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geekhack Projects => Making Stuff Together! => Topic started by: Artemie on Sun, 04 October 2020, 20:37:13

Title: Pixelpad
Post by: Artemie on Sun, 04 October 2020, 20:37:13

Hello world,

After the “success” of the Pinnacle 65, I reckon it’s time to “debut” what I’ve been working on for a long time.

This is a macro/numpad that I’ve been working with Fusion 360 since late 2018 since I had the idea. The main design idea is to fit a screen, as well as numpad support in the form of a Gameboy cartridge.
Along the way, it has undergone a numerous changes in design, and now I’ve finally (mostly) settled on a design that I’m happy with.

Updated render 19 October 2020
[attachimg=1]
[attachimg=2]
[attachimg=3]

The features in this board are:
3.12” OLED screen
Uses Ai03 Unified USBC daughterboard
Hotswap / solderable PCB
Top mount
No external screws visible when assembled
RGB strip at bottom

To do list:
Brain storm for a better name, as “GBApad” technically means Gameboy Advance Pad. But this is a Gameboy cartridge. Name suggestions welcome!    Pixelpad.
3D print the design to test for fitment    Fits!
Outsource PCB design and firmware writing
Firmware writing for SPI (OLED screen) to interface with QMK

Old renders

More

(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20201005/cb0050b651cbfeb5bd00b3dbb15010de.jpg)
Render provided by Bunny#5085 who made SA Night Light.

More pictures down below (rendered using Fusion 360). Switch LEDs will also be south facing as opposed to what is shown in render.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20201005/9d490f71c86b065feae8161ede326ac7.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20201005/db0b7ada25680904ce83a36921906e75.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20201005/d5bfa6e3957c12dec04796d85559e0cd.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20201005/9a21ab31e87b36b39a60c649830c1d61.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20201005/1e87a9ec34a16a5f2e6f6804c5b8e024.jpg)

I can also be contacted on discord at Artemie#3490

Credits:
#kb-kustom community from Mechkeys discord who made spend ludicrous amounts of money in this hobby and still feel that it ain’t enough
Caleb (beamingrobot) from Monokei.co who urged me on to finishing the design
Yiancar for helping to work on PCB and firmware

Title: Re: GBApad (working title)
Post by: LightningXI on Sun, 04 October 2020, 20:43:05

Huge fan of the original Game Boy, so color me interested (no pun intended :dafoe5:)

Title: Re: GBApad (working title)
Post by: SirShakes on Sun, 04 October 2020, 20:48:50

lit

Title: Re: GBApad (working title)
Post by: of_sam on Sun, 04 October 2020, 21:10:35

Looks great  :) Interested!

Title: Re: GBApad (working title)
Post by: Zeeejay on Sun, 04 October 2020, 22:31:45

Really nailed the look for this. Just spitballing but maybe something like "ROMpad" would sound more specific to a cartridge.

Title: Re: GBApad (working title)
Post by: Artemie on Mon, 05 October 2020, 19:23:21

Updated with some fusion renders, since I got the emissive LED option working yesterday night.

[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]

Title: Re: GBApad (working title)
Post by: jstein91 on Tue, 06 October 2020, 14:38:06

Love the design.

Will the screen be able to show calculations input on the pad? That would be killer.

Title: Re: GBApad (working title)
Post by: yui on Fri, 09 October 2020, 04:27:18

there was on thingiverse a model of a GB cartridge macropad i think, could have been a bit easier for you than making it from scratch, and it does not really look like a GBA cart... if that was not obvious. maybe something like numboy? or gamepad?

Title: Re: GBApad (working title)
Post by: Artemie on Fri, 09 October 2020, 23:38:50

RGB Bottom
[attach=1]
[attach=2]
[attach=3]
[attach=4]
[attach=5]

Title: Re: GBApad (working title)
Post by: Rotwitt on Sat, 10 October 2020, 01:31:57

Really neat design! What resolution do you have the display to have?

Sendt fra min G8441 med Tapatalk

Title: Re: GBApad (working title)
Post by: Artemie on Sat, 10 October 2020, 23:49:10

Quote from: Rotwitt on Sat, 10 October 2020, 01:31:57

Really neat design! What resolution do you have the display to have?

Sendt fra min G8441 med Tapatalk

256x64, 3.12" OLED screen

Title: Re: GBApad (working title)
Post by: Artemie on Thu, 15 October 2020, 18:28:18

Made 3D print proto.
Everything surprisingly fits.

(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20201015/812d796bb459c3aa63754a529897a80c.jpg)

Title: Re: GBApad (working title)
Post by: Onnimar on Sat, 17 October 2020, 17:36:01

Really like the design and the prototype is beautiful. The curved bottom throws me off a little though, everything else is chamfered so I think it looks out of place. That is just my opinion though and others might like it.

Title: Re: Pixelpad
Post by: Artemie on Wed, 21 October 2020, 08:25:57

So I was able to fiddle around more with Fusion 360 renders settings.

Frosted Polycarbonate
[attachimg=1]
[attachimg=2]

Ewhite
[attachimg=3]
[attachimg=4]

Nidorino vs. Gengar display
[attachimg=5]
[attachimg=6]

Title: Re: Pixelpad
Post by: jstein91 on Wed, 21 October 2020, 09:17:12

Love the polycarb renders.

Gives me some serious nostalgia for the old see-through purple game boy colors. Is that color a possibility? Cause that would be sick.

Title: Re: Pixelpad
Post by: Afteryou on Wed, 21 October 2020, 09:19:14

Frosted PC bringing back some SERIOUS nostalgia.. Watching this with great interest!

Title: Re: Pixelpad
Post by: Prelim on Wed, 21 October 2020, 09:40:40

very like!! the RGB bottom is gay though :P

Title: Re: Pixelpad
Post by: KeebOnMe on Wed, 21 October 2020, 22:59:56

I like the look! It'd be cool to put a raspberry pi in it and load an emulator and play it on the screen if possible.

Or use the pad as a controller for a computer monitor.

Title: Re: Pixelpad
Post by: Artemie on Thu, 22 October 2020, 05:31:44

The idea is to have the alu prototype first. However, I am definitely interested in getting frosted PC to test IRL.

For the screen, actual implementation will still be up to Yiancar on how he would write the firmware. With any luck, GIF and input support will be able to be displayed.

Title: Re: Pixelpad
Post by: Bitdrive on Mon, 01 February 2021, 18:20:03

Daaang this is just hits hard with the retro vibes, interesting that it started as a Gameboy cartridge looks really dope , going to keep my eye on this one

+rep

Title: Re: Pixelpad
Post by: FoC_Tow on Mon, 08 February 2021, 08:59:54

Frosted pc looks amazing!

Kinda hard to judge tho.
I imagine anything looks great af on that deskmat...

Title: Re: Pixelpad
Post by: Xeryn on Mon, 08 February 2021, 12:30:48

This is beautiful, I'm interested. Definitely hoping you keep the curved backside to maintain that Gameboy color look.

Title: Re: Pixelpad
Post by: ZyBeR on Fri, 12 February 2021, 04:30:25

Sick!