[GB] TMK FC660C Alt Controller

[hasu]

What is this?
This controler replaces original controller of Leopold FC660C and makes the keyboard programmable.



Check this thread for technical infos of the controller: https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=88439.0



ORDER

TMK Keyboard Service

Now you can still order FC660C Alt Controller in my artisan service thread regularly.

See this thread: https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=90317.0


This post won't be updated anymore basically. Please refer to TMK Keyboard Service thread above instead.

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How to install
You need only screw driver to install this controller. No soldering is required.

And take a look this video. Thank you, stoic-lemon!
https://youtu.be/TYmAb8zOPWU?t=3m6s


Open case
You have to void warranty from manufacturer to do this mod, of course.

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Step 1: Void your warranty with getting rid of sticker and unscrew.


Step 2:  Crack it open using tool like phone openner or plastic card with care.


Step3: Done!

Mate/unmate connector
Check image below to know how to mate/unmate connector.

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I recommend you follow method proposed by manufacturer and this works certainly for me.
You don't need any tool to remove/unmate the connector use just your fingers. Plier and screwdriver likely slip off and make scratch and give cables damage.
To remove/unmate hold many cables as possible with thumb and index finger and wiggle the connector laterally each side within 15deg range.
To insert/mate just push both side edge of the connector parallel with fingers or nails.

Install controller board
Just screw down controller PCB on case.




How to remap
Keymap Editor
You can use online keymap editor to get prebuilt firmware with your own keymap.

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There are two kind of prebuilt firmware. Plain one has very simple keymap and  would be useful as start point if you want to define you own keymap from scratch. Emu one emulates FC660C stock behaviour, it would be nice if you like the stock keymap basically and need only small change.

- Plain: http://www.tmk-kbd.com/tmk_keyboard/editor/unimap/?fc660c
- Emu: http://www.tmk-kbd.com/tmk_keyboard/editor/unimap/?fc660c_emu

LED control
CapsLock LED indicates CapsLock state naturally in both Plain and Emu firmware.
Insert LED never light up with Plain firmware, which suits for people who have no plan on the LED or regard it distractive. Emu firmware turns Insert LED on when Layer 1 is activated, you can you can place your keymap there and make it indicator for your keymap state.
Not a fan of these behaviour? You can do anything with the LEDs if you willing to write small code, of course.

Keymap Examples:
- hasu's: spacefn and mousekey(Emu) https://goo.gl/HfpRFd
Share your keymap! Use 'URL shortener' button on keymap editor to get URL of your keymap and post it here.

You can grasp how this works by watching stoic-lemon's video.
https://youtu.be/TYmAb8zOPWU?t=10m59s



How to flash
TMK FC660C Alt Controller has ATMega32U4 as a microcontroller. To boot the microcontroller into programming mode push button on bottom of keyboard.

See wiki page on github for detail of flashing tool.
https://github.com/tmk/tmk_keyboard/wiki#flash-firmware



Build from source codes
You can also tweak sources if keymap editor is not enough.
https://github.com/tmk/tmk_keyboard/tree/master/keyboard/fc660c

See this for detail.
https://github.com/tmk/tmk_keyboard/wiki#build-firmware



NOTE
- No plan for USB-C C is a bit too large to plug in USB-mini hole.

More

- No Bluetooth This controller doesn't support Bluetooth, USB only. https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=88720.msg2397757#msg2397757
- Not for FC980C I guess desinging controller for FC980C is not so difficult but problem is its costs and availability here. I cannot justify the cost to get it so far, I may need to run interest check on geekhack to know how many demand exists.
- Actuation point adjustment Not officially supported. See this post.
https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=88439.msg2403275#msg2403275


TROUBLESHOOT
Check FAQ on wiki first.
https://github.com/tmk/tmk_keyboard/wiki/FAQ
https://github.com/tmk/tmk_keyboard/wiki/FAQ-Keymap
https://github.com/tmk/tmk_keyboard/wiki/FAQ-Build

- Doesn't work with BIOS/UEFI  https://github.com/tmk/tmk_keyboard/wiki/FAQ#nkro-doesnt-work
- Switching NKRO/6KRO  https://github.com/tmk/tmk_keyboard/wiki/FAQ#nkro-doesnt-work



SCHEDULE/UPDATE
Closes at end of April and shipping starts at mid of May. I will start producing earlier if orders meets MOQ before the due date.

