One of the best aspects of 3D printing is the ability to churn out functional prints at will. Whether it's upcycling broken furniture or saving money by printing replacement parts or everyday items like wallets and vases, I feel like a magician using my 3D printer to produce useful parts or accessories. This obsession with 3D-printing objects around the house meant that I was now looking for every opportunity to replace commonly found objects with a 3D-printed alternative. From storage solutions to ergonomic wrist rests, I'd covered them all. That's when I stumbled upon a new idea -- how about I 3D print keycaps for my keyboard?

The idea struck me when I was casually scrolling on Yeggi to find new items to 3D print. Since most keycaps are made using different types of plastic, it made sense to print a few and replace the existing ones. So, I started looking at all the possible options. It didn't take me long to go deep into the rabbit hole. Mechanical keyboard enthusiasts would know how vast the world of switches, keycaps, and mods is. Now, combine that with the possibilities unlocked by a 3D printer, and the combination is stellar! I took the plunge and decided to customize my keyboard to make it more aesthetic or functional with the help of unique keycaps. It's safe to say, this hobby is now going to chew through all my weekends -- looking for new keycap designs to print!

Hundreds of types and designs to choose from

From Batman to Valorant

The best part about the strong 3D printing community online is that you can find a ton of designs and models free of cost. All you have to do is look for keycaps on Printables, Thingiverse, Maker World, or any other database of your choice, and you will be presented with hundreds of variants. Keycaps that look like typewriter keys, ones that are smooth and plain, rough and grippy, empty keycaps for a minimal look, and themed versions where the top of the keycap has logos or symbols representing your favorite superhero or a character in a game.

Apart from the options, you can also find function-specific keys that you can use to spruce up the function row of your keyboard. For example, there are keycaps with media controls, the mute mic or speaker button, etc., that can be used to quickly denote the function of the key. If you use a lot of keyboard shortcuts or button combos regularly, this is handy. Along with themed keycaps like this, you can also print a whole set of keys for your keyboard to make it look like a typewriter. Like I mentioned already, the possibilities are endless.

If you have keys on your keyboard that are used to launch designated apps, you can even print keycaps with the app's icon embossed on them. How cool is that?! I also replaced the WASD keys on my keyboard with grippy arrow keys that don't slip when gaming. Such keycaps are not only aesthetic but also improve the functionality of a keyboard.

Easy to print and use

Only takes a few minutes

Along with the fact that these custom keycaps look insanely cool, they're also fairly easy to print. Most keycaps are printed in the upside-down orientation. This way, they don't require any support for the step. Keep this in mind, since printing them with the stem facing down would mean you have to enable supports, which needlessly complicates things.

If you're printing a single keycap, any standard 3D printer shouldn't take more than 15–20 minutes, depending on how complex the model is. When printing an entire set of keycaps with, let's say, 85 keys, you may have to wait for a couple of hours for the print to finish. I've tried printing keycaps with PLA and PETG, but you can also use ABS if your printer supports it, since it's longer-lasting.

Once you print the keycaps of your choice, you may need to clean up the stem slightly as there may be some stringing. Depending on your filament and printer's tolerance levels, you may also have to use a screwdriver to widen the stem's opening before installing the keycaps on your keyboard. You can even paint your keycaps to give them an extra layer of color, like my colleague Chandraveer did with his app keycaps!

Potential to turn it into a business

Make and sell your designs

Given how simple and quick it is to print custom keycaps, this is a great idea for a secondary source of income. Keyboard enthusiasts are plenty, and they are constantly on the lookout for cool new keycaps to add to their collection. So, if you're confident about your design skills, it's time to design your own keycaps and sell them on online stores! The fact that they're also incredibly cost-effective to make certainly helps.

I'm never buying keycaps again

Building mechanical keyboards is an expensive hobby. Custom keycaps are pricey and aren't available easily. If you have a 3D printer, you won't have to worry about these issues. Pick a design from the plethora of online portals, or make your own design, and print your keycaps in a few minutes! This way, you also get to choose which keys you want to print, and if you want an entire set or just a few keys that you want to replace on your board.