You can get this controller in one of the following ways:
- Get it from me fully assembled
- Get it from JLCPCB semi-assembled, and you solder the card edge connector, the Pro Micro, 90degree 2x3pin header, and ground wire.
These boards at the moment only support QMK firmware for xwhatsit controller, and don't support original xwhatsit firmware. (Which is not an issue, especially because QMK firmware has superior stability)
The QMK firmware variant that supports these keyboards is "/universal" (used to be "/through_hole", but renamed).
Please PM me for details about the QMK firmware (currently running in closed beta).
Option 1. Get it from me
NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE
Please expand the spoilers below to learn about how to order from JLCPCB:
Option 2 makes more financial sense if you need more than 3 controllers, or after I run out of all stock.
You will find all the files you need to order partially assembled boards from JLCPCB in the above github link.
The main design lives in the CompactBeamspring folder, but while this design PCB can be built, it cannot be assembled, because JLCPCB assembly has miminum size requirements that we don't meet.
In order to meet the minimum size requirements, the following panelized designs are available:
- CompactBeamspringP1 -- It's a panel of 1 board, adds some extra throw-away padding that can be broken off after assembly. This one is only useful if building 5 boards.
- CompactBeamspringP2 -- this is a panel of 2 boards, rotated to occupy space efficiently. Use this if you are building 10 or more boards.
To order from JLCPCB, please follow these steps:
- Go to jlcpcb.com
- Sign in to your account
- Go to Quote Now / Order Now
- Upload CompactBeamspringP[12]/CompactBeamspringP[12].zip
- Select PCB Qty
- If building the P2 variant, select Panel by Customer, and Panel Format x = 1 y = 2
- Remove Order Number set to Specify a location
- Leave all other PCB settings at default.
- Scroll down SMT Assembly and turn it on
- Select “Assemble bottom side”
- Tooling holes: select Added by Customer
- Confirm
- Click Add BOM File, and upload the file from CompactBeamspringP[12]/CompactBeamspringP[12]_bom_jlc.csv
- Click Add CPL File, and upload the file from CompactBeamspringP[12]/CompactBeamspringP[12]_cpl_jlc.csv
- Click Next
- Make sure that all parts say "Confirmed" with a little check box in the final column. If it shows a greyed-out "confirm", then some parts may be out of stock. (If parts are out of stock then your options are Wait until it's back in stock / Find equivalent replacement with correct footprint, if it is in the JLCPCB parts library / Redesign the board with a different component / Order the missing part from another supplier and solder it yourself )
- Click Next
- Double check there’s nothing in the Unselected Parts. Double check the component placement looks roughly right. It is okay if R6, R7, and R8 are not placed. (The version at the time of writing doesn’t have these populated)
- Double-check component rotations. In the past JLCPCB has changed how they handle bottom layer rotations multiple times, so it's quite possible for these to go wrong over time.
Note: for chips, pin 1, which is marked with a dot by JLCPCB, should coincide with the longer line on the silkscreen. - Save to Cart, Checkout securely
- 72-pin TYPE B Card Edge Connectors (Example from here: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/33015746310.html). DT user "lucar", recommends these connectors instead, these may be tighter and not require pin-modding: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1823575516.html
- 90degree 2x3 pin headers (Example from here: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4001257532427.html Same seller as Card Edge connectors) NOTE: 90-degree pin headers are guaranteed to fit in an IBM 3101 which has a switch cage on the top case (and also in the other beamspring keyboards). I haven't measured this but there's a chance straight 180degree 2x3-pin headers, with a ribbon cable connector attached might not fit in an IBM 3101 keyboard that has a switch cage. For this reason I recommend using 90-degree 2x3-pin connectors.
- 5V 16MHz Pro Micros (Example from here: EDIT they raised their prices, please ignore this link, you will probably find cheaper elsewhere! https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000087265549.html )
- Crimp terminals and wires (Probably best to get these at a local hobby shop)
-- not counting further costs such as soldering labor, modding the card edge connector for added tightness labor, soldering consumables, grounding crimp wire.
- Almost lowest possible quantity [5pcs]: (note: it's also possible to order 5pcbs, but have only 2 assembled by JLCPCB. This option is not considered here, only the 5pcs all 5 boards assembled option is considered)
- JLCPCB PCB + Assembly of most components (this is using the P1 panel) = 41.09 USD
- 6 pcs 72-pin Type B Card edge connectors = 8.64 USD ( you only need 5, but the multiplier is 3 in the above aliexpress link)
- 10 pcs 90degree 2x3pin headers = 1.02 USD (you only need 5, but the multiplier in the above aliexpress link is 10)
- 5 pcs 5V 16MHz Pro Micros = 12.95 USD
- Shipping (Estimated) for all orders. May be different depending on country. = 37.84 USD
- Quantity of 30
- JLCPCB PCB + Assembly of most components 15 * using the P2 panel, for a total of 30pcs = 95.5 USD
- 30pcs 72-pin Type B Card edge connectors = 43.2 USD
- 30pcs 90-degree 2x3pin headers = 3.06 USD
- 30pcs pro micros = 77.7 USD
- Shipping (Estimated) for all orders. May be different depending on country. = 37.84 USD
- First I recommend following this guide in order to mod the Card Edge connectors to be properly tight:
viewtopic.php?f=7&t=24511 - On this design the card edge connector pins have to be bent 90 degrees for through-hole mounting. Bend the bottom row first:
(NOTE: These images are for illustrative purposes only. These are not the same card edge connectors that ship from AliExpress) Then bend the top row: Then insert the connector in the holes (may require a little bit of wiggling to get all pins through),
and solder both the pins poking through on the other side, and also add solder to connect the top and bottomg rows: - For the solenoid connector please make sure that you use 90-degree pin headers, because some beamsprings such as the 3101 don't have enough space for the vertical pin headers, due to the dip switch cage on the top case.
- The Pro Micros can be soldered with or without pin headers. For the first batch I chose to solder them without, and paid fine attention to how the solder was wicked between the drill holes. If you are not confident with your soldering skills I recommend you use pin headers.
See the final spoilers from this post for ideas about how to cut the long side of the pin headers: viewtopic.php?p=472661#p472661 - the J1 pads on the Pro Micros MUST be shorted.
- The right side of the card edge connector has a wider hole then where the sense PCB ends, so when mounting it please don't align the edge of the hole in the plastic with the sense PCB, but instead please align the pin centers. Furthermore I recommend aligning the center pin of the connector with the center pin of the sense PCB for best alignment.
- If the connector pins are modded like described here: viewtopic.php?f=7&t=24511 (all of the boards I send out are modded), then the connectors will be much more reliable, but also the connectors will be pretty tight, and will require significant force to slide onto the sense PCB, and to remove it. When removing it, I recommend grabbing the connector plastic corner that is close to the grounding wire, with needle nose pliers, and pulling with those. The forces you need to use to will be pretty high, but as long as you keep the forces in the same plane as the sense PCB, there is no danger.
- TH-Xwhatsit controller (this design is based on this through-hole controller)
- New Solenoid Driver
- New SMD Model F controllers