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geekhack Projects => Making Stuff Together! => Topic started by: JDragon on Wed, 20 July 2016, 12:50:13

Title: AMJ Pad
Post by: JDragon on Wed, 20 July 2016, 12:50:13
I found this kit on Aliexpress: http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Digital-mechanical-keyboard-carbon-fiber-shell-digital-pad-kit-digital-key-mechanical-keyboard-shaft/32678512194.html

Has anyone built this one before? Google and the search function here didn't give me too much help in terms of any documentation available on this.
Title: Re: AMJ Pad
Post by: redbanshee on Wed, 20 July 2016, 13:31:22
About $73 to get it to me here, looks pretty nice with pads for 1210 smd leds. Probably wont buy it, but you should and report back  :thumb:
Title: Re: AMJ Pad
Post by: JDragon on Wed, 20 July 2016, 14:17:26
Quote from: redbanshee on Wed, 20 July 2016, 13:31:22
About $73 to get it to me here, looks pretty nice with pads for 1210 smd leds. Probably wont buy it, but you should and report back  :thumb:

Thank you for the information on the LED pads.

Very tempted to, but I'm fairly new to building keyboards and want to get an understanding of what I'm getting into.

From what I found out on reddit, this is an "upgraded" GHpad so I assume it can be programmed with TMK.

Do you know for 1210 SMD LEDs, do I need a separate RGB controller part/diodes/resistors? The seller told me that I wouldn't need diodes/resistors for in-switch LEDs but I'm not sure if that includes the underglow LEDs as well (a bit of a language barrier in our communications). Is soldering the 1210 SMD LEDs a pretty easy process?
Title: Re: AMJ Pad
Post by: Data on Wed, 20 July 2016, 14:24:23
Express shipping is more than the kit.   :))
Title: Re: AMJ Pad
Post by: redbanshee on Wed, 20 July 2016, 14:31:14
Quote from: JDragon on Wed, 20 July 2016, 14:17:26
Quote from: redbanshee on Wed, 20 July 2016, 13:31:22
About $73 to get it to me here, looks pretty nice with pads for 1210 smd leds. Probably wont buy it, but you should and report back  :thumb:

Thank you for the information on the LED pads.

Very tempted to, but I'm fairly new to building keyboards and want to get an understanding of what I'm getting into.

From what I found out on reddit, this is an "upgraded" GHpad so I assume it can be programmed with TMK.

Do you know for 1210 SMD LEDs, do I need a separate RGB controller part/diodes/resistors? The seller told me that I wouldn't need diodes/resistors for in-switch LEDs but I'm not sure if that includes the underglow LEDs as well (a bit of a language barrier in our communications). Is soldering the 1210 SMD LEDs a pretty easy process?

You will need resistors for the 1210 LEDs (thats why there are 2 sets of pads side by side along the edge of the pcb) the resistor ohm rating depends on the LED's you use. But should be in the 200-800 ohm range.
Title: Re: AMJ Pad
Post by: redbanshee on Wed, 20 July 2016, 14:41:58
Also they should be software controlled.

SMD soldering isn't really that hard but make sure you have thick flux and a chisel edge soldering iron tip. Put a big dab of flux down and use it to position the LED or resistor then hold the LED / resistor with tweasers, melt some solder onto the tip of your iron, and touch the iron to the pad/leg.
Title: Re: AMJ Pad
Post by: JDragon on Wed, 20 July 2016, 16:00:04
Quote from: redbanshee on Wed, 20 July 2016, 14:41:58
Also they should be software controlled.

SMD soldering isn't really that hard but make sure you have thick flux and a chisel edge soldering iron tip. Put a big dab of flux down and use it to position the LED or resistor then hold the LED / resistor with tweasers, melt some solder onto the tip of your iron, and touch the iron to the pad/leg.

Thanks! This is very helpful. I will be sure to look up some YouTube tutorials also.

Is there a specific type of LED/resistor that's good to use in this situation? I looked on eBay/AliExpress and the array of components is staggering. Do you also have any recommendations for flux? I have a Hakko FX-888D with a chisel tip so I should be good there.

