Editing Double-shot moulding (section)

==Manufacturers==
Double-shot keycaps were a standard feature of many vintage keyboards, when keyboards were expected to be expensive. As a result, many manufacturers have produced double-shot keycaps. Only a small number of these product ranges are still known to be in production to this day. However, new product lines have arisen to cater for the gamer and enthusiast markets.

===Current===
====Devlin====
[[Devlin]]'s [[Devlin Q series|Q series]] and [[Devlin K series|K series]] keycaps are available in both double-shot and engraved forms.

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File:Devlin Q series -- double-shot 1.jpg                          | Devlin Q series
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====GMK====
Until early 2010, [[Cherry]] still offered double-shot moulded keycaps as an option for their POS and special-order keyboards. Production ultimately stopped and all keyboards with double-shot moulded keycaps were called off. November 2012, it was announced that German company [[GMK]] had acquired the original tooling and moulds<ref>Deskthority — [http://deskthority.net/keyboards-f2/german-company-gmk-does-mx-2shots-t4435.html German company GMK does MX 2shots]</ref>. In December 2012, [[EliteKeyboards]] offered the first GMK product in the form of a double-shot Cherry Escape key<ref>Deskthority — [http://deskthority.net/marketplace-f11/ek-selling-authentic-cherry-doubleshot-esc-t4504.html EK selling authentic cherry doubleshot esc]</ref>.

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File:GMKEscapes.jpg                                                | [[GMK]] keycaps from Elitekeyboards and from 2013-2014 [[group buy | group buys]]
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====RAFI====
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File:RAFI RS 74 M double-shot keycaps.jpg | RAFI RS 74 M keycaps from a [[Neve Necam 96]] keyboard
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====Signature Plastics====
[[Signature Plastics]] took over the keycap manufacturing of [[Comptec]].

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File:Signature Plastics novelty doubleshot.jpg                     | [[Signature Plastics]] [[group buy]] [[novelty keycaps]]
File:Double shot capslock1.jpg                                     | Part-complete Signature Plastics double-shot keycap production sample
File:Double shot capslock2.jpg                                     | Back of production sample
File:Double shot 2nd color.jpg                                     | The first shot, a white legend prior to molding
File:Double shot samples1.jpg                                      | Front of Signature Plastics keycaps after the second shot
File:Double shot samples2.jpg                                      | Back of keycaps after the second shot
File:RGB modifiers.jpg                                             | [[RGB modifiers]]
File:Assorted novelty keycaps.jpg                                  | Assorted [[novelty keycaps]]
</gallery>

====Tai-Hao====
[[Tai-Hao]] are a long-time manufacturer of double-shot keycaps, both Cherry MX mount and Alps mount. Their widely-used [[Tai-Hao TI series|TI series]] is still manufactured to this day, and has been extended to cover PBT keycaps. Tai-Hao keycaps were used by brands including [[Ortek]], [[Focus Electronic]] and [[Northgate Computer Systems]].

Tai-Hao offer opaque PBT, backlit ABS and backlit PBT double-shot keycaps.<ref>Tai-Hao — [http://www.tai-hao.com/catalog/ Products]</ref>

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File:Taiwan Tai-Hao doubleshot samples, top.jpg                    | 2013 product samples
File:Taiwan Tai-Hao doubleshot samples, bottom.jpg                 | Bottom view showing the moulding process
File:Tai-Hai doubleshot comparison -- tops.jpg                     | 1991/1992 keycaps (top) and 2013 group buy keycaps (bottom)
File:Tai-Hai doubleshot comparison -- undersides.jpg               | Underside view
File:Tai-Hao GB -- assorted keycaps.jpg                            | Assorted [[Tai-Hao 2013 keycap group buys|2013 group buy]] keycaps
File:Taiwan Tai-Hao rubber doubleshots, Cherry packet.jpg          | [[Cherry MX mount]] rubber [[WASD]] gamer keycaps
File:Taiwan Tai-Hao rubber doubleshots.jpg                         | Top and bottom views of the rubber gamer keycaps
File:Tai Hao TH-5150-CAT keycaps.jpg                               | Double-shot and silkscreen printed [[Tai-Hao TH series|TH series]] keycaps
</gallery>

====Topre====
The [[Topre Realforce RGB]] comes with backlit double-shot keycaps. These are one of the product ranges that show a stencil look to the first shot.<ref name="topre" /> While sold by Topre, it is not confirmed that Topre manufacture the keycaps themselves.