2017/04/06 GB OPEN
2017/05/01 GB CLOSE
2017/05/19 SHIPPED https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=88720.msg2427079#msg2427079


Note for CANADA participants
Sorry to say this but we had very long delay on delivery in Canada these days and it takes even two months and half when you suffer from bad luck. But forutnaltey, any packet wasn't lost so far and they were delivered in the end in spite of unacceptable delay so far.

In the case of trouble you will have to wait for two months(plus a few weeks) before having me issue fully refund.

Thank you for your patience.

PAST ROUND
1st 2017/04

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Email me at hasu@tmk-kbd.com with subject "FC660C GB" to place an order. Just let me know how many you need.  I'll send PayPal invoice to your email address.

Do not PM(Private Message) me, post your question or suggestion here instead. Email me if needed.

Price: 34USD(controller) + 6USD(shipping)
For two controllers it costs 34*2 + 6 = 74USD.

Payment: I'll send you PayPal invoice due on end of April. You can use credit card or PayPal account. Please make sure you supply correct shipping address when makin payment.

Shipping: Registered mail. Trackable in most of countries except for Canada and China. Shipping cost is same rate for all countries as far as Japan Post can cover.

All GB orders were shipped now! 2017/05/19
https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=88720.msg2427079#msg2427079

Status Update
Hi folks, thanks for your support!
All GB orders were shipped yesterday and you will receive noticing email with tracking number from Japan Post in next few days. The email comes from ems-mypage@ml.post.japanpost.jp and tends to be recognzied as a spam, please look into your junk mail folder too. Email me your paypal email or invoice number if you don't have tracking number until May 24.

In some countries including Canada and Australia you cannot trace your packet unfortunately. I have never had any lost packet though, in Canada I have had long delay on some deliveries these months, in worst case it took two months, really pain If you are in Canada you may have to be very patient.


136 Controllers were shipped to these countires.

America
    Canada          18
    US              70
Asia & Oceania
    Australia       2
    Brunei          1
    Indonesia       2
    Japan           2
    HongKong        1
Europe
    Austria         1
    Belgium         1
    Denmark         3
    Estonia         1
    France          2
    Germany         11
    Netherlands     7
    Norway          2
    Romania         1
    Spain           2
    Sweden          2
    Switzerland     2
    UK              5

[Krelbit]

oh boy gimme dat controller ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

[nsmechkb]

Awesome! Thank you, Hasu!

[hking0036]

Bought one! Already have my own keymap ready to go 

[ArchDill]

I do not have one of these but I know a lot of people have been wanting this. Good to see it here!

[neon_tom]

This is great! Now I can finally pull the trigger on an FC660C!

[Vigrith]

YES.

[networkdrift]

Oh I'm so excited for this. Thank you, Hasu!

[rasmusx]

Awesome news! Also great timing, just waiting for my FC660C to arrive

[GoatMaster]

Will it work with the FC660M ?

[Felion]

Thank you Hasu! Great job! Cant wait!

[stoic-lemon]

Put my order in. Now all I need is the keyboard.

[Korseir]

Will this have Bluetooth or support it?

[hasu]

Thank you all for your support, guys.

Will this have Bluetooth or support it?

First, this controller doesn't support Bluetooth.

And I'm not sure whether I can make Bluetooth controller for FC660C before very long.

https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=88439.msg2397750#msg2397750

I have no clear plan on Bluetooth controller, I'm not working on it currently at least.

I found some dificulties on Bluetooth controller. One of them is that FC660C controller PCB is much smaller than HHKB and this requires new design and components. It will take longer than what I expected and I'm not sure when I can have enough time to do so.

[GoatMaster]

What about the FC 660M Support ?

[SpAmRaY]

What about the FC 660M Support ?

Completely different electronics involved.

The MX version would require its own controller.

[Korseir]

Thank you all for your support, guys.

Will this have Bluetooth or support it?

First, this controller doesn't support Bluetooth.

And I'm not sure whether I can make Bluetooth controller for FC660C before very long.

https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=88439.msg2397750#msg2397750

I have no clear plan on Bluetooth controller, I'm not working on it currently at least.

I found some dificulties on Bluetooth controller. One of them is that FC660C controller PCB is much smaller than HHKB and this requires new design and components. It will take longer than what I expected and I'm not sure when I can have enough time to do so.

Ah sorry about that, I must have missed that tidbit

[robotmaxtron]

Easily done. I guess I should go get an fc660c now.

[pr0ximity]

Makes me want a Leopold...

