Author Topic: Razer Orbweaver plug and play RP2040 MCU replacement for QMK  (Read 7242 times)

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Offline Lostdotfish

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Razer Orbweaver plug and play RP2040 MCU replacement for QMK
« on: Sat, 07 December 2024, 10:49:05 »
I would like to formally introduce something that I've been working on for a little while now. It was driven by the desire to have an viable alternative to Razer Synapse.

The Razer Orbweaver RP2040 plug and play MCU replacement.



This mod is heavily based on the initial work and research of a_marmot and his excellent thread from a few years back. See https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=119396.0 for details.

I had a couple of issues with this earlier approach.  It requires modification to the Orbweaver shell. It involves several bundles of wire. And finally, it does not retain the functionality of the 3 status LEDs on the thumb section of the device.

This is where my board comes in.

Features
  • Plug and play - reuses all the original connectors without modification
  • Mostly non-destructive - installation requires trimming one mounting post
  • Restores the 3 indicator LEDS
  • Fully supports RGB and RGB Matrix animations

The first prototypes arrived and have been tested and I am in the process of tidying up the QMK firmware for the device.





Future Plans

So what next for this project? Trying to decide if the demand is there to do a small production run of these.  If you're interested let me know.  Costs should be around £20 + postage but this could come down if enough people would like one.

I also hope to make a couple of addons for this mod.
  • USB C detachable cable
  • Additional button carrier PCB - for things like layer and mode switching - this would require case modification
  • Replacement switch PCB - possibly hot-swappable switches

Offline Lostdotfish

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Re: Razer Orbweaver plug and play RP2040 MCU replacement for QMK
« Reply #1 on: Sat, 07 December 2024, 10:49:16 »
reserved

Offline Lostdotfish

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Re: Razer Orbweaver plug and play RP2040 MCU replacement for QMK
« Reply #2 on: Sat, 07 December 2024, 10:49:24 »
reserved

Offline blondie

  • Posts: 75
Re: Razer Orbweaver plug and play RP2040 MCU replacement for QMK
« Reply #3 on: Sat, 07 December 2024, 11:17:01 »
I am interested. Does your 20 pound price include full assembly, or just the PCB and components? How much approximately to ship across the pond to the US?
There is no greater knowledge than the knowledge of one's self. There is no greater truth than the truth of moral conviction. And there is no greater keyboard than the one beneath my fingertips.

Offline Lostdotfish

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Re: Razer Orbweaver plug and play RP2040 MCU replacement for QMK
« Reply #4 on: Sat, 07 December 2024, 11:34:23 »
Fully assembled and programmed.

I'd need to check postage costs but shouldn't be too much. Less than $10 for sure.

Offline Lostdotfish

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Re: Razer Orbweaver plug and play RP2040 MCU replacement for QMK
« Reply #5 on: Mon, 09 December 2024, 07:01:24 »
Finalised the firmware and have had it merged into the main qmk_firmware repository.

Offline the3odo

  • Posts: 3
Re: Razer Orbweaver plug and play RP2040 MCU replacement for QMK
« Reply #6 on: Tue, 21 January 2025, 00:55:07 »
I made an account here just to try and get one of these or contact you. I am in the process of making replacement key-caps and want desperately to ditch the Razer software. Ill buy two name your price, im beyond interested.
« Last Edit: Tue, 21 January 2025, 01:25:37 by the3odo »

Offline ccgreen

  • Posts: 1
Re: Razer Orbweaver plug and play RP2040 MCU replacement for QMK
« Reply #7 on: Thu, 23 January 2025, 08:20:16 »
Wow, this looks amazing, I currently have multiple versions of Razer synapse on my computer, and sometimes they just decide they don't like eachother.
I'd love to have something a bit more customisable without dealing with that software.

Out of curiosity (I'm interested either way) are these have VIA_ENABLE set in the qmk firmware?
https://www.caniusevia.com/docs/configuring_qmk/

Be nice to have an interface to update the board without having to download anything (i.e. qmk toolkit).

Offline Lostdotfish

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  • Posts: 32
Re: Razer Orbweaver plug and play RP2040 MCU replacement for QMK
« Reply #8 on: Sun, 26 January 2025, 11:31:32 »
I made an account here just to try and get one of these or contact you. I am in the process of making replacement key-caps and want desperately to ditch the Razer software. Ill buy two name your price, im beyond interested.

Wow, this looks amazing, I currently have multiple versions of Razer synapse on my computer, and sometimes they just decide they don't like eachother.
I'd love to have something a bit more customisable without dealing with that software.

