deskthority

Hello All,

I couldn't search up anyone finding this weird fix method I just pulled off, so I figured I'd share it.

I had an engineering 87-key keyboard with a damaged trace near the TRIO-MATE connector. The membrane traces near the connectors are covered with a greenish mask of some kind, so I ...

wobbled wrote: 17 Sep 2019, 19:10 How do you have close ups?

I work at Unicomp, and am very careful about what I talk about online so I don't get fired

You can actually see my elbow in that pic. Sneak level 100.

Too bad that the journalist's article didn't capture the interview with Neil in a more complete light, as I am sure that many would be interested to learn more about the real-world impact of tariffs.


Neil had a more detailed write up in the government public request for comment on the tariffs ...

Can't believe this is actually happening. I always thought Unicomp were just fucking with us. Time to sell those original SSKs lads n lasses!


That's assuming that is not a years (decades?) old prototype they dusted off for the picture...


Tooling is new, prototype is new, parts are new ...

The 2.75u key is the right shift, that's not the problem, it's the frame barrel position and membrane matrix.


No. A convex 2.75U key. Look at the "Code" key on a Wheelwriter.


Ahh, I see. Zero capacity to make those. Closest you might get would probably be 3D printing a cap for a 2 piece ...

...
From the original CNBC article featuring Unicomp..
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/09/15/american-manufacturers-say-tariffs-can-level-the-playing-field-with-china.html


CNBC chopped up his message pretty badly. They conveniently left out that while the assembled keyboard tariff was going up to ...

The 2.75u key is the right shift, that's not the problem, it's the frame barrel position and membrane matrix.

I hate the waste of spacebar as much as everyone else with any kind of RSI, but there are simply not barrels or supports for those positions.

However... There IS a valid barrel and ...

Third, we took the picture of the factory at the request of the writer of the CNBC article to add a little touch of humanity to a rather dry discussion of tariffs, but they choose not to use the photo. So, we choose to post it with a link to the article. We put the tenkeyless model in the picture ...

Actually... I'm going to recommend against this on Model M keyboards (F keyboards are probably fine).

Essentially, you replace the 2.25U ANSI Enter key with a 1U key (the one with #~ in the UK English keyboard) and a 1.25U key (like the ISO left Shift key) on the right side, which becomes the TIE ...

Similarly, I recently found out that the 1.3u keys fits in the right position of the ansi enter, and allows a 1U key to the left of it, and the full 1.5 key above it. In case you wanted to do a hybrid ISO ANSI enter setup.

I remember someone using a JIS right shift in lieu of the stepped Caps Lock but can't find a source link...


You can do this .

Assuming you can get a JIS right shift.


Unicomp still lists a JIS keyboard with, indeed, a non-stepped 1.75U right Shift key (see https://www.pckeyboard.com/page ...

Brilliant work. Glad this board got a happy ending.

The best thing about this beast is that I can lay my phone between the number row and the function row and it's a perfect phone stand. (will add a picture later after I have another phone with which to take the picture of my phone... or a series of mirrors?) All my designs are for travel, so fewer ...

A simple internal conversion using the new handheld scientific BT-500 module and a cheap battery bank.

No profile, and covered power button. Easy and functional!

https://i.imgur.com/0a1JExr.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/4eTf3yO.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/dNWfC1O.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/faMfvyg ...

I think I've finalized the build. I expanded the hole for the button, and cut a square hole for the charging port.

For now, I'm skipping the LEDs, as the BT module actually uses the keyboard's LEDs to indicate charging state! Further, the speaker tones are very descriptive of the BT module's ...

I added a Handheld Scientific BT-100 module to my Leopold LC660C and it fits and works!

I also put up a video on the exploration of whether or not this was possible, but it doesn't really cover the detail of the actual conversion:
ACDGKX5HUsA


Below is mostly a reproduction of the imgur album ...

Is the intent to share build files eventually?

This thing looks incredible.

DMA, has the github code been adjusted to the board you're designing, or will it still run on a CY8CKIT-059? I have a custom 4x12 PCB I'd like to use this on.

Menuhin wrote: Someone built a Planck that can be folded some other ways:



Hmm... scissor switches... interesting.

Yeah, that's me The Plico! I haven't made any kits for them in a while. Maybe that design needs an update.

Interesting piece of kit! Does it require a flat surface to work on or are the individual halves pretty rigid?

I favor a 40% for travel boards. Splits with exposed wires get very annoying very fast. Put a hinge on one of my builds to make it ergonomic, the Plico; https://imgur.com/a/Un0c9

Latest updates!

Got Wcass's PCB printed, and laser cut the case for it. This is a test fit, but it definitely sounds great. Modern Unicomp stems work perfectly.

Sound test and some other projects
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRFf-oLy6Vc

Just need to decide on a controller, hook it up, and ...

You said you used a black USB Type-C 10Gbps cable?

Did you use the actual connectors like a breakout board for a hardware connection or does the USB type c use a protocol to send updates from the half?

Also great point about the grounding! I've been looking at different multi-conductive cables for ...

Whoops, yes, they are not interchangeable, I mean that both controllers could run off the same PCB design. Is that accurate?

Thanks for the continued interest! I'm just getting settled after being back from vacation, so I have a bit of work to catch up on and deliverables to deliver, but this project will see completion, one way or another!

Oh man, I recognized you by photos here too :)
It was pain to see your video ...

I think it's not exactly cheaper, but much easier in terms of work needed to put in. The capacitive switch is also revered more compared to membrane sensing. You can reference the FSSK project in terms of PCB design, slap on an xwhatsit and you'll be good to go.

On a side note, have you seen the ...

Yep, this is a nice group of folks here. If you need anything, i would be happy to help (though i might loose power or internet service starting about Saturday). I too would say go with capacitive sensing as the cost for small run is a LOT cheaper. You can even use Model M barrel frame with model F ...

0100010 wrote: Convince your co-workers / mgmt to start offering greater than 1x width custom cap top printing, and side printing using existing templates // would be a GREAT help.

Not sure I follow, send me a PM or email!

I am a new Unicomp employee, but I can't say how much insidght I have. I'm mostly working on weird manufacturing production issues and answering the phone. :oops:

Cool! Now we'll all be tempted to ask you the questions we don't dare to ask in the official contact page. :mrgreen: :mrgreen ...

Take a look at Xwhatsit's thread . And if you're interested, I think orihalcon is still selling assembled controllers with the firmware already flashed here . The controller is very easy to set up and use. If you're interested, I also recommend reading DMA's CommonSense controller thread , as that ...

Interesting! Why did you decide to do membrane BS instead of capacitive? It seems like it would be simpler to start with idollar's FSSK PCB drawing, reduce it to 40%, have a plate made, and put it all together with an Xwhatsit or CommonSense controller.

I had access to frames and membranes, and I ...