Sure, but mechanical keyboards were a niche as well. About 20 years ago, there was no market at all, apart from some very exotic offerings. But yes, the market would be smaller in this case…
But they can already make different colors which would be a nice start!
Yeah, I don’t think they are gonna sell the limited edition stuff, but I was able to get the standard caps for mine.
Personally I don’t read that information, and having backlit buttons makes it possible to use Elektrons in complete darkness without a problem. Which is amazing!
Follow the mech keyboard community model and work up a group buy with someone who has ABS double shot manufacturing connections.
Doesn’t resolve the annoyance, but you can definitely replace the button panels, and pretty cheaply.
Not sure what a “keycap set” would be like though since mechanical clackys are not the same thing at all as a rubber button panel.
There are alt MPC button panels for different rubber feel, but the mechanism for obsessive keyboard enthusiasts is different to where you might have say, different pads made for the Rytm and finger drumming but you’re not going to have one-off meme resin cast individual “keys”.
Resin 3D prints.
If someone makes cool ones I’ll absolutely be on the list to buy them!
What’s cool? I’ll start up Solidworks.
The best solution would be to actually get in contact with some manufacturer (china I guess) who makes double shot PBT or ABS key caps for mechanical keyboards and order some custom ones made to look and fit as the originals.
Chompi uses standard Cherry MX keyboard switches/caps.
Hot Swap MX Keyboard Switches & Keycaps
The Hot-Swap Enabled Mechanical Keyboard allows users to customize not only the keycaps, but the switches too. Love a particular clickety-clack of your favorite switch? Or want to be continually swapping out your keycap color combos? Us too. We picked our favorites to come stock on all CHOMPI models (Authentic Cherry MX - Silent Reds). But the world is your oyster, so have fun with it!
I think @cuckoomusic sells a button sticker set, which might help cover up the sticky feel of old buttons gone soft.
Who has the cash and time and experience working with Chinese factories to take on such a niche project?
Best I can do is resin prints.
The problem is that AFAIK it’s not possible to do double-shot resin prints, and I guess most people (me included) would like to preserve the original look of the device (matte black button with white light-through labels).
A translucent resin button with that ultra bright LED lights shining trough is not gonna cut it IMHO.
This seems like the way. I wonder if there’s maybe a more corrosive chemical you could bathe your buttons in to get the gunk off
These are a rubber pad and not solid plastic buttons, which is why 3d printed caps for clacky keys would not work (without a kludge or redesign.)
This would be the better of the shops to consult if persons are serious…
E25 keycap Set would be the easiest solution and they look dope. they’re not coated 
:fog:
I think everybody else is talking about the [1] to [16] trig keys and [FUNC], [
], [
] etc, not the Rytm pads
Original buttons are white plastic painted black then laser etched and finally coated with the disgusting rubbery stuff.
I suppose that they’re only outsourcing the white plastic part and do the painting/etching in-house to keep costs down. (Supposing since the etching is not always perfectly centered, an automated process would do a better job with tolerances).
I just don’t get why they are insisting with the rubber coating even after has been proven to be problematic.
