Phantom Custom Keyboard Group Buy (CLOSED)

[riffautae]

): Can't tell which way the diodes are going: [ Attachment Invalid Or Does Not Exist ] 37597[/ATTACH]

Is there any way to export as png?

[tsangan]

Oh wait my RGB set is PBT dye subs lol thanks for reminding me

Maybe I'll just go with Cherry stabilizers just to be safe

[litster]

Mad props to alaricljs for all his help.  Armed with his tips and hints, I bought a wire bender, found the right size of wires, and I can now make 7x Costar stabilizer bars.  The first one took me an hour to make it right.  Now I can make one in 5 minutes.  I think Costar stabilizers for 7x spacebars is a go.

[alaricljs]

You are the man.  Never surrender, kick its ass.

[litster]

It's all you man!

[bpiphany]

): Can't tell which way the diodes are going: (Attachment Link) 37597[/ATTACH]

Is there any way to export as png?

Yeah, that looked pretty bad... =D Didn't even think of exporting it as an image =P
[ Attachment Invalid Or Does Not Exist ] 37625[/ATTACH]

[tsangan]

Mad props to alaricljs for all his help.  Armed with his tips and hints, I bought a wire bender, found the right size of wires, and I can now make 7x Costar stabilizer bars.  The first one took me an hour to make it right.  Now I can make one in 5 minutes.  I think Costar stabilizers for 7x spacebars is a go.

lol, no proper wire, no problem litster will just learn to make his own hahaha.

You learned a lot from this GB I have to say, first the acrylic cases then more and more stuff as the days goes on

[litster]

No kidding.  Geekhack is taking me to school!

[hashbaz]

Indeed.  It's been fun to watch this project unfold and follow your adventures litster.  Truly an epic learning project in the best DIY tradition.

[tsangan]

Everytime litster hits a road block he comes back in like a day or 2 with a new solution it's crazy

[litster]

We are very close.  BiNiaRiS found a new shop that can use plates with laser, and is more accurate.  He is going to find out more and let us know.  After that, I just need to finish the parts list and calculate costs.  It has only been over 2 months since we started in early November.

Ah, I think of one open issue.  What USB case should we use?  I like the one on Filco, which has a thing that locks to the case.  I wonder where to find something like it, or if we could add that plastic thinge to an existing cheapo USB cable.  Any pointers?

[dorkvader]

Ah, I think of one open issue.  What USB case should we use?  I like the one on Filco, which has a thing that locks to the case.  I wonder where to find something like it, or if we could add that plastic thinge to an existing cheapo USB cable.  Any pointers?

You mean female USB jacks, or a "cable gland" for the mini USB that plugs into the teensy?

You can get pretty good cable glands (I've salvaged my fair share) and strain relief from any decent parts supplier.

[TheProfosist]

If you asking about cables for brands I prefer Link Depot, Rosewill, and StarTech from Newegg. StarTech even has right or left angled ones which might be nice for that tight turn from the controller to go out the case.

[litster]

You can get pretty good cable glands (I've salvaged my fair share) and strain relief from any decent parts supplier.

Yes, I mean cable glands and strain relief, I didn't know what they are called. :-)  I would love to find something that is very similar to Filco's cable because it would fit my acrylic case ;-) and of course Filco cases and hopefully PLU cases.

If you guys want detachable cable connection, then I don't know how fixate it to the Filco case.

[TheProfosist]

Yes, I mean cable glands and strain relief, I didn't know what they are called. :-)  I would love to find something that is very similar to Filco's cable because it would fit my acrylic case ;-) and of course Filco cases and hopefully PLU cases.

If you guys want detachable cable connection, then I don't know how fixate it to the Filco case.

just use an extension i think i showed some off of ebay and you can have a part of the extension hanging out slightly and you could cable glands like a normal cable.

[Tarkoon]

I am going to put the pcb of a small powered USB hub in the case of my Phantom. This hub has 3 outgoing ports, the ingoing one and the power plug on one side and another 4 outgoing on the other side. These 4 will be inside off the Phantom case and I plan to connect the Teensy there, a tiny Bluetooth stick and 1 or 2 tiny USB sticks. The 3 ports on the outer side will offer a nice USB hub for everything else and a detachable cable for the Phantom...

[litster]

I would like something simple and sturdy.  For example, I already have a USB to mini USB cable, one end to Teensy, one end to computer.  I just want to clip something on to the cable and it is latched to the case so you can pull and hold the keyboard by the cable.  Maybe something like this:  http://www.wiring-ducts.com/flexible-strain-relief-bushing/





But I haven't found where I can buy something like that.

[riffautae]

Ok the newest version on github is based on the schematic and should be testable.

[riffautae]

I would like something simple and sturdy.  For example, I already have a USB to mini USB cable, one end to Teensy, one end to computer.  I just want to clip something on to the cable and it is latched to the case so you can pull and hold the keyboard by the cable.  Maybe something like this:  http://www.wiring-ducts.com/flexible-strain-relief-bushing/

Show Image

But I haven't found where I can buy something like that.

