JD45 Keyboard by Carpe Keyboards

[meow a cat]

Any renders of the acrylic spacer? Have you guys decided whether you're going to offer both, or just wood?

Here's a render with a translucent acrylic spacer. The actual spacer may be less translucent than this, more "white".
I have to get quotes on both materials and see if I can offer both.

(Attachment Link)

Thanks for the render, that looks great. I think I would prefer a clear spacer over a white one. If it's white acrylic, I'd most likely pick a wood spacer.

Any guesses on wood type? I'm assuming it's not set in stone until after the quotes.

[samwisekoi]

What material is that?

Sorry, I missed that question.  It is 3D-printed plastic.  Shapeways calls it "Strong & Flexible Plastic".  Here it is with a JD45 Prototype keyboard installed.  Unicomp "Model M" for scale.  (Also to show the design inspiration!)  My goal was a very tiny version of the classic IBM Model M case shape.


JD45 Prototype Case Edge View. Samwisekoi 2015.


JD45 Prototype Case Front View. Samwisekoi 2015.

I think I'd like this case a tad taller in back, but it looks and feels good.  The internal support rails work to keep the PCB rigid during typing.  Send me a PM if you want to print or buy one yourself.  It fits a 3.00" x 10.00" PCB, and should fit or be easy to modify to fit the prod boards as well.

Many thanks to GH'er RabRhee and MP at SP for the Retro DSA keycaps I was missing for this build!

 - Ron | samwisekoi

[metalliqaz]

Very nice

[flabbergast]

In case there are some proto PCBs left, I'd take one. I can do SMT soldering myself, as long as the parts are at least 0603, ideally at least 0805.
EDIT: A case as well.

[mylove1431]

What material is that?

Sorry, I missed that question.  It is 3D-printed plastic.  Shapeways calls it "Strong & Flexible Plastic".  Here it is with a JD45 Prototype keyboard installed.  Unicomp "Model M" for scale.  (Also to show the design inspiration!)  My goal was a very tiny version of the classic IBM Model M case shape.

Show Image

really nice ........... :thumb:
JD45 Prototype Case Edge View. Samwisekoi 2015.

Show Image

JD45 Prototype Case Front View. Samwisekoi 2015.

I think I'd like this case a tad taller in back, but it looks and feels good.  The internal support rails work to keep the PCB rigid during typing.  Send me a PM if you want to print or buy one yourself.  It fits a 3.00" x 10.00" PCB, and should fit or be easy to modify to fit the prod boards as well.

Many thanks to GH'er RabRhee and MP at SP for the Retro DSA keycaps I was missing for this build!

 - Ron | samwisekoi

[nobodyknowsmyname]

In for one of the proto PCBs w/ SMD and "affordable" wood case if they are still available.

[Tiramisuu]

I really need a bigger allowance.

Both the jd40  and jd45  are nice.   A little creativity in cases and these become my favorite boards.

I

[krbuck]

This would be perfect for my first custom board. So cool and I'm blown away by JDCarpe's past work. I just want to be sure - we are still waiting for availability?

Thanks!

[SpAmRaY]

This would be perfect for my first custom board. So cool and I'm blown away by JDCarpe's past work. I just want to be sure - we are still waiting for availability?

Thanks!

Just an FYI Jdcarpe is currently away on a cruise and he would probably be the one to answer this question. He should be back in around a week.

[krbuck]

This would be perfect for my first custom board. So cool and I'm blown away by JDCarpe's past work. I just want to be sure - we are still waiting for availability?

Thanks!

Just an FYI Jdcarpe is currently away on a cruise and he would probably be the one to answer this question. He should be back in around a week.

Ah, ok. I skimmed over this thread a few times; must have missed the status. Sorry for that! Here's a pic of a kitten.

[justinyhuang]

is everyone busy preparing X'mas? this thread appears to be  a bit too quiet...
just like to appreciate JD's offer on a JD45: this is THE ONLY keyboard that i use at work and home now.
and also to show off my Alder case

[SpAmRaY]

Oh my, I want that. That case is beautiful.

[jdcarpe]

is everyone busy preparing X'mas? this thread appears to be  a bit too quiet...
just like to appreciate JD's offer on a JD45: this is THE ONLY keyboard that i use at work and home now.
and also to show off my Alder case

Very nice work on the case for your prototype!

