Search found 651 matches

by vvp
14 Jan 2024, 08:17
Forum: Keyboards
Topic: SA Retro
Replies: 3
Views: 6169

Re: SA Retro

I found out that ordering keycaps on aliexpress works very well for good prices, No custom hassle when delivered to EU. But you may not be able to get the fancy stuff. No fancy Signature Plastics caps.
by vvp
14 Jan 2024, 08:08
Forum: Keyboards
Topic: Generic-ify a gaming keyboard?
Replies: 6
Views: 6076

Re: Generic-ify a gaming keyboard?

@moon: Any functionality which requires a custom keyboard driver on your PC would not work when you connect it through a separate controller.
by vvp
10 Jan 2024, 20:25
Forum: Keyboards
Topic: Software-less programmable keyboards
Replies: 26
Views: 18045

Re: Software-less programmable keyboards

If it is this one then it uses ATmega32U2 without external EEPROM. That means 1024 B of internal EEPROM and only 32 kB FLASH. Not really usable. At most 450 keys in macros if you are really lucky.
by vvp
02 Jan 2024, 18:55
Forum: Keyboards
Topic: Software-less programmable keyboards
Replies: 26
Views: 18045

Re: Software-less programmable keyboards

I use that firmware with ATxMega. It works fine. Many new (mostly ARM based) MCUs do not have any EEPROM. It is not a big deal. They have a lot of FLASH. And you can store to FLASH. It is just much more code to handle FLASH storage and sometimes(*) when you have hard realtime requirements it may be ...
by vvp
01 Jan 2024, 22:56
Forum: Keyboards
Topic: Software-less programmable keyboards
Replies: 26
Views: 18045

Re: Software-less programmable keyboards

You need to have enough EEPROM available to implement it easily. Many MCUs do not have it. Some have it but small amount: e.g. Atmega32u has only 1 kB. One remap map will take about 110 bytes which leaves you about 900 bytes for macros after some bytes are used for config data. So you are left with ...
by vvp
29 Jul 2023, 19:09
Forum: Keyboards
Topic: Looking for keyboard/touch typing advice.
Replies: 4
Views: 1472

Re: Looking for keyboard/touch typing advice.

You can learn both. Provided both keyboard have almost the same layout, e.g. both are more or less qwerty but one is row staggered and the second one is column staggered then most of your skills will be transferable (i.e. which key is pressed with which finger). You will not forget the old layout if...
by vvp
18 Jul 2023, 22:22
Forum: Workshop
Topic: How to design and assemble layered acrylic case
Replies: 12
Views: 6606

Re: How to design and assemble layered acrylic case

Can acrylic handle the pressure from a rivnut?
I know they can be used with carbon fiber composite but I have never seen them in acrylic.
by vvp
14 Jul 2023, 19:58
Forum: Workshop
Topic: How to design and assemble layered acrylic case
Replies: 12
Views: 6606

Re: How to design and assemble layered acrylic case

Glue may be a good option too if the plastic is not transparent ... or it is transparent and you do not care about the looks. Why not use solvent as a glue and press things together? Should result in decently transparent interface I never tried it. It may work well. Some practice may be needed so t...
by vvp
14 Jul 2023, 17:24
Forum: Workshop
Topic: How to design and assemble layered acrylic case
Replies: 12
Views: 6606

Re: How to design and assemble layered acrylic case

Do you just screw into the plastic, or is there another solution that you use? When I use a soft plastics (like ABS) then I just screw them in. The (wood) screw will cut its own thread.If the plastic is a bit harder (e.g. PLA) then you can heat the screw with e.g. a cigarette lighter before screwin...
by vvp
14 Jul 2023, 00:59
Forum: Workshop
Topic: How to design and assemble layered acrylic case
Replies: 12
Views: 6606

Re: How to design and assemble layered acrylic case

It is called insert: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MoAji1iq_nk