What about something like this? http://www.usbfirewire.com/Parts/rr-b2mb-12.html Except perhaps a smaller female. This way people can use any cable they want plus it will pack up a little neater.

[Tarkoon]

I found an even smaller USB hub PCB in my drawer. I think this could work beautifully in a phantom.

[ Attachment Invalid Or Does Not Exist ] 37691[/ATTACH]

[litster]

Just tried the new firmware.  Progress.  The capslock LED comes on for a few seconds and then turns itself off.  Still can't type anything.  Do you have a Teensy on a breadboard to test with?  Thanks.

[riffautae]

Just tried the new firmware.  Progress.  The capslock LED comes on for a few seconds and then turns itself off.  Still can't type anything.  

Sweet, I also added some debugging output. If you reset the board while running the hid listener from http://www.pjrc.com/teensy/hid_listen.html you should get something interesting.

Do you have a Teensy on a breadboard to test with?  Thanks.

): No I don't have a teensy ATM. I am thinking about ordering one though for obvious reasons.

[litster]

with hid_listen running, this is the debug out I see:

Code: [Select]

Waiting for device:...............................................
Listening:
debug enabled.
jump to bootloader...

Device disconnected.
Waiting for new device:.....................
Listening:
debug enabled.
jump to bootloader...

Device disconnected.
Waiting for new device:..........

If Teensy Loader is running and is set to Auto mode, it would keep flashing the controller as if I pressed the reset button.  So I think the firmware is actually resetting itself (crash?).

[riffautae]

with hid_listen running, this is the debug out I see:

If Teensy Loader is running and is set to Auto mode, it would keep flashing the controller as if I pressed the reset button.  So I think the firmware is actually resetting itself (crash?).

I tried running in a simulator last night and got the same result the first time. It looks like the key count function it uses is always returning some big number. This causes the debug system to turn on [it uses #keys held down at the start to change the debug mode] And then it jumps to some weird debug related bootloader code that doesn't work and thus causes the reset.

Unfortunately I could only get it to run that one time and further runs crashed the simulator ): I'll have to wait till my teensy gets here. I plan to order one later today.

[litster]

sounds good.  Once we all have a Phantom, we will have plenty of time to update the firmware.  I think that is when the REAL fun begins.  NKRO over USB with BIOS compatibility, multiple layers, media keys, programmable macros, reset with key combos without opening up the case to push the reset button on Teensy for easy flashing, re-program keymaps without loading new firmware like AIKON.  

It is going to be fun!

[riffautae]

sounds good.  Once we all have a Phantom, we will have plenty of time to update the firmware.  I think that is when the REAL fun begins.  NKRO over USB with BIOS compatibility, multiple layers, media keys, programmable macros, reset with key combos without opening up the case to push the reset button on Teensy for easy flashing, re-program keymaps without loading new firmware like AIKON.  

It is going to be fun!

So if I get this firmware working we will have:

• NKRO over USB
• Multiple Layers
• Media keys

And possibly boot mode

The way I implemented layers should make it pretty easy to generate them with a script or something when hardcoded in firmware.

The macro and reprogrammable layout code will be pretty fun, and we have plenty of ram and EEPROM space.

[dorkvader]

I'm not too worried about BIOS compatibility. If I ever need to fool around in there, I just dig up an old RD. I mean, I have to restart my computer to get into the BIOS anyway, so I might as well.

[litster]

We do it because we can, not because we should  ;-)  Otherwise, we would have stopped at 6KRO!  LOL!  Cherry and Costar stabilizer support on the same plate?  Crazy talk!

Truth is the list is all the things I can think of to add to the firmware.  I don't think we have a version of Teensy firmware that can do all that yet.  We have plenty of time to change the firmware.  We can do it one at a time.  I actually do think BIOS compatibility is important.  when you need to dig into the BIOS outside of the original setup, you are usually going in there to fix something.  You would want to avoid additional frustration that you would incur if you see nothing change on screen when you pound on the keyboard.

[TheProfosist]

Check out the firmware being used on the DOX I think that has almost everything your looking for though I dont know how to modify it to work on the Phantom.

[riffautae]

Check out the firmware being used on the DOX I think that has almost everything your looking for though I dont know how to modify it to work on the Phantom.

Dox is based on TMK just like what I am working on, so any thing they did should be pretty transferable.

https://github.com/doxkb/tmk_keyboard is the code

[litster]

Teensy has 2 versions, one with pins soldered on already, and one without pins.  Teensy without pins are cheaper.  We can order it without pins if we can find and buy the pins separately.  But I can't find them on digikey.com.  Do you know what they are called?  Thanks.

[kps]

We can order it without pins if we can find and buy the pins separately.  But I can't find them on digikey.com.  Do you know what they are called?

