Another keyboard mod?

[Outlaw]

I just did a quick google search before posting this. Don't have too much time. Leaving in a min, so I hope you guys can help. I didn't see anything in the quick search where just the characters were lit up. I don't care for having the open space around the keys lit up, just the character themselves. Anybody do this or see it done?

I would plan to use some smaller led's and a crap load of wiring. Not sure if using a dremel or something to just melt the letter out of the key. What do you think would work best?

Any input is appreciated. BTW this would be on a Merc Gaming Keyboard I do not have any lights on anything else as it is all stock. I was thinking of maybe white for the letters then red or blue where the gaming pad is.

What do you guys think?

[Spawn-Inc]

sounds like a tedious task, but one with great rewards. i would find a old keyboard and practice which is the best way to cut out the characters. once cut try to find some kind of liquid that dries solid and clear, then you could just dip the keys in and have a smooth finish. i think i would use a dremel to attempt such a feet with this attachment(number 2).

[jdbnsn]

I would like a keyboard like this too and thought of how it could be done. Never really came up with anything useful but I'd love to see you figure it out. And maybe sell me one.

[Scotty]

There's always this link

Awesome in EVERY way! Except the price, i wouldn't mind one though.

[Roughhouse]

I am working on the same thing for my mod. I will be posting some updated images later tonight. Anyway I am placing a ton of LEDs in the base of the keyboard, then I am using my Dremel to cut holes in the top of each key. Once this is done I am gluing a small piece of transparency to the top of each key. I am then sanding down the edges of the transparencies to blend to the key. I have to do this carefully so that I don't peel the transparency from the key. I am also sanding the top of the transparency to frost it so that the light diffuses through the key. What I then plan on doing is placing a small sticker the shape of my letters on the keys. Then I am going to paint all the keys. Once I have the right amount of paint I will then remove the stickers and clear coat the whole key. I plan on also placing a remote start, remote DVD eject and a switch fro controlling the Keyboard lights.

[Roughhouse]

One other thing. As for the clear liquid, you could try two part epoxy. Will dry clear, but with a slight yellowish tint. Or you could try some casting resin. This is some neat stuff. I just picked some up, but I think it has lots of potential. You should be able to find at any craft store ie Hobby lobby.

[tinker]

There's always this link

Awesome in EVERY way! Except the price, i wouldn't mind one though.

Yea those things would be amazing. OLED in each button. Really expensive and its been in the making for several years without any official release.

Back to the main topic though. That sound like it would be really difficult. My mine worry, aside from the hours and hours of tedious work would be making sure none of the LED got in the way of the key functioning. If you want to try it more power to ya and I hope that you can do it.

An alternative would be the Saitek Elcipse.

[Outlaw]

The first keyboard is way too expensive. The last one here just before this post is what I don't want. I just want the characters to light up. I go on the computer quite a bit in the dark and I don't usually need to see the keys I type with, sometimes you get that one odd character that you wish you knew where it was. Roughhouse, good luck with that and I will have to watch the progress. I really don't want to take more time then needed. I was hopefully just going to cut the letters out with a bit similar to Spawn Inc's. Just need to go the hardware store to pick one up. As long as the key doesn't get too chewed up, I don't think I should have to worry too much about clear coating it. I figure I will also need a fairly small file to sand the edges down but overall be able to just mod the lights into it. Sounds that easy in my head anyways. Thanks for all the quick responses.

+rep

[jdbnsn]

I know exactly what you mean by just the characters being lit, thats what I want too. I have a slide-out keyboad shelf on my desk and as a simple solution I ran a molex outside the case and used it to power one of those EL wires which I taped under the desk top to glow over the keyboard. It didn't work all that great but helped a little, but I'd really like what you are making. You should find a font that is fairly simple and print out all the characters and use an exacto to make stencils. Then maybe transfer the stencils to a stronger material like a thin but firm sheet of plastic and use an engraver to outline your characters so it's easier to not file outside the lines. And for a thin file, maybe a really thin strip of metal like a coping saw blade with high-grit sandpaper fixed to one side?

[Outlaw]

Thanks jdbnsn. I popped a couple of my keys out with a pen and there seems to be quite a bit of room for a 3mm if not a 5mm led. The only problem is the one website I was able to locate led's on is going to cost me a min. of $50 (US) just for the bulbs (min of 130 bulbs). I was just looking a little more closely at the lettering, and it seems pretty small. Going to be tricky to get the keys to come out good.

Does anybody know about the luminous and viewing angle and what would be a good rating to use in the keys?