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geekhack Marketplace => Interest Checks => Topic started by: worldspawn on Sun, 22 March 2015, 11:58:30

Title: [IC] Atreus-mod KB for programmers (or just typing without using Fn for punct.)
Post by: worldspawn on Sun, 22 March 2015, 11:58:30
I've modified the ergo mini board from the Atreus thread with the necessary keys for most programmers (or those who want a mini board without the need to Fn for numbers and punctuation) and it's only a fraction of an inch larger than the original.  This will be compatible with Easy AVR Keymapper. 

Since I've gone through all the work of design and prototyping I figured I'd share with the community if there's interest in a group buy of the boards and/or cases.  I've got the first batch of prototype boards ordered already, waiting on arrival for testing, then I can move forward with a larger batch.  If you're interested in helping with the prototype testing I can send you a board for $25 ($30 total if you want the SMT parts too, I can pre-solder them if requested) including shipping when they come in.

For a small run <50 boards, the cost is:
$25 per board 
$10 for the SMT components (soldering is +$10)
$35 for the case in acrylic (4 layers: top 1/8", plate 1/4", spacer 1/8", bottom 1/8", includes nuts, screws, 4 rubber feet)
$6 shipping

For a medium run 50-250 boards the cost drops to
$10 per board
$6 for the SMT (soldering is +$10)
$30 for the case
$6 shipping

Main layer example
(http://i.imgur.com/cJKMoRe.png)
Case and Layout
(http://i.imgur.com/ZYGknG6.jpg)
PCB (not the final revision, there are a couple wrong traces in this image that I've fixed)
(http://i.imgur.com/SOsvSkd.png)
Title: Re: [IC] Atreus-mod KB for programmers (or just typing without using Fn for punct.)
Post by: metalliqaz on Sun, 22 March 2015, 12:11:56
Cool design.  Can't tell very well from the picture, but it looks like you may be missing a few caps on that PCB.
Title: Re: [IC] Atreus-mod KB for programmers (or just typing without using Fn for punct.)
Post by: jdcarpe on Sun, 22 March 2015, 12:33:09
Cool design.  Can't tell very well from the picture, but it looks like you may be missing a few caps on that PCB.

And no crystal? Hmmm.

Also, some people won't want to mess with in-switch diodes. You should put pads for SMD diodes in the space between the through hole ones.
Title: Re: [IC] Atreus-mod KB for programmers (or just typing without using Fn for punct.)
Post by: suicidal_orange on Sun, 22 March 2015, 12:39:16
I saw this board in the Deep Space thread during a lunch break - meant to follow up on it as it looked great.

I'd love to prototype, but I guess by the time the PCB gets to me you'll have built yours and maybe even ordered the final version...
Title: Re: [IC] Atreus-mod KB for programmers (or just typing without using Fn for punct.)
Post by: worldspawn on Sun, 22 March 2015, 12:51:18
Cool design.  Can't tell very well from the picture, but it looks like you may be missing a few caps on that PCB.

From the tech documents on the Atmel site I only saw the one:
(http://i.imgur.com/CKvGpSa.png)
Title: Re: [IC] Atreus-mod KB for programmers (or just typing without using Fn for punct.)
Post by: metalliqaz on Sun, 22 March 2015, 12:58:22
You need to do a lot more reading.  Check out my Qazpad thread and look at the attached schematic pdf.  There are a bunch of power caps around the ATmega32U4.  Also you need caps and resistors on the USB connection.  And you need the crystal unless you're going with the slower in-chip clock.

Look at all the junk around the avr in the Epsilon:

[attach=1]

Title: Re: [IC] Atreus-mod KB for programmers (or just typing without using Fn for punct.)
Post by: worldspawn on Sun, 22 March 2015, 12:59:22
Cool design.  Can't tell very well from the picture, but it looks like you may be missing a few caps on that PCB.

And no crystal? Hmmm.

Also, some people won't want to mess with in-switch diodes. You should put pads for SMD diodes in the space between the through hole ones.

I picked up these ATMEGA32U4-AU which say "Internal Calib. RC" on the "default oscillator"  I was under the impression that an additional oscillator was not required, but I have not worked with this chip before so I could be mistaken?
Title: Re: [IC] Atreus-mod KB for programmers (or just typing without using Fn for punct.)
Post by: worldspawn on Sun, 22 March 2015, 13:05:34
You need to do a lot more reading.  Check out my Qazpad thread and look at the attached schematic pdf.  There are a bunch of power caps around the ATmega32U4.  Also you need caps and resistors on the USB connection.  And you need the crystal unless you're going with the slower in-chip clock.

