GH60 Keyboard Project

[OrangeJewce]

I have no idea what anyone has been talking about in this whole page. I'll I want it to do is have multiple layers, hardware programmable buttons, works with Windows and a nice GUI if at all possible.

Cheers,

LoL. "Something passable"

That's what I'm thinking. If I do this I have no idea where to start because I've never even seen what is expected out of a GUI for this so I fully intend to hack it to hell and back. If anyone has some idea of what they want it might be best to post ITT w/ pictures or sketches.
If it's done in python I'm sure something passable can be thought up. I'll just have to wait and see what comes out in terms of firmware. Regardless, I'm sure the features you want will be available.

nebo,

     Here is how this would work (if it's a teensy):
     Firstly, you'll have to think of this as two separate pieces: the user interface that will allow you to set up the keymappings/layers , and the middleware that will translate it into what the firmware will see. The former isn't too bad (just put together 60 buttons that look like a keyboard in this case, each showing the currently mapped key), but the latter can be challenging depending on how the firmware is written.  You may have to do very little work, or quite a bit. Either way, after you've edited either precompiled firmware, or compiled it aside after editing the firmware source with the new mappings, you'll need to flash the teensy microcontroller manually. I believe there is a commandline utility which does this in Linux and for Windows, which can be executed silently (and therefore available from your python).

Hopefully this will give you an idea of how I have envisioned this type of project.

Cheers,

[SmallFry]

I'm interested as long as the ISO 1.25 Winkey PCB + Plate goes through.

BTW: what bootloader are you putting on those Atmels, or do we still need to program them and solder it to the PCB upon arrival?

I know on the prototypes that you have to solder the ATMega onto the board. With the final revision, I would assume that they fabricator will be soldering them on for us, though, I'd prefer to do it all myself.

[TheProfosist]

I'm interested as long as the ISO 1.25 Winkey PCB + Plate goes through.

BTW: what bootloader are you putting on those Atmels, or do we still need to program them and solder it to the PCB upon arrival?

I know on the prototypes that you have to solder the ATMega onto the board. With the final revision, I would assume that they fabricator will be soldering them on for us, though, I'd prefer to do it all myself.

to my knowledge the final will be all done by the factory

[SmallFry]

That's what I would've assumed, but wasn't sure.

[alaricljs]

Also the MCU comes with the DFU bootloader and will retain that, so you use Flip to load a new firmware.

[komar007]

to my knowledge the final will be all done by the factory

or by me, if it appears too expensive;)

[IvanIvanovich]

For programming, in my mind it would just be easiest with 2 keyboards hooked up. Press a key on the keyboard to program and it would bring up a question mark, then press a key on working keyboard that you want that to be. Move onto the next key and repeat until done. Save, then it would write. It's sort of like how the Access IS programming utility works, might look at that? It's kind of clunky but it works and is pretty dummy proof.

[nebo]

For programming, in my mind it would just be easiest with 2 keyboards hooked up. Press a key on the keyboard to program and it would bring up a question mark, then press a key on working keyboard that you want that to be. Move onto the next key and repeat until done. Save, then it would write. It's sort of like how the Access IS programming utility works, might look at that? It's kind of clunky but it works and is pretty dummy proof.

True, and while everyone should have a second keyboard to do this with, it is far too limiting. FN layer comes to mind, how do you emulate a vol+ keypress if you don't have one? Short answer is you don't very easily.

[mkawa]

atmega* is easy to obtain. we should be able to have pick-n-place done by the factory no problem. i believe red now has some experience with one ebay vendor who offers this service, as his hackercon badges were all pick-n-place leds

[SmallFry]

I know that a fab would be easy to do this, but being able to do it all myself gives me some sort of sense of accomplishment. Plus, tis not like I don't have the gear with my dad's job of an EE. I have all the flux, solder and iron at home ready for my hackery, that I use quite often, thought be had.

[IvanIvanovich]

The Access IS utility also has a menu where you can select scancode. I am not a programmer, so it was only a suggestion. I don't really know how easy these things are, especially since it needs to be interacted with at a hardware level. I think Windows stuff may be a lot harder since all the driver signing type stuff, especially on x64 and from my experience with programmable boards, x86 only doesn't work on x64 for these things.

[mkawa]

I know that a fab would be easy to do this, but being able to do it all myself gives me some sort of sense of accomplishment. Plus, tis not like I don't have the gear with my dad's job of an EE. I have all the flux, solder and iron at home ready for my hackery, that I use quite often, thought be had.

nice for prototyping, but as your dad well knows, when we kit it up, we'll want as few assembly steps as possible, and it's not a lot of added cost to get pick-n-place done at board fab time

[SmallFry]

I know that a fab would be easy to do this, but being able to do it all myself gives me some sort of sense of accomplishment. Plus, tis not like I don't have the gear with my dad's job of an EE. I have all the flux, solder and iron at home ready for my hackery, that I use quite often, thought be had.

nice for prototyping, but as your dad well knows, when we kit it up, we'll want as few assembly steps as possible, and it's not a lot of added cost to get pick-n-place done at board fab time

Roger Kawa. I await the group buy. *twiddles thumbs*

[OrangeJewce]

The Access IS utility also has a menu where you can select scancode. I am not a programmer, so it was only a suggestion. I don't really know how easy these things are, especially since it needs to be interacted with at a hardware level. I think Windows stuff may be a lot harder since all the driver signing type stuff, especially on x64 and from my experience with programmable boards, x86 only doesn't work on x64 for these things.

