This week I got to add another keyboard to my second year portfolio. The base, which was ordinary whitewood, was cut and drilled to hold the keypads while allowing the wires to pass to the bottom invisibly. Keypad mounting holes were also run from below so no screws were visible.
After construction the keypads were removed so the wood could be stained and finished. To add some contrast a stain was used which was lighter than the keypads. This contrast looked all right but something closer to the keypads might have looked better.
Wiring was done on the base. A short Ethernet cable was salvaged. One end was trimmed to expose the wires while the RJ45 end was left on the other side. Each of the trimmed wires was given a quick disconnect, one for each switch while the ground wire was distributed to get to each of the seven switches. Wires were kept tidy although there was plenty of room on the underside to hide wires.
All the components were added to the wooden base. In addition to the wooden keypads brass corners were added. These were not functional or necessary but I really liked the way the shiny brass looked on the dark wood. Small corners were used for each keypad and large corners were used on the base.
An Arduino Micro was installed in an RJ45 wall-mount enclosure with eight screw terminals inside. The back of the enclosure was carved out to expose the Arduino’s micro USB port. The program from the Wrist Mounted Chording Keyboard was taken without modifications. Fortunately the program was written to have the modularity to operate without an accelerometer or a Bluetooth module.
After all the components were installed and all the keys were confirmed to be wired correctly the keyboard was tested and passed.
An entire day was used, and necessary, to organize the files for the 3D printed chording keyboard. These files were kept at the bottom of each journal entry. The links point to files in my Dropbox account so they can be updated as necessary without the need to change links.
Downloadable Files:
The plastic keypads were assembled. Long #6 bolts were trimmed using a wire cutter which had a bolt cutter. Brass rods were cut by placing them in a small pipe cutter. Actually, the brass tubes were spun in the pipe cutter by using a power drill. If my cheap pipe cutter had a warranty I bet this would void it.
Wiring was done the same way as the wooden keyboard except there was no base to go through. The Ethernet cable was held firm by putting a nylon cable tie over the cable and fastening it to one of the bolts.
Wiring was kept the same as the wooden keyboard on purpose. This would make testing easier and eliminate the need for more hardware. After rearranging the wires a couple times the keyboard typed flawlessly.
Holding the keypads together hasn’t been solved. A small piece was modeled to go between the keypad bolts opposite the hinges. Two will be printed in order to tighten bolts to them and hold the two pieces stationary in relation to one another. This will not keep it in place on a desk. Other methods considered included gluing everything to a plastic base or modeling holes so that angle braces could be added and then attached to any surface with bolts or screws.
The rest of the weekly summaries have been arranged by date.
First time here?
Completed projects from year 1
Completed projects from year 2
Disclaimer for http://24hourengineer.blogspot.com/
This disclaimer must be intact and whole. This disclaimer must be included if a project is distributed.
All information in this blog, or linked by this blog, are not to be taken as advice or solicitation. Anyone attempting to replicate, in whole or in part, is responsible for the outcome and procedure. Any loss of functionality, money, property or similar, is the responsibility of those involved in the replication.
All digital communication regarding the email address 24hourengineer@gmail.com becomes the intellectual property of Brian McEvoy. Any information contained within these messages may be distributed or retained at the discretion of Brian McEvoy. Any email sent to this address, or any email account owned by Brian McEvoy, cannot be used to claim property or assets.
Comments to the blog may be utilized or erased at the discretion of the owner. No one posting may claim claim property or assets based on their post.
This blog, including pictures and text, is copyright to Brian McEvoy.
Keypads on unfinished base
After construction the keypads were removed so the wood could be stained and finished. To add some contrast a stain was used which was lighter than the keypads. This contrast looked all right but something closer to the keypads might have looked better.
Finishing base
Wiring was done on the base. A short Ethernet cable was salvaged. One end was trimmed to expose the wires while the RJ45 end was left on the other side. Each of the trimmed wires was given a quick disconnect, one for each switch while the ground wire was distributed to get to each of the seven switches. Wires were kept tidy although there was plenty of room on the underside to hide wires.
