Razer Nostromo + Cherry MX (backlit keycaps) + Custom Paint

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Ghostalker

21 May 2016, 15:33

Hello guys, greetings from Brazil.

I use razer products for more than 5 years and I think it's time to upgrade my old stuff.

I plan to customize my Razer Nostromo and Razer Naga but this specific post will be Razer Nostromo related only.

The reasons I'm doing this are:

- Can't stand the filthy keypad rubber coat (very nice at the beggining but gets annoying and filthy after some years of use + dust).
- I saw some good posts on other forums MYOC and Nostromo N52 Gamepad Mod to add Cherry MX Switches from ripster but I want to make something more customized like enabling backlit feature and also a new paint art.
- Customize things is a nice hobby :P

I'll try to keep this worklog as updated as I can. Sorry for English errors since my native language is Portuguese.


PART 1 - My current filthy Nostromo

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PART 2 - Replicate original Nostromo's keycaps for a Polyester Crystal Resin version + Blue Cherry MX Stem standard.

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Removed most of the rubber coat of the 4 different types of keycaps

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I bought a crystal keycap from Max keyboads to use the stem as a template for future stem clones.

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Glued the keycap to a cardboard

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Glued the cardboard walls and some keys registration

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First half of the silicone mold done

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First attempt of casting resin. Complete Fail, air bubbles are our enemies. I won't buy or try to build a homemade vacuum chamber to remove air bubbles cuz I wanna make something very "homemade" and I'll try to avoid specialized equipment.

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Second attempt but this time clearly with way less air bubbles. To achieve this I gently poured the liquid resin using a toothpick, I also adjusted the resin part A part B ratio.

As soon as I can demold the resin stem I'll post here. Stay tuned....

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Ghostalker

25 May 2016, 23:28

Quick Update 5/22/2016

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Second attempt result to replicate a keycap stem using polyester resin. Almost no bubbles but gooey surface, maybe it's because the type of resin I'm using.... Fail MKII.

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AWESOME surprise. Tried some autopolymerizing resin used in dentistry for dental restoration and denture repair. Smooth surface and seems pretty solid. Need to test mechanical strength.

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Autopolymerizing Resin - Various Tests.

Autopolymerizing Resin seems to be the perfect material for replicating small things with small cavities. Besides the polyester resin I'm using needs a 24 hour period to cure (to harden). The Autopolymerizing Resin has a 15 minute full cure period. Way better.
Stay tuned....

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Ghostalker

25 May 2016, 23:35

Quick Update 5/25/2016

I managed to replicate a keycap. The new key cap has a good mechanical strength, a nice smooth surface. But, I need to solve the airbubbles problem. Maybe is still because of the Part A Part B Ratio (Currently 1:1 is a more fluid mix).

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Products I'm using for replicating the Keycap

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Both Keycaps + Silicone Molds

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Original Razer Keycap

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Acrylic Resin Razer Keycap

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Both Keycaps (back)

As soon as I can get better finished products, I'll post the changes

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Ghostalker

29 May 2016, 16:07

Quick Update 5/29/2016

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Gonna try to use silk screen method to stamp in the keycaps the fonts and symbols (no way to use a CNC to do it). I'm using Alienware fonts + Razer Logo.

I will post when I get any news

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