I appreciate your help with this. I've only soldered switches and in-switch LEDs before so pretty much a noob at this.
Title: Re: AMJ Pad
Post by: redbanshee on Wed, 20 July 2016, 16:07:15
http://www.ebay.com/itm/291114108051

http://www.ebay.com/itm/100PCS-1210-3528-Blue-Light-PLCC-2-SMD-SMT-LED-Diodes-Ultra-Bright-USA-/121733488119?hash=item1c57e19df7

Im not 100% sure those are the best resistor for the job (to get the most brightness out of the LED) but they should be adequate.
Title: Re: AMJ Pad
Post by: JDragon on Wed, 20 July 2016, 16:47:23
Quote from: redbanshee on Wed, 20 July 2016, 16:07:15
http://www.ebay.com/itm/291114108051

http://www.ebay.com/itm/100PCS-1210-3528-Blue-Light-PLCC-2-SMD-SMT-LED-Diodes-Ultra-Bright-USA-/121733488119?hash=item1c57e19df7

Im not 100% sure those are the best resistor for the job (to get the most brightness out of the LED) but they should be adequate.

Much appreciated! Am I correct in my assumption that the similar RGB LEDs offered by the seller (http://www.ebay.com/itm/100PCS-SMD-SMT-PLCC-2-1210-3528-RGB-Red-Green-Blue-Light-Common-Anode-LED-Diodes-/121733490754) are likely not controllable and that I should pick the color I like the best and use that one?

I think I'm about ready to pull the trigger on this pad, just want to make sure I pick up the right components to make it look all pretty. :)
Title: Re: AMJ Pad
Post by: redbanshee on Wed, 20 July 2016, 19:43:39
Quote from: JDragon on Wed, 20 July 2016, 16:47:23
Quote from: redbanshee on Wed, 20 July 2016, 16:07:15
http://www.ebay.com/itm/291114108051

http://www.ebay.com/itm/100PCS-1210-3528-Blue-Light-PLCC-2-SMD-SMT-LED-Diodes-Ultra-Bright-USA-/121733488119?hash=item1c57e19df7

Im not 100% sure those are the best resistor for the job (to get the most brightness out of the LED) but they should be adequate.

Much appreciated! Am I correct in my assumption that the similar RGB LEDs offered by the seller (http://www.ebay.com/itm/100PCS-SMD-SMT-PLCC-2-1210-3528-RGB-Red-Green-Blue-Light-Common-Anode-LED-Diodes-/121733490754) are likely not controllable and that I should pick the color I like the best and use that one?

I think I'm about ready to pull the trigger on this pad, just want to make sure I pick up the right components to make it look all pretty. :)

The pads on that pcb are most definitely not for RGB leds. There would be 6 pads total, 4 for the light, and 2 for the resistor. Youll want to buy single color 1210 smd leds.
Title: Re: AMJ Pad
Post by: JDragon on Wed, 20 July 2016, 21:44:33
Quote from: redbanshee on Wed, 20 July 2016, 19:43:39
Quote from: JDragon on Wed, 20 July 2016, 16:47:23
Quote from: redbanshee on Wed, 20 July 2016, 16:07:15
http://www.ebay.com/itm/291114108051

http://www.ebay.com/itm/100PCS-1210-3528-Blue-Light-PLCC-2-SMD-SMT-LED-Diodes-Ultra-Bright-USA-/121733488119?hash=item1c57e19df7

Im not 100% sure those are the best resistor for the job (to get the most brightness out of the LED) but they should be adequate.

Much appreciated! Am I correct in my assumption that the similar RGB LEDs offered by the seller (http://www.ebay.com/itm/100PCS-SMD-SMT-PLCC-2-1210-3528-RGB-Red-Green-Blue-Light-Common-Anode-LED-Diodes-/121733490754) are likely not controllable and that I should pick the color I like the best and use that one?

I think I'm about ready to pull the trigger on this pad, just want to make sure I pick up the right components to make it look all pretty. :)

The pads on that pcb are most definitely not for RGB leds. There would be 6 pads total, 4 for the light, and 2 for the resistor. Youll want to buy single color 1210 smd leds.

Got it, thank you. Would I need different resistance resistors if I went with orange, for example, instead of blue? Is there an easy way to figure out what's the right kind of resistor to pair with a particular SMD LED?
Title: Re: AMJ Pad
Post by: Data on Thu, 21 July 2016, 06:38:19
Quote from: JDragon on Wed, 20 July 2016, 21:44:33
Quote from: redbanshee on Wed, 20 July 2016, 19:43:39
Quote from: JDragon on Wed, 20 July 2016, 16:47:23
Quote from: redbanshee on Wed, 20 July 2016, 16:07:15
http://www.ebay.com/itm/291114108051

http://www.ebay.com/itm/100PCS-1210-3528-Blue-Light-PLCC-2-SMD-SMT-LED-Diodes-Ultra-Bright-USA-/121733488119?hash=item1c57e19df7

Im not 100% sure those are the best resistor for the job (to get the most brightness out of the LED) but they should be adequate.

