Face U/MX-mini U replica knowledge base

Laser · 24 Nov 2014, 21:53

The fact that it doesn't register ... should perhaps suggest that problem is between the microchip and usb connector?
Here's someone who found a microchip pin unsoldered: http://forums.weebls-stuff.com/showthread.php?t=231225

Spoiler:

scottc · 24 Nov 2014, 22:05

chzel wrote: ↑Just to rule it out, did you try it on another computer? or even USB port?

Yep, on a few other computers. Thanks for the tip, though, I'd be delighted if this fixed it!

Laser wrote: ↑The fact that it doesn't register ... should perhaps suggest that problem is between the microchip and usb connector?
Here's someone who found a microchip pin unsoldered: http://forums.weebls-stuff.com/showthread.php?t=231225

Spoiler:
Testing continuity (if you know it, ignore the link): http://www.engineersgarage.com/tutorial ... ty-testing

If it was a problem with the USB connector, would it still be able to be flashed? Thanks for the links. I'm completely useless at this stuff, so it's all very useful to me.

Laser · 24 Nov 2014, 22:11

scottc wrote: ↑
chzel wrote: ↑Just to rule it out, did you try it on another computer? or even USB port?
Yep, on a few other computers. Thanks for the tip, though, I'd be delighted if this fixed it!

Laser wrote: ↑The fact that it doesn't register ... should perhaps suggest that problem is between the microchip and usb connector?
Here's someone who found a microchip pin unsoldered: http://forums.weebls-stuff.com/showthread.php?t=231225

Spoiler:
Testing continuity (if you know it, ignore the link): http://www.engineersgarage.com/tutorial ... ty-testing
If it was a problem with the USB connector, would it still be able to be flashed? Thanks for the links. I'm completely useless at this stuff, so it's all very useful to me.

Yes, you're right, so it can't be too big a problem.
Here's another useful read perhaps: http://www.teamliquid.net/blogs/410606- ... mechanical

scottc · 24 Nov 2014, 22:21

Great. I'll get on with checking the diodes then. Thanks for the help, I really appreciate it.

scottc · 24 Nov 2014, 22:35

It looks like I somehow lost a resistor on the bottom row. WTF. I'll transplant one from an unused key like the second backspace switch. My soldering iron is a blunt instrument compared to these little SMD components, so I don't know how it will fare.

chzel · 24 Nov 2014, 22:59

Can you post a pic to help you identify the resistor? If it is a backlight resistor it is not the problem.

scottc · 24 Nov 2014, 23:05

I can't right now, sorry, but it is one of the backlight resistors. I was mistaken and previously thought they were diodes, but then I thought about it for a second and realised that I was wrong. All of the diodes seem fine. Next, on to the switches, I suppose?

chzel · 24 Nov 2014, 23:35

Probably not the switches, but you can try to bypass the usb connector, there is a row of holes right next to it that breakout the USB pins. That of course means cannibalizing a USB cable..any cable with a USB A connector will do.

albill · 01 Dec 2014, 05:13

Got mine soldered and assembled today. Still need to tweak some of the keys on the bottom bar as I'm having problems fitting some of the wider keys in (perhaps my space bar is too wide).

It is working like a champ on my desktop machine though with the default keymap. I haven't flashed anything yet.

MrMen · 01 Dec 2014, 09:52

You received it yesterday ?
Nice color. Is the case thes acryclic tex one ?

Nuum · 01 Dec 2014, 10:30

I think your right control key is too big to fit a 6.25u spacebar. Would 1.25u keys fit where the two 1u keycaps are? It looks so, so it should be the right control that is too big. Maybe your switch positions are wrong.

plasticchair · 05 Dec 2014, 18:00

Beltet asked me to post some pictures of my FaceU "mod" over here, so here it goes.
As already discussed, the plate doesn't really offer the room needed for an ISO return key.
To make it work nonetheless, you'll have to either cut off the right part of the plate, or (what I did) invest some time and start filing or use a dremel.

Pictures: top, side.

In the side shot you can see how I filed a small curve to finally make the switch fit in there. Took a lot of time and testing over and over again but it worked out okay.

For those interested in more pictures, I'm selling my Face U build here.

beltet · 06 Dec 2014, 09:02

plasticchair wrote: ↑Beltet asked me to post some pictures of my FaceU "mod" over here, so here it goes.
As already discussed, the plate doesn't really offer the room needed for an ISO return key.
To make it work nonetheless, you'll have to either cut off the right part of the plate, or (what I did) invest some time and start filing or use a dremel.

Pictures: top, side.

In the side shot you can see how I filed a small curve to finally make the switch fit in there. Took a lot of time and testing over and over again but it worked out okay.

For those interested in more pictures, I'm selling my Face U build here.

Looks really good. Much better then my mod.

spopepro · 15 Mar 2015, 00:54

Resurecting this one slightly...

I finally had some time to put mine together. Like others, had keys that would not register... damn. Time to go through the check: Switch tested good, diodes on the board tested good, voltages at test points were good... I couldn't figure it out. After replacing some diodes that didn't fix the problem, I finally got the hang of how the board is routed. I then tested some pins off the IC and found a whole bank of the matrix without a connection. Completing it manually worked... so I kludged together this:

: TraceConnect.jpg (344.84 KiB) Viewed 4107 times

It works perfectly now. After everyone's trouble with the mounted components, I assumed my problem had to be the same... but it appears that the board itself is bad. I'm fortunate to have extensive DIY electronic experience; keyboards are much easier to trouble shoot than audio gear (I can leave the o-scope in the closet). Anyway, here's the glamor shot:

: FaceUPulse.jpg (135.71 KiB) Viewed 4107 times

scottc · 15 Jun 2015, 23:06

Evening!

I've now got a FaceW board (thanks DanielT!), and one small problem: when I hit win+alt+fn+quote for win+alt+right, the board registers alt+right instead. Does anyone know why this might be?

chzel · 15 Jun 2015, 23:52

Probably the win key isn't mapped on the fn layer? As in nothing there when you press fn.
Test by pressing fn and winkey. If start menu pops up I am wrong!

scottc · 15 Jun 2015, 23:58

Ooh, that might be it! No start menu here but I will try remapping it and see how that works. Cheers Chzel!

Edit: That fixes it! Thanks

I've now lost my LED mode key but that's fine, I'll get it later!

Laser · 05 Feb 2016, 22:22

Anybody knows if the latest ps2avrU firmware supports "tap (dual role) keys"? You know, that feature that allows you to, for example, press CapsLock + other key = Control + key, but press CapsLock (alone) and release = Escape.

BTW:

- latest mapping client: http://blog.winkeyless.kr/183
- latest firmware: http://blog.winkeyless.kr/17 (advertises "wake up from sleep" function)

Spoiler:

scottc · 12 Feb 2016, 23:25

Did anyone ever make any headway on TMK for these guys? I've got a FaceW now and I'd love to get TMK working on it. I've finally started consolidating all of my configs and function layers, and the FaceW is the last outlier.

Laser · 04 Dec 2016, 16:52

There is now a TMK port for B.Face X2 PCBs and other boards based on the ps2avrGB firmware: https://github.com/luizribeiro/tmk_keyb ... d/ps2avrGB

Does anyone know what needs to be done to support the old faceU replica PCB?