====Vortex====
[[Vortex]] are one of the manufacturers of PBT double-shot keycaps. Vortex backlit keycaps use translucent POM for the first shot, and PBT for the second shot.<ref>Massdrop — [https://www.massdrop.com/buy/vortex-backlit-doubleshot-pbt-keycaps Vortex Backlit Doubleshot PBT Keycaps]</ref> Vortex also offer non-backlit double-shot PBT keycaps.<ref>Mechanical Keyboards — [https://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=773 Blue - Bi-Color PBT Double Shot Keycap Set by Vortex]</ref>

===Historical===
====Alps Electric====
While Alps are better known for the dye sublimated keycaps used in Apple keyboards, Alps also produced distinctive double-shot keycaps. Alps are one of the companies whose moulding process did not show stripes of colour within the underside of the keycap. Many double-shot Alps keycaps feature a curious pattern of bars and square holes that aids in their identification.

Alps double-shot keycaps are likely to have been produced in-house.

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File:Alps double-shot -- NeXT keyboard.jpg                         | Alps double-shot keycap from a NeXT keyboard ([[Alps SKCM Black]])
File:Alps flat spherical -- NEC PC-8201A.jpg                       | [[Alps flat spherical series]] ([[NEC PC-8201A]])
File:Alps double-shot -- IBM 5556 keycaps top assorted.jpg         | Assorted [[IBM Multistation Keyboards|IBM 5556]] keycaps, top view
File:Alps double-shot -- IBM 5556 keycaps underside assorted.jpg   | Assorted IBM 5556 keycaps, underside, showing the different moulding patterns
</gallery>

====Cherry====
[[File:Cherry Doubleshot Recall.jpg|220px|thumb|right|[[Cherry]] announcement about double-shot keycaps]]
[[Cherry]] produced double-shot keycaps in-house, they discontinued the manufacture of double-shot keycaps in 2011. The tooling was sold to [[GMK]], who resumed manufacture of the parts.

<gallery widths=250 heights=187>
File:Cherry doubleshot keycaps -- tops.jpg                         | Tops (keycaps from a 1997 [[Cherry G80-3700|G80-3700HAU]])
File:Cherry doubleshot keycaps -- bottoms.jpg                      | Bottoms
File:Cherry doubleshot keycaps -- tops and bottoms.jpg             | Tops and bottoms
File:Cherry G80-3700HAU -- double-shot windowed keycap.jpg         | Windowed keycap using double-shot moulding to form the window
</gallery>

====Comptec====
[[Comptec]] were one of the world's leading keycap manufacturers, whose keycaps have been found in a large variety of equipment including the [[Acorn BBC Microcomputer]] and [[Wyse]] terminal keyboards. Comptec USA became [[Signature Plastics]], who remain a very prominent double-shot manufacturer. Tall Comptec keycaps often feature an inner step that appears to be specific to their manufacturing process.

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File:BBC Micro spherical double-shots.jpg                          | [[Acorn BBC Microcomputer]] spherical keycaps, from the AWC/Futaba keyboard
File:Straight outta Comptec.jpg                                    | All three Comptec BBC Micro keycap types: [[PED keyswitch]], [[SMK vintage linear]], [[Futaba simplified linear]]
</gallery>

====Futaba====
Little is known about [[Futaba]] keycaps.

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File:NEC PC-8801mkII -- keycaps.jpg                                | Futaba keycaps from the [[NEC PC-8801mkII]]
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====Micro Switch====
[[Micro Switch]] are notable for their very thick, sturdy keycaps.

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File:2012-02-23 00.27.06.jpg                                       | [[Micro Switch SD Series]] keycaps
File:2012-02-23 00.27.17.jpg                                       | Interior of the keycaps
File:Honeywell Hall Effect funtion keys two tone back.jpg          | Triple-shot keycaps Honeywell Hall Effect keycaps
File:Honeywell Hall Effect funtion keys two tone front.jpg         | Interior of triple-shot keycaps
</gallery>

====SMK====
[[SMK]] double-shot keycaps have varied in design over time. All their keycap styles have in common a completely solid first shot, without striped bands of colour. Older keycaps (from [[SMK vintage linear]] keyboards) had a large first shot (giving thick keycaps), while newer keycaps for [[SMK second generation]] switches reduced the size of the first shot. It is not known whether they were produced in-house or outsourced.

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File:BBC Micro SMK keyboard -- switches and keycap.jpg | [[Acorn BBC Microcomputer]] switches and keycap
File:SMK J-M0404 keycaps 1.jpg                         | BBC Microcomputer keycaps; note the strange shapes of the keystem slots
File:SMK J-M0404 keycaps 2.jpg                         | BBC Microcomputer keycaps
File:Apple M0110A (SMK) -- assorted keycaps.jpg        | [[Apple M0110A]] keycaps
File:Tulip2.jpg                                        | [[Tulip ATK 02.01.01]] keycaps
</gallery>