I do not use them. You will get slightly weaker joints by cutting threads into acrylic or by using wood crews into softer plastic (e.g. ABS) without threads (wood screws will cut it's own thread).
by vvp
14 Jun 2023, 22:42
Forum: Keyboards
Topic: Seeking the most efficient layouts
Replies: 39
Views: 18202

Re: Seeking the most efficient layouts

Muirium wrote:
14 Jun 2023, 21:27
1u Backspace is horrible.
That is because you have it in the top right corner. Put the 1u backspace on the left thumb cluster just below the thumb rest position (like e.g. Kinesis Advantage does it). Then it is just fine being 1u.
by vvp
25 May 2023, 12:57
Forum: Workshop
Topic: Columns not working after mod
Replies: 5
Views: 4285

Re: Columns not working after mod

Check (with a magnifying glass or better with a microscope) whether the PCB is not damaged somewhere (scratched trace, broken part, ...). If damaged then try to fix it (reconnect the trace, replace the part, ...). If it looks OK everywhere then you may have caused an electrostatic damage. This typic...
by vvp
29 Apr 2023, 09:34
Forum: Workshop
Topic: DIY Ergodox in sorry state
Replies: 4
Views: 5223

Re: DIY Ergodox in sorry state

Looks like the original owner used something damaging instead of soldering flux or bathed in something nasty after soldering ... You likely do not need to de-solder everything. You should clean everything and if the traces are not physically damaged then re-flowing the solder should be enough. If yo...
by vvp
20 Feb 2023, 20:04
Forum: Keyboards
Topic: How important is programmability to you?
Replies: 25
Views: 4135

Re: How important is programmability to you?

Tipro keyboards are entirely programmable. Only in one interpretation of the word. Some keyboards are truly programmable in all senses of the word. Here is a sample program running in a keyboard: https://github.com/chrisandreae/keyboard-firmware/blob/public/compiler/examples/mouse.kc There are not ...
by vvp
18 Feb 2023, 20:00
Forum: Keyboards
Topic: How important is programmability to you?
Replies: 25
Views: 4135

Re: How important is programmability to you?

I have a custom keyboard so I do not use remapping much. I already defined the base layout the way I want it. I use macros somewhat: e.g. MacroShift-G does vim-grep on the word under cursor, MacroShift-R repeats the rename of the next tree item in my CAD, etc. Not an absolute necessity but very usef...
by vvp
27 Dec 2022, 12:53
Forum: Keyboards
Topic: GOOD Cherry MX Switches
Replies: 38
Views: 10387

Re: GOOD Cherry MX Switches

Everybody knows that the only great switches are buckling spring :mrgreen:
The rest of the switches are only so so ...
by vvp
23 Dec 2022, 18:44
Forum: Keyboards
Topic: GOOD Cherry MX Switches
Replies: 38
Views: 10387

Re: GOOD Cherry MX Switches

@davkol: Thanks for correction. I just called them white because the stem is white. I did not have any clue abut their official name.
But the stems are not clear .... oooo the beauty of marketing :D
by vvp
22 Dec 2022, 12:38
Forum: Keyboards
Topic: GOOD Cherry MX Switches
Replies: 38
Views: 10387

Re: GOOD Cherry MX Switches

Reds are linear switches, 45 g. Gateron white (I was trying) are similar - 35 g.
by vvp
21 Dec 2022, 23:03
Forum: Keyboards
Topic: GOOD Cherry MX Switches
Replies: 38
Views: 10387

Re: GOOD Cherry MX Switches

Browns are tactile but not clicky. Blues are tactile and clicky. Both are fine as far as I'm concerned.
I tried to use Gateron whites (i.e. blacks with a weaker spring) but I was not impressed.
by vvp
18 Dec 2022, 16:15
Forum: Keyboards
Topic: GOOD Cherry MX Switches
Replies: 38
Views: 10387