Look at all the junk around the avr in the Epsilon:

(Attachment Link)
Thanks for the info, I put a hold on my prototype order until I update the PCB.
Title: Re: [IC] Atreus-mod KB for programmers (or just typing without using Fn for punct.)
Post by: metalliqaz on Sun, 22 March 2015, 13:08:40
No problem.  Check out what the internal oscillator speed is.  If it isn't at least 8 MHz, then consider switching to the crystal, which can go to 16MHz.  Honestly, the power caps around the AVR aren't that important, but the big capacitor on the USB and the D line resistors are important.
Title: Re: [IC] Atreus-mod KB for programmers (or just typing without using Fn for punct.)
Post by: worldspawn on Sun, 22 March 2015, 16:02:25
No problem.  Check out what the internal oscillator speed is.  If it isn't at least 8 MHz, then consider switching to the crystal, which can go to 16MHz.  Honestly, the power caps around the AVR aren't that important, but the big capacitor on the USB and the D line resistors are important.

I went ahead and threw in the 16mhz oscillator, simple enough and I won't have to worry about it.  The other capacitors and resistors have been added as well now.

(http://i.imgur.com/DwvmObx.png)
Title: Re: [IC] Atreus-mod KB for programmers (or just typing without using Fn for punct.)
Post by: vivalarevolución on Mon, 23 March 2015, 07:00:15
I'm interested in this.
Title: Re: [IC] Atreus-mod KB for programmers (or just typing without using Fn for punct.)
Post by: worldspawn on Tue, 31 March 2015, 12:50:42
The first round of boards are on their way to me now, I've already made a 2nd revision (to correct a small mistake that will require a jumper to fix in the first round of boards),also I added the SMD pads for the diodes to the back of the board, and added in the necessary circuitry for LEDs (PWM of course) in the switches.
Title: Re: [IC] Atreus-mod KB for programmers (or just typing without using Fn for punct.)
Post by: worldspawn on Tue, 31 March 2015, 12:53:28
All the LEDs are powered at the same time, there wasn't quite enough spare pins on the chip to allow charlieplexing, though I did try (I can do an array of 41 with the pins available, and I have 51 keys)  :P  I also cleaned up the traces quite a bit, and changed the key footprint to a universal one so ALPS may also be used.
(http://i.imgur.com/L6ALQI5.png)
Title: Re: [IC] Atreus-mod KB for programmers (or just typing without using Fn for punct.)
Post by: worldspawn on Tue, 21 April 2015, 11:56:02
Finally got the last of the parts (USB ports and resistors) from China!
Title: Re: [IC] Atreus-mod KB for programmers (or just typing without using Fn for punct.)
Post by: SeeThruHead on Sun, 26 April 2015, 00:33:10
I would like to get one of these if they become available.
Title: Re: [IC] Atreus-mod KB for programmers (or just typing without using Fn for punct.)
Post by: Asininity on Sun, 26 April 2015, 03:07:42
I'm very much interested in this. I've been wanting to try my hands at a ergonomic keyboard of some sort. Plus, I have a ton of Gaterons on the way that need a home. However, I might wait until a later revision as I have little experience in building a keyboard.
Title: Re: [IC] Atreus-mod KB for programmers (or just typing without using Fn for punct.)
Post by: rsantos97 on Wed, 29 April 2015, 08:10:11
This is interesting.  Put me down for one please.  As a programmer who has wrist issues, this would be a great keyboard to try.  Plus, I actually enjoy soldering stuff.
Title: Re: [IC] Atreus-mod KB for programmers (or just typing without using Fn for punct.)
Post by: Hzza on Wed, 29 April 2015, 08:27:46
I'm not sure how I didn't see this before, I've been wanting to try something similar to the Atreus for a while now but it didn't have enough keys for me.

Can you put me tentatively down for one for the time being.
Title: Re: [IC] Atreus-mod KB for programmers (or just typing without using Fn for punct.)
Post by: braidn on Sun, 17 May 2015, 20:12:26
Also potentially down for one. Constantly traveling and looking for something to take along with.
Title: Re: [IC] Atreus-mod KB for programmers (or just typing without using Fn for punct.)
Post by: silentdistractions on Wed, 20 May 2015, 21:58:35
I'd buy it
Title: Re: [IC] Atreus-mod KB for programmers (or just typing without using Fn for punct.)
Post by: worldspawn on Fri, 03 July 2015, 19:32:42
Good news, the 1st version is now 100% working.  Took a little while to figure out the firmware, but the Easy AVR software did the trick so I'm going to be looking at doing a test batch of the 2nd version with back lighting.
Easy AVR is set up as a handwire Matrix board per this:
(http://i.imgur.com/fI9AYBY.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/8gXh47B.png)
Fn+F = Fn lock
handwire_hardware.cfg should contain
[MATRIX]
ROW0=E6
ROW1=B0
ROW2=E2
ROW3=C6
ROW4=D5
COL0=B4
COL1=B5
COL2=D6
COL3=D7
COL4=C7
COL5=B6
COL6=D3
COL7=B3
COL8=B7
COL9=D0
COL10=D1
COL11=D2
LED0=B2
LED1=B3
Title: Re: [IC] Atreus-mod KB for programmers (or just typing without using Fn for punct.)
Post by: wakko on Mon, 06 July 2015, 10:12:17
Cool. Found your thread. Yea I'd be in for one.
Title: Re: [IC] Atreus-mod KB for programmers (or just typing without using Fn for punct.)
Post by: avtar on Mon, 06 July 2015, 10:53:16
I'd be in for one order as well.
Title: Re: [IC] Atreus-mod KB for programmers (or just typing without using Fn for punct.)
Post by: simonyunhe on Mon, 06 July 2015, 10:56:19
Very interest, want one for myself.
Title: Re: [IC] Atreus-mod KB for programmers (or just typing without using Fn for punct.)
Post by: technomancy on Wed, 29 July 2015, 04:07:38
I wonder if you could come up with a better name for this. "Atreus for programmers" isn't very descriptive, since Atreus is already designed for programmers.

