geekhack

geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: KaminKevCrew on Sun, 25 October 2015, 12:56:13

Title: Can you help me with my keyboard?
Post by: KaminKevCrew on Sun, 25 October 2015, 12:56:13
So, I finally just about finished my Zealio build, but I'm having a few issues...

Parts:
-Zealio 67g purples
-Sprit FaceW PCB (white)
-Tai Hao Miami Keyset
-Tex Bronze Aluminum CNC case
-Leandren 'Zealio purple' anodized aluminum plate
-Gold plated stabs from Leandren
-Sip sockets and pink LEDs from Zeal

Problem 1:
I'm trying to figure out the keymapping stuff for the keyboard, but the only guide I could find was on winkeyless, and, well, I can't read Korean, and I'm afraid that Google translate might botch something, and I could screw up my board...

Problem 2:
My spacebar stab sticks, and won't let my key return all the way up, which makes the key either not work, or it makes the computer think that I have the spacebar held all the way down. At first, I thought that the plating had made the bar too thick (and the bar/wire may be too thick) so I tried scraping off the gold plating, just on all of the contact parts, but that only helped a little bit. I'm thinking about going out to get some lube, and hopefully that will fix my issue, but I'm not totally convinced at this point...

So yeah, if anyone has any experience or knows of what would help me, please do! It would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks :)

Oh, also, since the plate allows for switch top removal, I put a cherry clear spring in the spacebar, in the hopes that the higher spring force might help with it sticking, but that didn't do it...

P.S. I figured out the LEDs, at least...
Title: Re: Can you help me with my keyboard?
Post by: suicidal_orange on Sun, 25 October 2015, 13:47:06
Have you seen this unofficial FaceW firmware guide (https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=58945.0)?  It looks helpful :)
Title: Re: Can you help me with my keyboard?
Post by: KaminKevCrew on Sun, 25 October 2015, 14:06:01
Have you seen this unofficial FaceW firmware guide (https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=58945.0)?  It looks helpful :)
I haven't, but it certainly does look very helpful! I'll experiment with it later. (I'm heading to the hardware store to see if they have any lube that will work for my space bar... Hopefully that works out)
Title: Re: Can you help me with my keyboard?
Post by: KaminKevCrew on Sun, 25 October 2015, 15:31:09
So, back from the store. The silicone lube that I got didn't end up helping with the spacebar. The stabs seem to get stuck as it returns to the resting position. I am seriously at a loss here, if anyone can help (I mean, I can desolder the whole board, but I would like to know for a fact that it would fix my issue,rather than just wasting my time.

If anyone can help, it would be greatly appreciated!

Oh, also, that unofficial guide was totally awesome! I got the media keys working in my Fn row, which is exactly what I was hoping to be able to do!
Title: Re: Can you help me with my keyboard?
Post by: suicidal_orange on Sun, 25 October 2015, 15:39:26
Glad you got the firmware sorted, now to make it usable :))

If you take the stabs out of the board do they work?  If both ends move freely it's something to do with the board, if not it's the stab/wire.

If it's the board is the spacebar hard to pressdown or does it just seem to be on the upstroke it has issues?  Is the wire rubbing on the board or the switch causing the friction?
Title: Re: Can you help me with my keyboard?
Post by: KaminKevCrew on Sun, 25 October 2015, 15:55:37
Glad you got the firmware sorted, now to make it usable :))

If you take the stabs out of the board do they work?  If both ends move freely it's something to do with the board, if not it's the stab/wire.

If it's the board is the spacebar hard to pressdown or does it just seem to be on the upstroke it has issues?  Is the wire rubbing on the board or the switch causing the friction?
I had taken the stabs out and tried them before I soldered the board. They stay up when I pull them up, whether they are in the board or by themselves on the table. I didn't think it would be too big a deal, since it didn't feel like too much more force, but apparently it's enough to be an issue. I've posted in the classifieds, hoping someone is willing to sell me some ~100 gram springs. If that doesn't work, I guess I'll have to source some new wire (it's not the plastic bit, as I tried the wire with several of the plastic ends, and they all did the same thing, even though they didn't on the other stab wire.) so it's definitely an issue with the wire. Should I see if I can get another stab set from leandren or something?
Title: Re: Can you help me with my keyboard?
Post by: KaminKevCrew on Sun, 25 October 2015, 16:04:01
Also, I don't think I said this earlier, it's only the upstroke that seems to have issues. The downstroke feels fine, although the bottom out feel is a bit odd, can't really describe what it is exactly, it almost feels like a slight cushion is down there (like how I assume the trampoline mod feels.)
Title: Re: Can you help me with my keyboard?
Post by: suicidal_orange on Sun, 25 October 2015, 16:09:25
Ok so they're sticking, good start.  I've just grabbed some stabs and the only thing I can see that would cause that would be a too long wire which is catching on the back of the housing -  are there any scratch marks in there?  If not push it up and down 20x and look again just to make sure.

If this is the case you just need to trim the end off, remember you can always cut off more but you can't stick it back on...