Re: GOOD Cherry MX Switches

Browns and Blue are fine for me. I like a bit of tactility.
Overall, switches are less important than the keyboard shape, layout and firmware.
by vvp
09 Nov 2022, 18:02
Forum: Keyboards
Topic: what is the best keyboard
Replies: 101
Views: 32586

Re: what is the best keyboard

You guys need a keyboard with thumb clusters and all the modifiers on the thumbs. Then you can easily have e.g. F1-F9,F10 on keys 1-9,0 through Fn1 and keys F11-F20 through1-9,0 through Fn2. Easily using an approach like this: https://deskthority.net/viewtopic.php?p=250605#p250605 It is an exercise ...
by vvp
03 Nov 2022, 13:52
Forum: Keyboards
Topic: what is the best keyboard
Replies: 101
Views: 32586

Re: what is the best keyboard

Well, it is much easier for AI when the style of the image it generates is kind of abstract painting. It is then hard to tell whether something is wrong because it does not correspond to reality or whether it is actually right because it was the artist's goal not to have it corresponding to the real...
by vvp
02 Nov 2022, 12:45
Forum: Keyboards
Topic: what is the best keyboard
Replies: 101
Views: 32586

Re: what is the best keyboard

That is what you get if you ask an AI to generate a picture. It kind of resembles what was asked for but is just a piece of crap :lol:
by vvp
23 Oct 2022, 22:42
Forum: Workshop
Topic: How to test Alps Switches?
Replies: 19
Views: 5250

Re: How to test Alps Switches?

Your trigger setup you have shown is correct now. Yes, the last switch has issues. It may not be critical. Valid CMOS levels are 1/3 of the Vdd. If the signals do not drop by more than 1/3 then it will not glitch yet. Anyway, I would replace the switch. It will likely get only worse as the switch is...
by vvp
23 Oct 2022, 19:17
Forum: Workshop
Topic: How to test Alps Switches?
Replies: 19
Views: 5250

Re: How to test Alps Switches?

The HW test setup looks OK. It should not be a problem to do a measurement. Check you have setup a one-shot trigger at about 1.5 V (first falling for switch press, then rising edge for switch release). Time scale about 100 us is OK. Time position somewhere in the centre of the display. It looks like...
by vvp
23 Oct 2022, 13:50
Forum: Workshop
Topic: How to test Alps Switches?
Replies: 19
Views: 5250

Re: How to test Alps Switches?

That cherry green scope output looks OK. The blue alps scope output may be OK.
I would expect clicky switches to bounce more.
by vvp
23 Oct 2022, 00:08
Forum: Workshop
Topic: How to test Alps Switches?
Replies: 19
Views: 5250

Re: How to test Alps Switches?

I tried to measure only connecting of the probes of my scope directly to a battery. I managed to simulate a switch without any bounce this way. So I must conclude that perfect switches must be possible and you may have them :D Regardless, if your switches will pass this scope test then they are pret...
by vvp
22 Oct 2022, 23:41
Forum: Workshop
Topic: How to test Alps Switches?
Replies: 19
Views: 5250

Re: How to test Alps Switches?

4k7 resistor is ok as well. You only want any low voltage setup which leads to currents of around 0.1 - 1 mA. Not too high voltage, not too high current since keyboard switches are low voltage and low current. If your probes have switchable attenuation then set it to 10x. It has higher bandwidth tha...
by vvp
21 Oct 2022, 13:48
Forum: Workshop
Topic: How to test Alps Switches?
Replies: 19
Views: 5250

Re: How to test Alps Switches?

by vvp
21 Oct 2022, 13:45
Forum: Workshop
Topic: How to test Alps Switches?
Replies: 19
Views: 5250

Re: How to test Alps Switches?

Do a simple continuity test with ohm-meter first. If it is OK then continue with oscilloscope: Connect the switch in series with about 5k to10k resistor to a battery (1.5 - 10 V). Connect scope probe on the switch. Set up one-shot trigger on the falling edge on the scope and press the switch. Check ...

Go to advanced search