I think it's great that you're building on my design, but I would like you to do it in a way that avoids confusion between this and the original.
Title: Re: [IC] Atreus-mod KB for programmers (or just typing without using Fn for punct.)
Post by: worldspawn on Wed, 29 July 2015, 08:06:10
yeah it doesn't really have a name right now, more of a description.
Title: Re: [IC] Atreus-mod KB for programmers (or just typing without using Fn for punct.)
Post by: simonyunhe on Thu, 27 August 2015, 07:24:31
Update ?
Title: Re: [IC] Atreus-mod KB for programmers (or just typing without using Fn for punct.)
Post by: worldspawn on Thu, 27 August 2015, 08:22:41
I've got the v2 board design done and parts sourced, waiting on funds to get a test batch made.
Title: Re: [IC] Atreus-mod KB for programmers (or just typing without using Fn for punct.)
Post by: profet on Fri, 23 October 2015, 21:01:19
This still happening? I'd be down for one.
Title: Re: [IC] Atreus-mod KB for programmers (or just typing without using Fn for punct.)
Post by: braidn on Sun, 25 October 2015, 22:34:34
Super glad this project is still alive. Would still be down for one once launched
Title: Re: [IC] Atreus-mod KB for programmers (or just typing without using Fn for punct.)
Post by: worldspawn on Mon, 26 October 2015, 19:11:50
Yep, it's still alive, I need to change one trace to make entering the bootloader mode easier (after fighting with my prototype, I figured out I need to ground an extra pin), and get together the cash to order my next batch of prototypes.  Probably be able to place the order start of December.
Title: Re: [IC] Atreus-mod KB for programmers (or just typing without using Fn for punct.)
Post by: iss on Tue, 27 October 2015, 19:41:21
Looks solid, although the top two middle keys look kind of awkward to reach.
Title: Re: [IC] Atreus-mod KB for programmers (or just typing without using Fn for punct.)
Post by: worldspawn on Wed, 28 October 2015, 07:13:25
Looks solid, although the top two middle keys look kind of awkward to reach.

It's about as awkward as hitting the F5/number-6 key on a regular keyboard, not too bad.
Title: Re: [IC] Atreus-mod KB for programmers (or just typing without using Fn for punct.)
Post by: worldspawn on Thu, 19 November 2015, 10:11:11
Ok, board modification complete, there was an issue with the last version where it did not properly restart into bootloader mode, grounding pin 33 (PE2) forces it into bootloader when restarted via reset pads now.  That pin was originally tied to a row, so it had to be re-routed.
Title: Re: [IC] Atreus-mod KB for programmers (or just typing without using Fn for punct.)
Post by: simonyunhe on Fri, 20 November 2015, 09:59:30
Ok, board modification complete, there was an issue with the last version where it did not properly restart into bootloader mode, grounding pin 33 (PE2) forces it into bootloader when restarted via reset pads now.  That pin was originally tied to a row, so it had to be re-routed.

good to know, thanks for the update!
Title: Re: [IC] Atreus-mod KB for programmers (or just typing without using Fn for punct.)
Post by: hoggy on Thu, 03 December 2015, 02:40:19
I'm in for one of these.
Title: Re: [IC] Atreus-mod KB for programmers (or just typing without using Fn for punct.)
Post by: mseaworthy on Sat, 13 February 2016, 12:58:14
Interesting. What switches would the PCB and plate support?
Title: Re: [IC] Atreus-mod KB for programmers (or just typing without using Fn for punct.)
Post by: kalupa on Thu, 23 June 2016, 14:05:49
Also interested in this. I have a Planck and my two complaints are lack of dedicated numbers and the straight hand posture it requires. This solves both of those for me