Much appreciated! Am I correct in my assumption that the similar RGB LEDs offered by the seller (http://www.ebay.com/itm/100PCS-SMD-SMT-PLCC-2-1210-3528-RGB-Red-Green-Blue-Light-Common-Anode-LED-Diodes-/121733490754) are likely not controllable and that I should pick the color I like the best and use that one?

I think I'm about ready to pull the trigger on this pad, just want to make sure I pick up the right components to make it look all pretty. :)

The pads on that pcb are most definitely not for RGB leds. There would be 6 pads total, 4 for the light, and 2 for the resistor. Youll want to buy single color 1210 smd leds.

Got it, thank you. Would I need different resistance resistors if I went with orange, for example, instead of blue? Is there an easy way to figure out what's the right kind of resistor to pair with a particular SMD LED?

Your LEDs have their own specs.  You'll want to look for those and plug them into a resistor calculator.  I usually use this one (http://ledcalc.com/).  That will give you the minimum safe resistance value to operate on a given circuit.  Round up.  You can safely increase the resistor up a step or two if you want to reduce the overall current draw on your board -- a board full of LEDs can add up quickly and pull a lot of current over the USB port depending on how they're driven (smart money seems to be on PWM).  Reducing current also reduces luminance, but it's not linear.
Title: Re: AMJ Pad
Post by: JDragon on Thu, 21 July 2016, 16:34:38
Quote from: Data on Thu, 21 July 2016, 06:38:19
Quote from: JDragon on Wed, 20 July 2016, 21:44:33
Quote from: redbanshee on Wed, 20 July 2016, 19:43:39
Quote from: JDragon on Wed, 20 July 2016, 16:47:23
Quote from: redbanshee on Wed, 20 July 2016, 16:07:15
http://www.ebay.com/itm/291114108051

http://www.ebay.com/itm/100PCS-1210-3528-Blue-Light-PLCC-2-SMD-SMT-LED-Diodes-Ultra-Bright-USA-/121733488119?hash=item1c57e19df7

Im not 100% sure those are the best resistor for the job (to get the most brightness out of the LED) but they should be adequate.

Much appreciated! Am I correct in my assumption that the similar RGB LEDs offered by the seller (http://www.ebay.com/itm/100PCS-SMD-SMT-PLCC-2-1210-3528-RGB-Red-Green-Blue-Light-Common-Anode-LED-Diodes-/121733490754) are likely not controllable and that I should pick the color I like the best and use that one?

I think I'm about ready to pull the trigger on this pad, just want to make sure I pick up the right components to make it look all pretty. :)

The pads on that pcb are most definitely not for RGB leds. There would be 6 pads total, 4 for the light, and 2 for the resistor. Youll want to buy single color 1210 smd leds.

Got it, thank you. Would I need different resistance resistors if I went with orange, for example, instead of blue? Is there an easy way to figure out what's the right kind of resistor to pair with a particular SMD LED?

Your LEDs have their own specs.  You'll want to look for those and plug them into a resistor calculator.  I usually use this one (http://ledcalc.com/).  That will give you the minimum safe resistance value to operate on a given circuit.  Round up.  You can safely increase the resistor up a step or two if you want to reduce the overall current draw on your board -- a board full of LEDs can add up quickly and pull a lot of current over the USB port depending on how they're driven (smart money seems to be on PWM).  Reducing current also reduces luminance, but it's not linear.

Perfect, thank you! This has been a very educational experience. :)
Title: Re: AMJ Pad
Post by: Zanduby on Sat, 30 July 2016, 18:52:57
anyone have a site or program to program the pad?
Title: Re: AMJ Pad
Post by: jchan94 on Sun, 31 July 2016, 05:40:04
Quote from: Zanduby on Sat, 30 July 2016, 18:52:57
anyone have a site or program to program the pad?

For amj, he uses this - 58.96.180.101/amj/tkg/

Title: Re: AMJ Pad
Post by: Data on Mon, 01 August 2016, 06:24:03
Quote from: jchan94 on Sun, 31 July 2016, 05:40:04
Quote from: Zanduby on Sat, 30 July 2016, 18:52:57
anyone have a site or program to program the pad?

