ErgoDox USB Device Not Recognized Error

[zephyrean]

Hi everyone,

I'm new to Geekhack/keyboards in general and just built an ErgoDox with a kit from Massdrop. I followed the instructions on Massdrop...but it doesn't work. Here's what happens:

--USB plugged in, red LEDs light up
--Teensy plugged in, detected by Teensy app
--Teensy plugged in and blink .hex file loaded -> works and is detected by computer

But when I load the keyboard .hex file and plug in the keyboard, the keys don't register when I press them and Windows displays "USB Device Not Recognized." The drivers had been installed when I plugged in the Teensy. Anyone have any idea what's wrong? Any help would be appreciated

[zephyrean]

Update: just tried reflashing the .hex files on OS X. Didn't work on that either. I've tried on two Windows 8 PCs, both failed.
The specific error I'm getting is code 43, "Windows has stopped this device because it has reported problems. A request for the USB device descriptor failed."

[MellowFellow]

Have you tried buying a new one? The might solve your issue ._.

[user 18]

Link to the guide you followed on Massdrop?

[zephyrean]

I think I figured it out... Soldered on some diodes backwards

[zephyrean]

Nope that wasn't it. Fixed the diodes but still getting the error. I also resoldered the USB connectors, still get the error.

[zephyrean]

user 18
Link to the instructions:
https://www.massdrop.com/ext/ergodox/assembly.php

When I flash the blink .hex files, a "Installing Teensyduino RawHID Device" window pops up, but I don't get the window when I flash the keyboard .hex. (Teensy successfully starts blinking). Also when I plug the Teensy in, Windows doesn't display a new device message and I have no idea where to find it in device manager...

BTW I'm using Windows 8 w/ the Windows Vista teensy.exe from PJRC. Would this be an issue? At this point I'm wiling to suspect anything.

[zephyrean]

Also tried the instructions here: https://github.com/benblazak/ergodox-firmware#downloading-binaries
No luck

[zephyrean]

Here's a pic of the cable connection... Could  there be a problem with this???

[Eafin]

Based solely on your picture, your soldering on the USB extension seems a bit shoddy. While that may not be the problem, I would try to clean it up.

[flabbergast]

If you can successfully flash the firmware, then there should be no problem with the USB connector or the controller - the keyboard successfully presents itself as a USB device (not a keyboard, but a Teensy bootloader, but that does not matter - it's a USB device regardless) and communicates with the computer (the firmware is transferred over to Teensy).

What seems to have problems is the keyboard firmware itself - which could be caused by some electrical problem on the board, so please check all of your soldering.

[zephyrean]

What seems to have problems is the keyboard firmware itself - which could be caused by some electrical problem on the board, so please check all of your soldering.

Thanks a lot, flabbergast! I'm going to go over all my soldering tomorrow, will update

Based solely on your picture, your soldering on the USB extension seems a bit shoddy. While that may not be the problem, I would try to clean it up.

Yeah I know...the iron I was usin had a very large tip and wasn't very handy with circuit boards...I'll have better equipment soon. Thanks Eafin!

[zephyrean]

If you can successfully flash the firmware, then there should be no problem with the USB connector or the controller - the keyboard successfully presents itself as a USB device (not a keyboard, but a Teensy bootloader, but that does not matter - it's a USB device regardless) and communicates with the computer (the firmware is transferred over to Teensy).

What seems to have problems is the keyboard firmware itself - which could be caused by some electrical problem on the board, so please check all of your soldering.

Just tested all the diodes with a multimeter, they're all functional and installed in the correct orientation. I have absolutely no idea what could be going wrong at this point...can post more pics of solder if that would help (this is my first time soldering with circuit boards, it's really messy but I think it works)

[tp4tissue]

Flash the .eep first..
 
Then go to the Massdrop ergodox configurator, create your layout, and generate the .hex,  then flash hex.

https://www.massdrop.com/ext/ergodox/?referer=7VNJ8Z&hash=2d7eaa83b50baf35b310eda97b0ef017

^^ This is my layout .hex..


I've linked the .eep at the end of this post.. download and flash that first..





On the massdrop assembly guide,  Go to Step 16... and follow instructions carefully from there.