Any luck on the BT front yet?

[jbondeson]

Oh my, I want that. That case is beautiful.

I would like to second that. A great way to do the usb cutout as well!

[justinyhuang]

the BT module is on its way and should arrive this week.
i will be experimenting with it when i have all the hardware ready.

Very nice work on the case for your prototype!

Any luck on the BT front yet?

[justinyhuang]

thank you both!
yeah i like the case a lot, even more than before i made it.
Alder is the lightest hardwood that i can find in my area and that makes the keyboard super light.
i don't feel a thing when it travel with me everyday in my passenger bag.

Oh my, I want that. That case is beautiful.

I would like to second that. A great way to do the usb cutout as well!

[justinyhuang]

the BT module comes late today, i hook up everything and it almost works.
exception being the PD5 used in the scan matrix, when the UART communication is  enabled, is used as the XCLK and a few keys associated to PD5 will not respond...the other keys work with no problem though.

i will have to dig into the atmega32u4 data sheet and see if i can keep PD5 from being used as the XCLK pin.
the last time that i play with micro controllers were more than 10 years ago so this might take me sometime.

at the same time if anyone has experience with UART/USART communication with AVR controllers could shed some light on the way around this it would be very much appreciated.

[justinyhuang]

so i eventually figure out the culprit:

on the PCB, D3 and D5 of the controller were shorted during soldering, so when ever D3 is used, D5 gets messed. =) and D3 happens to be the TX pin for UART.



after some desoldering and cleaning up, now my JD45 is happily typing via BT 

[jdcarpe]

after some desoldering and cleaning up, now my JD45 is happily typing via BT 

[justinyhuang]

This is really a good one,  took me sometime to trace it down. Now that the keyboard is able to talk to the BlueFruit, I will go on to commit the code changes needed later this week.

[Wilba]

so i eventually figure out the culprit:

on the PCB, D3 and D5 of the controller were shorted during soldering, so when ever D3 is used, D5 gets messed. =) and D3 happens to be the TX pin for UART.

(Attachment Link)

after some desoldering and cleaning up, now my JD45 is happily typing via BT 

Sorry, my bad.

Glad you got it all working, though!

[justinyhuang]

Sorry, my bad.

Glad you got it all working, though!

oh no, there is nothing wrong with the PCB, the two pins gets shorted when the controller was soldered.
I don't have the right tool, using a tiny knife could not get the two pins separated, so i just desoldered the chip, clean it a bit, and then soldered it back, and it just works =)

so the PCB is still good 

[Wilba]

Sorry, my bad.

Glad you got it all working, though!

oh no, there is nothing wrong with the PCB, the two pins gets shorted when the controller was soldered.
I don't have the right tool, using a tiny knife could not get the two pins separated, so i just desoldered the chip, clean it a bit, and then soldered it back, and it just works =)

so the PCB is still good 

I was the one who soldered the SMD components... I didn't see that bridge, or I would have fixed it myself.

FWIW most bridges like this can be fixed with copper braid (aka. desoldering wick).

[justinyhuang]

I was the one who soldered the SMD components... I didn't see that bridge, or I would have fixed it myself.

FWIW most bridges like this can be fixed with copper braid (aka. desoldering wick).

Haha, IC
No problem. It's been a good practice to debug a keyboard that has the potential to be my end game.

BTW where are we in making the JD45 now? Would there be a GB in the near future?

[jdcarpe]

I'm hoping as soon as Bunny Lake can find some breathing room that we can get a GB going for them. He's been a busy man lately.

[MikeTheTiger]

Cool. I like the layout of this one.

[Frigid]

Looks Nice, happy there is an option for a single spacebar

[lootbag]

I'm hoping as soon as Bunny Lake can find some breathing room that we can get a GB going for them. He's been a busy man lately.

This is good news!

[iamtootallforthis]

I really need to get to building my prototype board now that I have switches. Need to get a hold of all the resistors, LEDs and the controller.

[justinyhuang]

the firmware that would work with Wilba's PCB and talk to BlueFruit via PD3 has been merged to the QMK firmware repo: https://github.com/jackhumbert/qmk_firmware.

[MrRooks]

Just a little something something I printed. 