For amj, he uses this - 58.96.180.101/amj/tkg/

Thanks.  Strange that he's not using a domain.

What do we flash with?  Flip?  Or... ?
Title: Re: AMJ Pad
Post by: Data on Wed, 17 August 2016, 09:29:14
Got mine Monday.  Initial build quality looks pretty good.  I didn't spend a lot of time examining it.  Mine came with black feet.  The included(!) stabilizers look like they might be decent or garbage... could go either way.

Going to look for some SMD LEDs and resistors for it.  Anybody know which of the 4 pads is for LED and which is for resistor, and what the polarity is?  I can't really tell just looking at it and we don't have a schematic to reference.  :P
Title: Re: AMJ Pad
Post by: tofgerl on Thu, 25 August 2016, 14:27:39
Did you ever find out how to build it?
Title: Re: AMJ Pad
Post by: Data on Fri, 26 August 2016, 07:34:59
Quote from: tofgerl on Thu, 25 August 2016, 14:27:39
Did you ever find out how to build it?

Still looking for some info on the bottom LED pads.  Haven't looked at it again since opening it.  :P
Title: Re: AMJ Pad
Post by: tofgerl on Fri, 26 August 2016, 07:38:50
To me it looks like they're only for LED's, not for other parts. That doesn't explain why there are four pads per, but it could be that you have the option of putting two SMDs per spot or something? Or a weird RGB SMD which I've never seen.
Title: Re: AMJ Pad
Post by: Data on Fri, 26 August 2016, 07:40:57
Quote from: tofgerl on Fri, 26 August 2016, 07:38:50
To me it looks like they're only for LED's, not for other parts. That doesn't explain why there are four pads per, but it could be that you have the option of putting two SMDs per spot or something? Or a weird RGB SMD which I've never seen.

You need a resistor.  There are none for bottom LEDs in the shipped version of the board.  Presumably 2 of the 4 pads are for an SMD resistor, and the other 2 for the LED proper.
Title: Re: AMJ Pad
Post by: tofgerl on Fri, 26 August 2016, 07:42:53
Have you checked out the GHPad thread? The AMJPad is supposed to be a fork of it.
https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=38963.0
Title: Re: AMJ Pad
Post by: Data on Fri, 26 August 2016, 07:49:00
Quote from: tofgerl on Fri, 26 August 2016, 07:42:53
Have you checked out the GHPad thread? The AMJPad is supposed to be a fork of it.
https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=38963.0

If it's a fork of GHpad then it's a distant fork...  I don't see any resemblance, honestly.  The GHpad has no circuitry for bottom LEDs at all.  The people who've hacked their own underglow on a GHpad are just flipping the orientation of the through-hole LEDs normally used for in-switch lighting.
Title: Re: AMJ Pad
Post by: tofgerl on Tue, 30 August 2016, 05:01:53
No idea, I just read it somewhere.

Anyway, I ordered it yesterday, so we'll see when it arrives. I won't be using SMD LED's, though. I can't stand glowing keyboards - they interfere with the colour of the screens.
Title: Re: AMJ Pad
Post by: Data on Wed, 31 August 2016, 09:15:25
I gotta have that glow.  Especially for this project.   :))
Title: Re: AMJ Pad
Post by: tofgerl on Thu, 22 September 2016, 06:28:20
Arrived today. I don't have the switches yet, so I can't put it together, but I can say that the underside of this board is confusing as hell! Without a diagram, I won't be touching any LEDs.
Title: Re: AMJ Pad
Post by: menuhin on Sun, 23 October 2016, 15:38:50
If I understand correctly, this board can be programmed following this tutorial:
https://deskthority.net/workshop-f7/how-to-build-your-very-own-keyboard-firmware-t7177.html

But I am too new to know if this idea for using this AMj Pad (which I'm considering to acquire) can be realized:
Having separate layers locked to work as a number pad, a cursor arrow pad, and as a half-keyboard with the SpaceFn key in use (when I place it horizontally).
Title: Re: AMJ Pad
Post by: tofgerl on Sun, 23 October 2016, 16:00:48
Yes. But I haven't seen a TMK or QMK fork for amjpad yet. I'm just using it as is for now.
Title: Re: AMJ Pad
Post by: breitling on Wed, 26 October 2016, 18:39:40
I got one of these from a different source and it has resistors on the bottom SMD LED pads already.. perhaps this can help whomever wants to add them.

