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Merge pull request #14 from acitrin/main
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Created sub-categories in the kitting section -- 40s kitting and localisation. Updated manufacturing_process.md and materials.md to no longer be stubs.
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acitrin authored May 26, 2021
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1 change: 1 addition & 0 deletions Comprehensive_Kitting/40s_Kitting/index.md
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1 change: 1 addition & 0 deletions Comprehensive_Kitting/Localization/index.md
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8 changes: 6 additions & 2 deletions Important_Concepts/manufacturing_process.md
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# Important Concepts: Materials
# Important Concepts: Manufacturing Process

| | Pros | Cons |
| --- | ----------- | ----- |
| Dye Sublimation | - Fewer limitations <br> - Use of the entire keycap surface area <br> - (Cheaper) Custom Legends <br> - Multi-colour legends <br> - Thinner line width needed for novelties | - Warpage is more common <br> - Not as vibrant colours <br> - Blurrier Legends |
| Doubleshot (Injection Molding) | - Vibrant Colours <br> - Crisp and clean legends | - Limiting line width (Novelties/Legends) <br> - Custom legends can be expensive to produce <br> - Generally limited to what molds the manufacturer already has <br> - Limited to two colours per key (unless doing Tripleshot, but JTK is the only manufacturer to offer tripleshot at this time.) |

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13 changes: 12 additions & 1 deletion Important_Concepts/materials.md
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# Important Concepts: Materials

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There are two prominent types of plastic in the keycap industry. These are ABS and PBT. Both of these plastics offer a good level of mechanical strength and resistance to heat, electricity, acids, and solvents which makes them highly suitable for use as keycaps. Note: There are other types, such as POM, however these are not widely manufactured and will not be covered in this document.

No doubt at some point in your lifetime you will have unknowingly come into contact with both of these thermoplastic polymers. For example, Lego bricks are made from ABS and PBT will likely be the material your showerhead and soldering iron are made from. Each manufacturer has manufacturing capabilities and is usually limited to a single type of plastic. However, recently, manufacturers have started expanding infrastructure to be able to produce both ABS and PBT. (see: ePBT)
In terms of keycap manufacturing, and when comparing one against the other, both have their pros and cons:

| | Pros | Cons |
| --- | ----------- | ----- |
| ABS | - Easily molded through injection molding <br> - Vibrant Colours <br> - High degree of surface quality <br> - Legends are much sharper than PBT alternatives due to the manufacturing process | - Shines over time with use <br> - Will discolour from UV radiation <br> - Scratches easily <br> - Poor solvent resistance, particularly aromatic, ketones and esters <br> - Can suffer from stress cracking in the presence of some greases |
| PBT | - Resistant to solvents <br> - High level of heat resistance <br> - Highly resistant to wear and discoloration from UV radiation <br> - Excellent stain resistant and machining characteristics <br> - Enables efficient use of material to reduce weight and cost (Cheaper) | - Harder to injection mould due to high level of heat resistance <br> - Does not lend itself well to vibrant colours <br> - High mold shrinkage <br> - Unreinforced PBT is notch sensitive <br> - Sensitive to hot water (60°C/140°F) and therefore more likely to warp slightly during manufacturing, most noticeably on spacebars. |

> **NOTE:** Before you design something you should always try different plastics to make a decision for yourself. At the end of the day both these plastics have uses outside of keycaps and are designed for those purposes.

Next: [Manufacturing Process](./manufacturing_process.md)

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