Out of curiosity (I'm interested either way) are these have VIA_ENABLE set in the qmk firmware?
https://www.caniusevia.com/docs/configuring_qmk/

Be nice to have an interface to update the board without having to download anything (i.e. qmk toolkit).

I have a couple of spare prototypes here - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/267100736761

I do plan to do some more of these at some point but busy trying to finalise the Tartarus board at the moment.  Sales of these spare prototypes go toward paying for the prototype run of that board.

Offline Lostdotfish

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 32
Re: Razer Orbweaver plug and play RP2040 MCU replacement for QMK
« Reply #9 on: Sun, 26 January 2025, 11:40:38 »
Out of curiosity (I'm interested either way) are these have VIA_ENABLE set in the qmk firmware?
https://www.caniusevia.com/docs/configuring_qmk/

Be nice to have an interface to update the board without having to download anything (i.e. qmk toolkit).

It isn't at the moment but I see no reason why it couldn't be.  The firmware is open source and in the main QMK so you can already use the online configurator to prepare your keymaps

https://config.qmk.fm/#/lostdotfish/rp2040_orbweaver/LAYOUT

But I'll look into VIA when I get a chance.

Offline the3odo

  • Posts: 3
Re: Razer Orbweaver plug and play RP2040 MCU replacement for QMK
« Reply #10 on: Sun, 26 January 2025, 13:01:23 »
I have a couple of spare prototypes here - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/267100736761

I do plan to do some more of these at some point but busy trying to finalise the Tartarus board at the moment.  Sales of these spare prototypes go toward paying for the prototype run of that board.


Do you have any plans to replace the oem cable with something like a USB C port in future iterations? I do want multiple boards but if you plan more iterations ill let the other 3 prototypes for other modders.  Ive tried most of the major peripherals of this configuration due to multiple hand injuries the orbweaver is the only one that works. I am beyond a novice at keyboard modification and you have saved me an immeasurable amount of time, thank you for helping me future proof the one thing that keeps me gaming.

Well it looks like I was to late and all your boards have sold :( I am now following your ebay page hope to give you some money soon.
« Last Edit: Sun, 26 January 2025, 14:36:56 by the3odo »

Offline Lostdotfish

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 32
Re: Razer Orbweaver plug and play RP2040 MCU replacement for QMK
« Reply #11 on: Sun, 26 January 2025, 14:50:17 »
I have a couple of spare prototypes here - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/267100736761

I do plan to do some more of these at some point but busy trying to finalise the Tartarus board at the moment.  Sales of these spare prototypes go toward paying for the prototype run of that board.


Do you have any plans to replace the oem cable with something like a USB C port in future iterations? I do want multiple boards but if you plan more iterations ill let the other 3 prototypes for other modders.  Ive tried most of the major peripherals of this configuration due to multiple hand injuries the orbweaver is the only one that works. I am beyond a novice at keyboard modification and you have saved me an immeasurable amount of time, thank you for helping me future proof the one thing that keeps me gaming.

Well it looks like I was to late and all your boards have sold :( I am now following your ebay page hope to give you some money soon.

I'll let you know if/when I produce some more boards.

A USB C addon board is on the cards - it would require a 90 degree cable I think - but I'll post more about that when I get there

Offline the3odo

  • Posts: 3
Re: Razer Orbweaver plug and play RP2040 MCU replacement for QMK
« Reply #12 on: Sun, 26 January 2025, 15:04:17 »
if nothing else id be willing to take a full batch of 5 and pay you for your time as well, If you chose to move on to other projects.

Offline Puche

  • Posts: 3
Re: Razer Orbweaver plug and play RP2040 MCU replacement for QMK
« Reply #13 on: Sun, 09 February 2025, 12:15:55 »
I got 2 Orbweavers with the Lostdotfish's PCB, they are incredible, a lot of thanks to Lostdotfish for sell me the last ones.

They work incredible well. But i have 2 observations. The arrows are Wrong placed in the default profile from Razer Default Profile, in the RP2040 mod too. Left Right are swapped with Up and Down. Up would be aligned with arrow mark in the stick. But is easy to modify in the QMK firmware. The second is which the instructions are not clear  to enter in Boot mode, there are 2 methods: One is press 01 key while power in the usb. But the second is bad redacted. Press Boot and release it doesn't nothing. This only work when you press Boot + Reset in Rpi 2040, but with only the Boot button, you need press boot button while plug in the usb cord.

I would be interesting adding a version with Battery and BLE. I think could be fit a Battery in the middle of the base, removing a cross shape section, leave a rectangle to fit one inside. And the detachable USB is a plus. If you make another Version, count with 2 for me.