(http://i.imgur.com/TwT5jZN.jpg)
Title: Re: AMJ Pad
Post by: Data on Thu, 27 October 2016, 07:25:56
That is actually very helpful.  Nice find!

We can extrapolate from the image that the positive side of a given SMD LED would be the pad nearest to the resistor.  And that should be all we need to populate the bottom of the board.

Are you able to read the number printed on those resistors?  I'm curious what they used.  Thanks for sharing!
Title: Re: AMJ Pad
Post by: menuhin on Thu, 27 October 2016, 08:06:51
Quote from: breitling on Wed, 26 October 2016, 18:39:40
I got one of these from a different source and it has resistors on the bottom SMD LED pads already.. perhaps this can help whomever wants to add them.

Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/TwT5jZN.jpg)


I'm totally new to these kind of electronic DIY hobby.
There are 5 spots for SMD LED right?
What kind of SMD LED should I get?
Title: Re: AMJ Pad
Post by: Data on Thu, 27 October 2016, 11:48:50
Quote from: menuhin on Thu, 27 October 2016, 08:06:51
Quote from: breitling on Wed, 26 October 2016, 18:39:40
I got one of these from a different source and it has resistors on the bottom SMD LED pads already.. perhaps this can help whomever wants to add them.

Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/TwT5jZN.jpg)


I'm totally new to these kind of electronic DIY hobby.
There are 5 spots for SMD LED right?
What kind of SMD LED should I get?

14 total.  They're all around the outer edge of the PCB and they're conveniently numbered.

I'd have to measure, but any single-color 1206 package SMD LED rated for 5v should work.

Edit: On second thought, they're probably 0805 package.  I need to measure one of the resistors that are already on mine to make sure.
Title: Re: AMJ Pad
Post by: Phenix on Wed, 11 January 2017, 17:11:31
bump! Any progress for the firmware?
Title: Re: AMJ Pad
Post by: blandname on Sat, 18 March 2017, 00:48:17
@Phenix QMK is ported to the AMJPad now: https://github.com/qmk/qmk_firmware/tree/master/keyboards/amjpad
Title: Re: AMJ Pad
Post by: FioraCorp on Sat, 18 March 2017, 00:58:54
Has anyone had any luck using the underglow smd leds with qmk?
Title: Re: AMJ Pad
Post by: menuhin on Sat, 18 March 2017, 19:12:29
Quote from: FioraCorp on Sat, 18 March 2017, 00:58:54
Has anyone had any luck using the underglow smd leds with qmk?

+1
Title: Re: AMJ Pad
Post by: Munnybear on Sat, 05 August 2017, 09:03:44
For those of you are looking for the tkg site to create AMJ related eep. Rather than going the QMK route, i recently found out that the author has setup a new domain: http://tkg.hanchen.me/
Title: Re: AMJ Pad
Post by: _haru on Sat, 05 August 2017, 18:54:51
You can follow my AMJ60 flashing guide to flash this very easily (just substitutive AMJ60 for AMJPad): https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=89697
Title: Re: AMJ Pad
Post by: menuhin on Fri, 04 January 2019, 04:14:07
Quote from: Data on Thu, 27 October 2016, 11:48:50
Quote from: menuhin on Thu, 27 October 2016, 08:06:51
Quote from: breitling on Wed, 26 October 2016, 18:39:40
I got one of these from a different source and it has resistors on the bottom SMD LED pads already.. perhaps this can help whomever wants to add them.

Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/TwT5jZN.jpg)


I'm totally new to these kind of electronic DIY hobby.
There are 5 spots for SMD LED right?
What kind of SMD LED should I get?

14 total.  They're all around the outer edge of the PCB and they're conveniently numbered.

I'd have to measure, but any single-color 1206 package SMD LED rated for 5v should work.

Edit: On second thought, they're probably 0805 package.  I need to measure one of the resistors that are already on mine to make sure.

(Sorry first for the Necro)

If the SMD resisters next to these LED pads are written "331", i.e. 330 ohms I believe,
Then what LED package should go with it? 0805 or 1206 or 0603?
Or does it all depends on the pad size?

Edit:
For a record, I have soldered 0805 SMD LEDs on the underside of AMJPad, making sure the polarity is correct (positive sides facing the resisters), plus making sure all of them works after soldered.
However, after flashed with QMK, BL_TOGG and RGB_TOG did nothing to these one-color SMD LEDs.