[Acknown3]

I love you.

Time to finally add media functions and F13-24 to my 660C!

[clorex]

What will be the retail price after the group buy is over? (Asking because I'm not sure if I should wait for the Bluetooth version.)

[txepox]

This is something I have waiting for a long time.

Ordered!

[tofgerl]

Damnit, you're a year late! I sold mine because I couldn't do without a TMK

BUT, I want to thoroughly encourage more Topre TMK controllers! Go go go!

[Stabilized]

Backslash to backspace and media keys?! Oh I need this!

[zacheadams]

Makes me want a Leopold...

This and the LZ case

[ponoj]

Count me in.  Any chance of running a GB for the FC980C controller?

[Laser]

What about the FC 660M Support ?

You can make (already) *any* USB keyboard programmable using Hasu's USB->USB converter.
You won't be able to change the FN key (if there is one on a FC 660M), but for the rest, you'd have TMK firmware on the converter so it would be completely programmable.

[Korseir]

Makes me want a Leopold...

This and the LZ case

what is this LZ case you speak of

[zacheadams]

Makes me want a Leopold...

This and the LZ case

what is this LZ case you speak of

https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=88607.0

[Korseir]

Makes me want a Leopold...

This and the LZ case

what is this LZ case you speak of

https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=88607.0

Isn't that case restricted to a FC660M and not C due to the different location of where the cable connects to?

[zacheadams]

Makes me want a Leopold...

This and the LZ case

what is this LZ case you speak of

https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=88607.0

Isn't that case restricted to a FC660M and not C due to the different location of where the cable connects to?

I actually do not know.  My mistake if so.

[yselivanov]

Would it be possible to make it USB-C?

[hasu]

Would it be possible to make it USB-C?

no. it doesn't fit in opening of mini.

[robotmaxtron]

Makes me want a Leopold...

This and the LZ case

what is this LZ case you speak of

https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=88607.0

Isn't that case restricted to a FC660M and not C due to the different location of where the cable connects to?

I actually do not know.  My mistake if so.

Yeah, it's confirmed in that other thread that it's not for the FC660c. It's for a new pcb.

[hasu]

Thank you all for your support!

I got many orders it was more than what I expected, I finally get to know how you guys love this keyboard
Invoices for all orders were sent out now and many were already paid, it is appreciated.

And I ordered new iteration of pcbs and will get them within several days. Revised screw holes and retouch others slightly.

[robotmaxtron]

Thank you all for your support!

I got many orders it was more than what I expected, I finally get to know how you guys love this keyboard
Invoices for all orders were sent out now and many were already paid, it is appreciated.

And I ordered new iteration of pcbs and will get them within several days. Revised screw holes and retouch others slightly.

Show Image

Great work Hasu. I can only speak for myself, but I bought the FC660c only after I paid the invoice for your new controller.  ;D I hope you'll open source and post the pcb design for the controller up on Github.

[hasu]

Count me in.  Any chance of running a GB for the FC980C controller?

I guess desinging controller for FC980C is not so difficult but problem is its costs and availability here. I cannot justify the cost to get it so far, I may need to run interest check on geekhack to know how many demand exists.

[tofgerl]

The Realforce RGB would be more interesting, I think. It's the new top of the line Topre, and it has MX stems. I love mine to death, even with a usb_usb controller.

[tuxkey]

@hasu
First of; Thank you for doing this Hasu really really happy to finally get the chance to have
a fully programable keyboard..
i stumbled upon this news watching “Manofinterests” Youtube channel episode “This Week in Keyboard 04112017”.

i also own a FC660M (mx-clear) but i already read that this is only compatible with my FC660C. Who knows perhaps in the future.
For now i’m very happy about the prospect of a pimping my FC660C. Can’t thank you enough mate.

i wil definitely email you ASAP (As Soon As Possible)..

i do have a couple questions in regards to the keymap Editor.

is there a howto for the editor?
i’m using mac and sum CentOS vm’s. i do have an older laptop i can install a different linux version on it to aid.

i’m looking for a step by step guide. like how to flash the firmware with the new layout i made.
i already noticed that the editor doesn’t work on safari but does on Firefox so no issue there.
Don’t have googly chrome.

i did find your main page that points to a wiki, http://www.tmk-kbd.com/tmk_keyboard/
So wil have to have a look.