Design courtesy of Wilba



Full album:
http://imgur.com/a/QMROF

[iamtootallforthis]

Just a little something something I printed. 

Design courtesy of Wilba

Show Image

Full album:
http://imgur.com/a/QMROF

That's awesome! How long was the printing time for that?

[MrRooks]

Just a little something something I printed. 

Design courtesy of Wilba

Show Image

Full album:
http://imgur.com/a/QMROF

That's awesome! How long was the printing time for that?

Thanks! I printed it at an unnecessarily high res of 0.1mm per layer(0.35mm nozzle) and it took 20 hours and 15 minutes to complete.

[CPTBadAss]

Just a little something something I printed. 

Design courtesy of Wilba

Show Image

Full album:
http://imgur.com/a/QMROF

That's ****ing sexy as hell. Meowwwww

[iamtootallforthis]

Just a little something something I printed. 

Design courtesy of Wilba

Show Image

Full album:
http://imgur.com/a/QMROF

That's awesome! How long was the printing time for that?

Thanks! I printed it at an unnecessarily high res of 0.1mm per layer(0.35mm nozzle) and it took 20 hours and 15 minutes to complete.

Definitely worth it though! It looks great plus there is less polishing to do if any at all.

[SL89]

Pardon me if I'm late to the party, but the fact that the JD45 is happening means there won't be anymore JD40's right? What ever happened to the SmallFry gb as well?

[jdcarpe]

Pardon me if I'm late to the party, but the fact that the JD45 is happening means there won't be anymore JD40's right? What ever happened to the SmallFry gb as well?

Actually, there are plans for a redesigned JD40 to be released concurrently with the JD45.

The SmallFry GB is still alive, I hope, and will use the redesign PCBs.

[SpAmRaY]

What ever happened to the SmallFry gb as well?

So many things. It's has yet to deliver.

Edit: tapatalk is lagging today, so per what jdcarpe said if its using a new untested PCB who knows when it will happen. That buy has ruined 40% boards for me.

[jdcarpe]

Just to assuage your fears, Ray, I can tell you that I have assembled a JD40 using the new PCB, and it works great. Fully backlit, with a Forty kit from Round 5. Using one of my original plates to mount it in a wooden case from Badwrench.

[keshley]

I do a little dance in my head when there's new posts in this thread.

[jdcarpe]

I do a little dance in my head when there's new posts in this thread.

I don't want to reveal too much, but you're going to be doing a lot of head dancing really soon.

[LeandreN]

I'm ready to dance.

[keshley]

[romevi]

May I have the next dance?

[justinyhuang]

Seems like great news is coming soon!
That is exciting.

[jdcarpe]

Just to let everyone know, I know a couple of ICs and mini GBs have popped up for other 40% designs, and that's fine.

BIG THINGS ARE CLOSE AT HAND FOR THIS PROJECT!!

You guys like anodized CNC milled alu cases? Matching plates? Fully assembled keyboards? DIY kits? All this is coming very soon!

How can this be, after a year in development, JD? Did you partner with a highly respected keyboard manufacturer, while keeping the integrity of a custom design?

All will be revealed very soon, my loyal followers.

[iamtootallforthis]

Just to let everyone know, I know a couple of ICs and mini GBs have popped up for other 40% designs, and that's fine.

BIG THINGS ARE CLOSE AT HAND FOR THIS PROJECT!!

You guys like CNC anodized alu cases? Matching plates? Fully assembled keyboards? DIY kits? All this is coming very soon!

How can this be, after a year in development, JD? Did you partner with a highly respected keyboard manufacturer, while keeping the integrity of a custom design?

All will be revealed very soon, my loyal followers.

Ahh Yeah!

[keshley]

[romevi]

Okay, so let's say I tried to follow the thread, but, because of its length, got lost. Just an example.

What's the status of this buy? My impression was that it was over and no longer taking orders, right? Just that the current orders have yet to be developed 100%?

[iamtootallforthis]

Okay, so let's say I tried to follow the thread, but, because of its length, got lost. Just an example.

What's the status of this buy? My impression was that it was over and no longer taking orders, right? Just that the current orders have yet to be developed 100%?

The "buy" was just a release of a few prototype boards. JD will be doing an actual release of the board soon as can be seen in what he posted above.