I thought I'd dig this thread up with a post that doesn't entirely fit, but we don't have a 'I modified dis' thread so it'll do.
When I got this keyboard it had keys with transparent sections so that the LEDs shone through, important as the caps/num/scroll lock keys only light up when they're activated and the keyboard has no other indicator lights. Seems good. I think that's a cat hair in the shot, don't worry I cleaned it away.
I then immediately fitted keycaps that don't have transparent windows so you can't see when these keys are active through the key. Fine for the num lock and scroll lock as I can just about see the edge of the transparent base, but I kept losing track of the caps lock state. Yeah I could put something on the screen but that would be too easy, I wanted something on the key.
Old keyboards would sometimes have a little window and an LED build in to the key, so I wanted to add a little window to the caps key. Simple, just drill a hole, right? Nah, not good enough. I actually just found this photo I took and it looks shit. It's an RGB keyboard so it can be any colour I want, it was green when I took this photo but red is clearer and more fitting with the
Dolch theme of this keyset.
Nah, it needs a lens. First thought was to make a 'lens' from hot glue, it's transparent and will diffuse the light. Well it kind of worked but when trying to smooth out the glue with a small heat gun I melted the key slightly and it went all smooth and warped.
It worked but was really dim and I couldn't get a good photo of it. Not good enough! Cue ordering three caps keys from the US (at considerable expense when you include the fee for Royal Mail to rub their viruses all over it) that took over a month to arrive. One key to leave alone put back in the pack with the spare keys (I couldn't leave the set without a good version of the key) and two to fuck with.
I also got some fibre optic filament from eBay in two flavours, original and 'side glow' which turned out to be more diffused and a softer material. You can only buy this stuff in metres and I used about 5mm so I've got a lifetime supply of custom light pipes here. It's impossible to tell them apart on a photo but here's one anyway:
Each filament is 2mm so drilling the hole is nice and easy it's a nice close fit. Cut to the right length (as far as I can push it in without contacting anything under the key when it's pressed) and with a little dab of superglue on the back the job's a good 'un. You can barely see the filament poking through beside the stalk of the keycap and the top is much neater.
Much brighter too. The clear filament was actually too bright, it was like a laser pointer being fired in your eye so I went with the diffused one.
Now I'm not sure if I should do the num and scroll lock keys. I don't really need to and don't have spares so it would be a one shot deal. They don't really have space to place the dot of light either, putting it in the O of lock seems cheesy.
Suggestions welcome but not of where to insert the keycaps.