Half an ergodox as a gaming only board?

[noisyturtle]

It's a wild idea, but having the layer programmed just for QWERASDFG ← →↑↓ Tab/LShift/LCtrl/Alt/Space/Enter/Esc and number keys. Leaving 8 keys open for anything else you may need. Full MX reds.

[SmallFry]

I'm doing this exact thing! I sucky part is that you need to modify the case under the Teensy to fit it. I was thinking the exact same thing though.

[noisyturtle]

.....wanna sell me the other half? Honestly though I'm curious to see how this works out and if it would improve performance as well. Would be very interested in a follow up on it SF.

[n0rvig]

Cool, that's a pretty sweet idea.

[sordna]

Just do it!
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=22780.msg844259#msg844259

note if you split an ergodox between you guys, you'll need to add any missing parts (teensy, resistors)

[SmallFry]

Just do it!
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=22780.msg844259#msg844259

note if you split an ergodox between you guys, you'll need to add any missing parts (teensy, resistors)

They aren't mine to sell, but I'll be starting this mod tomorrow.

[Jagriff]

Any Starcraft players familiar with theCore hotkey layout will appreciate the ErgoDox for gaming. I don't know about only owning half of the board (and having each half work separately), but I do plan on using my ErgoDox for games. It only makes sense to make use of the extra thumb modifiers.

[sordna]

Smallfry, please move tho photo with your efforts here, since the other thread is so much overloaded.
As far as I can see you put the teensy on properly, but did you solder in the 2.2k resistors? Maybe they are needed.
Also, how did you install the diodes? Cathod (side with line marker) should point to the square soldering pad. I see a diode in your photo but can't see the line, there is a faint line that seems to point to the wrong side, but could be a photo artifact.
Anyway, all I can say is half an ergodox, ie the right side by itself works fine without the left side being connected.

[Luke]

I use an old Cherry MY switch Numberpad for gaming to reduce wear on my main keyboard WASD keycaps, but it works really well because it is fully programmable(key and macro) so I can bind the surrounding keys to anything I need, having another MY keyboard has also been handy to put the accurate keycaps on the Numberpad. Its actually works really well (as long as you like MY switches of course ).

[Findecanor]

I'm doing this exact thing! I sucky part is that you need to modify the case under the Teensy to fit it.

No, you should not have to modify the case. You should be able to mount the Teensy on top of the left PCB -- you just need to mount the Teensy upside-down. If the Teensy has legs soldered on from the beginning, then they need to be desoldered, though. There was talk about this in the ErgoDox thread because someone wanted the cable to come out of the left part.

[sordna]

Only problem with upside down is that you won't be able to push the button or see the builtin LED since that side of the teensy will face the PCB. Are the supplied mounting pins long enough, so that if they get soldered on top of the teensy they extend enough past the usb connector so they could be soldered into the ergodox PCB ?
I just checked and yes they are.

[SmallFry]

Smallfry, please move tho photo with your efforts here, since the other thread is so much overloaded.
As far as I can see you put the teensy on properly, but did you solder in the 2.2k resistors? Maybe they are needed.
Also, how did you install the diodes? Cathod (side with line marker) should point to the square soldering pad. I see a diode in your photo but can't see the line, there is a faint line that seems to point to the wrong side, but could be a photo artifact.
Anyway, all I can say is half an ergodox, ie the right side by itself works fine without the left side being connected.

I'll take better pictures and move the other stuff over here in a bit, doing homework currently. I don't know if the resistors are neccesary, hence I didn't put them in. Will get some resistors to check(I don't have extras for mine. (I have a set of PCBs for me, building two others for OrangeJewce)

I'm doing this exact thing! I sucky part is that you need to modify the case under the Teensy to fit it.

No, you should not have to modify the case. You should be able to mount the Teensy on top of the left PCB -- you just need to mount the Teensy upside-down. If the Teensy has legs soldered on from the beginning, then they need to be desoldered, though. There was talk about this in the ErgoDox thread because someone wanted the cable to come out of the left part.

Mount the Teensy upside down you say? What a novel idea, I'll test that in a bit also!