Wired base with unattached keypads
All the components were added to the wooden base. In addition to the wooden keypads brass corners were added. These were not functional or necessary but I really liked the way the shiny brass looked on the dark wood. Small corners were used for each keypad and large corners were used on the base.
Keyboard in sunlight 1
Keyboard in sunlight 2
An Arduino Micro was installed in an RJ45 wall-mount enclosure with eight screw terminals inside. The back of the enclosure was carved out to expose the Arduino’s micro USB port. The program from the Wrist Mounted Chording Keyboard was taken without modifications. Fortunately the program was written to have the modularity to operate without an accelerometer or a Bluetooth module.
Arduino Micro in wall-mount RJ45 enclosure
After all the components were installed and all the keys were confirmed to be wired correctly the keyboard was tested and passed.
Keyboard in operation
An entire day was used, and necessary, to organize the files for the 3D printed chording keyboard. These files were kept at the bottom of each journal entry. The links point to files in my Dropbox account so they can be updated as necessary without the need to change links.
Downloadable Files:
- 3D Printable Desktop Chording Keyboard. Openscad file. Necessary only to change the model.
- OpenSCAD file for keyboard spacer
- Flat model. No elevation. Both files zipped together.
- 3 Key version for the thumb pad
- 4 Key version for the finger pad
- Spacer for holding the halves together
- 15 degree model. Medium elevation. Both files zipped together.
- 3 Key version for the thumb pad
- 4 Key version for the finger pad
- Spacer for holding the halves together
- 37 degree model. Maximum elevation. Both files zipped together.
- 3 Key version for the thumb pad
- 4 Key version for the finger pad
- Spacer for holding the halves together
- Arduino Code for wired keyboard
The plastic keypads were assembled. Long #6 bolts were trimmed using a wire cutter which had a bolt cutter. Brass rods were cut by placing them in a small pipe cutter. Actually, the brass tubes were spun in the pipe cutter by using a power drill. If my cheap pipe cutter had a warranty I bet this would void it.
Assembled keypads with the switches up
Wiring was done the same way as the wooden keyboard except there was no base to go through. The Ethernet cable was held firm by putting a nylon cable tie over the cable and fastening it to one of the bolts.
Wired keypads
Wiring was kept the same as the wooden keyboard on purpose. This would make testing easier and eliminate the need for more hardware. After rearranging the wires a couple times the keyboard typed flawlessly.
Operational keypads
Holding the keypads together hasn’t been solved. A small piece was modeled to go between the keypad bolts opposite the hinges. Two will be printed in order to tighten bolts to them and hold the two pieces stationary in relation to one another. This will not keep it in place on a desk. Other methods considered included gluing everything to a plastic base or modeling holes so that angle braces could be added and then attached to any surface with bolts or screws.
Code and model
The rest of the weekly summaries have been arranged by date.
First time here?
Completed projects from year 1
Completed projects from year 2
Disclaimer for http://24hourengineer.blogspot.com/
This disclaimer must be intact and whole. This disclaimer must be included if a project is distributed.
All information in this blog, or linked by this blog, are not to be taken as advice or solicitation. Anyone attempting to replicate, in whole or in part, is responsible for the outcome and procedure. Any loss of functionality, money, property or similar, is the responsibility of those involved in the replication.
All digital communication regarding the email address 24hourengineer@gmail.com becomes the intellectual property of Brian McEvoy. Any information contained within these messages may be distributed or retained at the discretion of Brian McEvoy. Any email sent to this address, or any email account owned by Brian McEvoy, cannot be used to claim property or assets.
Comments to the blog may be utilized or erased at the discretion of the owner. No one posting may claim claim property or assets based on their post.
This blog, including pictures and text, is copyright to Brian McEvoy.
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