This is not a big issue, as long as your OS is set to EN (or whatever default you are used to), because one would be modifying the firmware directly, and the OS will not care as long as it gets an ASCII character. you can create some crazy things, however, if you use a hardware mapping that's customized and decide to do something in HE on windows, because your standard HE layout will be confused by the hardware EN layout. Remember, there won't be any drivers, ever. It's going to be completely plug and play. This means that you will be able to take your keyboard to any computer and the layout will be preserved, once it's flashed onto the teensy.

Cheers,

[alaricljs]

Keyboards do NOT send ASCII.  They send keycodes.  Those keycodes get interpreted differently depending on the settings of your OS.

[OrangeJewce]

Keyboards do NOT send ASCII.  They send keycodes.  Those keycodes get interpreted differently depending on the settings of your OS.

Yah you're right. I messed that up and figured it out this morning the mistake made.

My bad!

Cheers,

[dirge]

ebcdic > ascaii

(I'm old)

[winzds]

Nice keyboard

[__red__]

I don't see any show-stoppers in the board's design.  If there is, we'll fix it!

[SmallFry]

WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Thanks Red!

[komar007]

Fine, I'm sending the files today.
The money is long paid, so it's high time.

[mkawa]

...and here we go

[TheProfosist]

whooo hooo, cant wait!

[OddOne]

Very excited for this komar and company.  Can't wait to see some protos.  Good work everyone!

[komar007]

Sent.
Now I have to wait until Monday when they check it out and tell me what is wrong. Then I'll correct it, send again, then correct, etc.

[TheProfosist]

Sent.
Now I have to wait until Monday when they check it out and tell me what is wrong. Then I'll correct it, send again, then correct, etc.

sounds good hopefully there are not many corrections

[komar007]

Sent.
Now I have to wait until Monday when they check it out and tell me what is wrong. Then I'll correct it, send again, then correct, etc.

sounds good hopefully there are not many corrections

I'm only concerned about those switch holes which overlap. They may not like it and I'll have to change them into slots, like in Phantom.
The rest shouldn't be a problem.

[SmallFry]

Not slots! Anything but slots! looking good Komar!

[mkawa]

Sent.
Now I have to wait until Monday when they check it out and tell me what is wrong. Then I'll correct it, send again, then correct, etc.

sounds good hopefully there are not many corrections

I'm only concerned about those switch holes which overlap. They may not like it and I'll have to change them into slots, like in Phantom.
The rest shouldn't be a problem.

very likely. if we have to slot though we have to slot

[__red__]

Which board-house are you using?

[SmallFry]

Aren't most houses made of boards Red?

[__red__]

That's an American construction method.  In Europe, we make our houses out of brick.

[WRXChris]

That's an American construction method.  In Europe, we make our houses out of brick.

In Europe, you also don't eat GMO **** food or high fructose corn syrup.  When profit isn't the primary focus it's amazing how much better off the average person is!

And to get back on topic, count me as interested in 1 for sure!

[SmallFry]

That's an American construction method.  In Europe, we make our houses out of brick.

You aren't in Europe? LoL!

[komar007]

Which board-house are you using?

pcbcart

[__red__]

Which board-house are you using?

pcbcart

Damn they're expensive for boards... it makes sense to use them tho if they're more cost effective for pick and place.

(Need to finish building my pick and place machine)

[SmallFry]

Which board-house are you using?

pcbcart

Damn they're expensive for boards... it makes sense to use them tho if they're more cost effective for pick and place.

(Need to finish building my pick and place machine)

Building???

[Parak]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/230874735122 clearly.

[komar007]

Damn they're expensive for boards... it makes sense to use them tho if they're more cost effective for pick and place.

(Need to finish building my pick and place machine)

It's not that bad, and I heard they're good quality.
Anyway we'll see what we'll use for production. I'd like to see these boards first;)

[samwisekoi]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/230874735122 clearly.

Need to swap out the keycaps on that unit.

 - Ron | samwisekoi

[Ascaii]

Am I too late to be added to the list?

[SmallFry]

Am I too late to be added to the list?

For prototyping, yea. The GB hasn't started yet though, so you're in luck!

[gizzard]

Add me to the interest list!!!

[TheProfosist]

I think a while back he said there is way more than enough interest and that once the pcb is finialized a GB will be started up

[jdcarpe]

Yes, we are past the interest phase and into the prototyping phase. Don't worry, you don't have to have expressed interest in this project to participate in the group buy. I think we want everyone who wants this GH-inspired and -designed keyboard to have one (or more)!

[__red__]

Which board-house are you using?

pcbcart

Damn they're expensive for boards... it makes sense to use them tho if they're more cost effective for pick and place.

(Need to finish building my pick and place machine)

Building???

Oh ye of little faith...

http://code.google.com/p/openpnp/

[SmallFry]

Now that, my friend, is a cool project.

[Batmann]

looks very cool indeed, watching the Y axis demo was enough to turn me on
what applications do you foresee for the average user?

[Viz]

Just a couple of questions:
1) How is it with linux and BSD support?
2) what is the assumed price?

[SmallFry]

Just a couple of questions:
1) How is it with linux and BSD support?
2) what is the assumed price?

I would assume that it will work on Linux, not sure about programming it, but it will function.
I believe the price for the PCB and plate was supposed to be around $60 IIRC.