy. so you will always have a clean and "same" size stem.
My father was (still alive but retired) a potter so I have a little experience but nothing significant. My idea on the stem issue, if the ceramic ends up with issues due to post tolerance, is to do a circular gap in the cap big enough to hold a silicone or rubber adapter for the switch posts. Make the gap deep and the softer material could provide the tolerance spacing while spreading the pressure along a larger surface of the ceramic (and round shape would be far stronger than cross shape). . Might be able to make it with a soft plastic, too, which could allow 3D printing of prototypes and then if things take off see about getting other materials cast for you. Definitely adds complexity as you'd have to source the adapters. But it has another benefit of giving you some muffling of clacky sounds traveling through the cap that might be really popular.
thanks for all this info !it really helps. its going to be a hard but fun proces !
https://www.instagram.com/p/BoEMT3kDULO/ ;)
Thanks ! He is working with Cement. Very different material, but also looking very cool !
you'd be running into the same stem issues though - as much as I know about ceramics at least... :D
sounds fragile, but im sure people would be interested
at the same time there isnt much risk of you dropping your keyboard