Also under Action Codes fourth tab from left (Layer Switching and etc.) pointed me to github page
“Keymap framework - how to define your keycap”https://github.com/tmk/tmk_keyboard/blob/master/tmk_core/doc/keymap.md#3-layer-switching-example

That looks promising and complicated / time consuming but i’m going to read true it 

Thanks again..

[ramnes]

Mail sent!

[elcubismo]

sent mail as well: my usb connector was getting wonky anyway so this is a great way to get that fixed

[fancymans]

What about the FC 660M Support ?

Completely different electronics involved.

The MX version would require its own controller.

Or you can get a Clueboard PCB and use the FC660M case.

Oh and mail sent! I've been waiting for this to happen. Now I can love my FC660C again.

[hking0036]

You said that you had layer 1 turn on the LED on the ins key, if we edit it in the keymap editor will it disable that or will it stay on? I'm not really planning on holding onto that but if I move the shift layer change down to layer 1 I don't want the LED to light up every time I hit shift.

[hasu]

I'm thinking about that and don't decide yet. at worst case you can use other layers than layer 1.

any suggestions are welcome.

Tapatalk を使用して私の Nexus 5X から送信

[hasu]

sent mail as well: my usb connector was getting wonky anyway so this is a great way to get that fixed

Could you share pic of it if you have time?
I'm curious about how the connector come off.

[Kibort]

Hello Hasu, I just paid the invoice for the controller. Thank you for making this possible. I do have a question. Is it possible to program macro's to keycombinations? Like for example I study medicine and often when writing about cellular physiology I need to type electrolytes and their charges which are superscript. In word, for Ca²⁺ I would have to press Ca,CTRL,SHIFT,+,2+,CTRL,SHIFT,+
Is there a way to program the controller so I could toggle a different layer where I press C for example and it outputs that macro? If not does somebody have a different solution? I'm that big of a tech guy.

[hking0036]

I'm thinking about that and don't decide yet. at worst case you can use other layers than layer 1.

any suggestions are welcome.

Tapatalk を使用して私の Nexus 5X から送信

It'd be great if there was a toggle in the web thing, but I understand that's extra effort for not much change. Personally, I'd say throw up a default map here with it on and then disable it on the web config. Considering you can output in C I can probably just build one, it's just a timesaver not to have to since I don't have a linux box around.

[hasu]

Testing Rev.B controller, USB connector aligns properly without any filing job now.
And smaller SMT TACT switch is used in this and future revision, instead of through hole one.


In next revision the TACT switch will be move to middle of opening for ease of pressing button.



Early Access
There are some excess controllers from Rev.B and I like to part with them to mitigate development expense. Is any GB participant willing to get the controller? I would appreciate this.

It costs 32USD including shipping, you can save 8 and get controller eariler.

If you are interested email me with subject "FC660C Early Access" and let me know your invoice number. I'll refund 8USD out of 40 you paid. The controllers will be shipped in a week.

Thanks.

[hasu]

Hello Hasu, I just paid the invoice for the controller. Thank you for making this possible. I do have a question. Is it possible to program macro's to keycombinations? Like for example I study medicine and often when writing about cellular physiology I need to type electrolytes and their charges which are superscript. In word, for Ca²⁺ I would have to press Ca,CTRL,SHIFT,+,2+,CTRL,SHIFT,+
Is there a way to program the controller so I could toggle a different layer where I press C for example and it outputs that macro? If not does somebody have a different solution? I'm that big of a tech guy.

You can define macro in keymap file for that purpose. Macro code looks like this.
https://github.com/tmk/tmk_keyboard/blob/master/keyboard/hhkb/unimap_hasu.c#L89-L109

Unfortunately web keymap editor doesn't support macro at this time unfortunately.

[hasu]

I'm thinking about that and don't decide yet. at worst case you can use other layers than layer 1.

any suggestions are welcome.

Tapatalk を使用して私の Nexus 5X から送信

It'd be great if there was a toggle in the web thing, but I understand that's extra effort for not much change. Personally, I'd say throw up a default map here with it on and then disable it on the web config. Considering you can output in C I can probably just build one, it's just a timesaver not to have to since I don't have a linux box around.

Changed keymap editor, it has two variants now. Plain one is firmware without any Insert LED control while other controls Insert LED to indicate Fn+Q state.

- http://www.tmk-kbd.com/tmk_keyboard/editor/unimap/?fc660c (Plain, useful as starting point)
- http://www.tmk-kbd.com/tmk_keyboard/editor/unimap/?fc660c_emu (Stock keymap emulation)