[zephyrean]

Flash the .eep first..
 
Then go to the Massdrop ergodox configurator, create your layout, and generate the .hex,  then flash hex.

https://www.massdrop.com/ext/ergodox/?referer=7VNJ8Z&hash=2d7eaa83b50baf35b310eda97b0ef017

^^ This is my layout .hex..


I've linked the .eep at the end of this post.. download and flash that first..

Show Image

On the massdrop assembly guide,  Go to Step 16... and follow instructions carefully from there.

Thanks for the tip, but I've already done this multiple times. I flash the .eep again every time I flash the .hex just in case...still nothing...

[suicidal_orange]

Have you tried plugging in just one half?  If that works the problem is in the other half or the connection between them, if not it's probably in the first half.  Not a solution but should lower the number of places to check

[zephyrean]

Yup, tried that too...no luck. Thanks for the tip tough!

[tp4tissue]

Yup, tried that too...no luck. Thanks for the tip tough!

Hvae you tried doin all the steps on a different computer.

[zephyrean]

Yup, tried that too...no luck. Thanks for the tip tough!

Hvae you tried doin all the steps on a different computer.

Yup, flashed the firmware on a Windows 8 desktop,  a Windows 8 laptop, and a Macbook running OS X.

[tp4tissue]

Yup, tried that too...no luck. Thanks for the tip tough!

Hvae you tried doin all the steps on a different computer.

Yup, flashed the firmware on a Windows 8 desktop,  a Windows 8 laptop, and a Macbook running OS X.

hrrm..

check for stray solder bridging anything on the teensy board.

Try windows 7..

mm...

try a different usb cable

[zephyrean]

I don't have a Windows 7 PC, will try with a different cable as soon as I find one Thanks! I'm checking the soldering now.

Here are some pics of my soldering...first soldering project with circuits, so it's not that good Can someone check these?
1. https://www.dropbox.com/s/ihbg42m6ylzejs6/IMG_20150616_104434.jpg?dl=0
I removed the I/O expander, thought it might not be on right. You can see in the bottom right some of the metal circles have been burned off...is this a problem?
2. https://www.dropbox.com/s/cvylgkre1xvp2l7/IMG_20150616_104541.jpg?dl=0
The pads burned off on 2 of the keys, but someone said here: https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=22780.2010 you could just bridge the pads and the holes next to them, so I did that. Apparently it worked, but haven't tested yet.
3. https://www.dropbox.com/s/fh83oryksn7oi6o/IMG_20150616_104601.jpg?dl=0
Solder for Teensy. When I flash firmware, am I supposed to plug directly into Teensy or into the USB that plugs into Teensy? The computer recognizes the Teensy when I plug it directly in, but I get the USB not recognized when I plug the keyboard to the computer.
4. https://www.dropbox.com/s/nuli12st2e6rqpn/IMG_20150616_104611.jpg?dl=0
Solder for USB connection.
5. https://www.dropbox.com/s/oujv8ayoca4xnfs/IMG_20150616_104622.jpg?dl=0
Solder for TRRS connector.
6. https://www.dropbox.com/s/gfmcitj6ewirqhu/IMG_20150616_104727.jpg?dl=0
Full right hand side board. Will the keys work if I plug in just the right side? I want to test one side since I don't have the I/O expander in yet.
7. https://www.dropbox.com/s/lak59ffon06qrbe/IMG_20150616_104826.jpg?dl=0
Most of my keys look like this (aren't as bad as in 2).
8. https://www.dropbox.com/s/gb79gsv6xtjjidf/IMG_20150616_110032.jpg?dl=0
Full left hand side.
It's not letting me attach my pics, so I'm just going to insert dropbox links. Sorry about that.
Thanks for all the help, everyone!

[Zustiur]

I can't comment on soldering quality but make sure you try some different USB ports. My keyboard only works in one port, not sure why.

[zephyrean]

I can't comment on soldering quality but make sure you try some different USB ports. My keyboard only works in one port, not sure why.

Hmmm, I've tried all my ports on two computers, still no luck :/ thanks for the tip though!

[PurpleURP]

hey man I'm having a similar problem with my hand wired keyboard. Did you ever get this issue solved?