Pin headers. Digikey seems to have them under two different categories:
http://search.digikey.com/us/en/cat/connectors-interconnects/rectangular-headers-male-pins/1442547
http://search.digikey.com/us/en/cat/connectors-interconnects/board-to-board-headers-male-pin/1442672

[dorkvader]

That's what I call clipped diode leads.

But yeah, you can also use pin headers (usually .100) if you want it to look all professional.

[hazeluff]

I Love being in the Electronics Engineering Department. I just nick all the parts I want for free from labs. HELL YEAH!

But yes, I've used a ton of resistor/diode legs in my past to act as pins. Most commonly as pins on a breadboard XD

[litster]

Do most of you rather have Teensy without pins and you solder your own Teensy pins yourselves?  We can do that.

[litster]

$3 more with pins.

[bpiphany]

I think we should order the Teensys without pins. Prying the spacers off can be a quite frightening experience... Also, all the pins needed aren't there to start with anyhow.

[TheProfosist]

well you can order the pics from them as well ordering them s`eparatly is cheaper than already soldered.

[bpiphany]

I think an easy way to solder the Teensy into place would be the following.

1. Put the phantom PCB flat on something heat resistant.
2. Put header pins with the longer part in holes, spacers high above the PCB. Make sure the pins are not protruding on the bottom.
3. Set the Teensy on top to keep good alignment.
4. Solder headers, remove Teensy, and cut header pins.
5. Solder Teensy onto header pins.

[litster]

PrinsValium's method is good.   I would recommend using header pins instead of just diode legs. When I soldered the prototype, my Teensy has pins on already.  The pins are much big in diameter then diode legs.  So when I inserted the pins into the Phantom PCB, it was tight fit and just held the Teensy in place so it was very easy for me to solder it onto the PCB.  

I did have to solder on 3 missing pins with diode legs.  The diode legs are very thin.  So when the solder is melted in the hole the legs act like a straw in a glass of drink, leaning to one side.  To get it done, I had to use a pair of pliers to hold the leg, melt the solder, set the leg straight, and let the solder form again.  Doing all 31 pins will take some time.  And since the legs are thin, when you need to put the Teensy with diode legs onto the Phantom PCB, the Teensy will be loose, shifting its position.  You will need some tools or 3 or 4 hands to keep the Teensy and PCB in place and solder them together.

There are so many header pins on digikey, I haven't found the correct one to use yet.  :-(

[alaricljs]

I think this is what you're looking for.  Bulk pack of 100x 40pin 2.54mm spacing single row terminal strip.  $2.72

[litster]

Thanks alaricljs!  Am I reading it right?  standard packaging is 100, but each one (not each package) is $2.72 each for 1, $2.43 each for 10?  If each one has 40 pins, it maybe better off to order Teensy with pins for $3 more.

[alaricljs]

Ewww, gross... it is single piece pricing... $2.72ea  I was soooo hoping.   It's marginally cheaper on Mouser...

Needless to say, ebay is dirt cheap:  10 @ .19 each   or 200 @ .085 each

[Parak]

Beware getting parts from china using standard shipping, as it usually takes a month+ to get them (and they sometimes get lost). It's usually better to pay a bit more but actually get them within your lifetime. Here are some other options: 1 2 3

[alaricljs]

This has not yet happened to me and I'm up over 15 orders from China.  Worst case was during a holiday, took 2.5 weeks.  Besides which, since the PCBs haven't even been ordered yet time shouldn't be that much of an issue.

[Parak]

Also, they were harder to find than what I expected, but I dug up headers that are about the same length on both solder ends. That is, both ends are the short ends that don't need to be cut off. Expensive, though. http://www.mouser.com/Search/ProductDetail.aspx?qs=Rc1t4MMYWxujU32YlGfb%2Fw%3D%3D Ignore the picture and check the spec sheet comparing against the part number.

[riffautae]

I think i'd rather have some good sturdy legs available then be forced to scrounge for something that wont be as strong. The teensy has 31 pins so you could make it 1$ per 33 or so.

If you can get some with short legs on both side though that would be really nice.

[litster]

I think 40 pins is perfert.  We can just pack it in with a teensy order.  200 is too much, price is still much cheaper than digikey.  Let me see if there is a BIN auction with just 100 pieces from China.  I have purchased from China vendors on ebay before, and have had good luck with them.

EDIT: Nope, I found 100 pieces auctions, but not cheaper than the 200 one from alaricljs.  Maybe we will get 200.  That's super cheap.  Need to ask BiNiaRiS to order them.  He is the US distributor, and then ship part of it to 7bit for EU folks.

[alaricljs]

The 2 auctions I linked are the same guy... might ping him and ask for a 100pc lot.

[litster]

The 2 auctions I linked are the same guy... might ping him and ask for a 100pc lot.

Right!  Didn't think of that.  Will do.  Thanks.