Z-150 Build Log

kokokoy · 25 Jul 2018, 03:21

First off this is my first thread in DT so hoping it goes well.

Got my hands on a Zenith Z-150 AT a month back. Been eye-ing on one for quite a while since I always like how it stands out specially with that badge. Was aiming for a black badge but always misses on one or if I don't its on the high end of my budget. Brett MacK then had a Zenith sale which I jumped into one. Thanks Brett. I know then it would be a project but hoping I can use it as is. Shipping was always expensive, used a forwarder where it saved me like $2-3 with added 2 weeks delay.

This is the finish build.

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Anyway, here's the build log.

The switches are indeed nice (first alps), the case though needs work. The sticker on the top right scares me since that might show the original color of the case.

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This is why I hate stickers; residues.

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After going with cycles through ultrasonic cleaner, hard scrubbing with cloth and some with wiping it with a product similar to goo off it ended up like this.

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But decided to push through with the project route after cleaning. The AT version works with a DIN to ps/2 then a cheapo ps/2 to USB converter though the F7 wont work and somehow pressing any key with the leds just make the keyboard stop functioning.

The spacebar needs work since its ABS while the rest are PBT. Went with sanding it with 1500-2000 grit since I don't know how retro would react for uneven yellowing.

Removed the badge by making several passes with a heat gun at back of the case then giving it a nudge. Once a corner can be lifted slid a hard plastic between and slowly slice it through.

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There are several nick on the case, filled them with epoxy and some I just had to even them out.

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The bottom rear of the case is now even and also altered the hole for the cable. I used epoxy again.

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Going with aviator connector.

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With how long the cable is, I got 2 cable that can connect to the board and another where I can use those 2 as a mini.

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The case would be painted and as well as the plate since the paint already chipped off (sanded it a bit). I'm staying in an apartment with two small kids so doing this on my own is out of the picture. My wife's gonna kill me.

Going with Cerakote.

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Traced the PCB and its a 8x11 (row x col) or 11x8 matrix.

I think I got it wrong. But had to stick with 8x11 since when I realized it I was already mapping the matrix. Initial plan was to be part of BladeAssasins GB as that's much cleaner but went with the cheaper route since shipping (pcb and teensy ++ 2.0) is another cost.

Tried to find a Teensy 2 locally but didn't find one, thus had to go with a clone. Found where to connect the "Teensy" but made a mistake of removing the bridges and resistors rather than just plainly cutting them. The back of the pcb is a complete mess since ALL the pads complete got removed. Epoxy to the rescue on the back and front. Used KLE and KBFirmware; wished I knew this when I did a full handwired TKL.

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Soldered everything back and hooked up the "Teensy" which by the way worked fine.

Then "Teensy" to the female connector. You can see the massacre on the PCB here. If it fails one day, I'll just fully handwire it.

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Placed some mat on the bottom of the case and had to file/sand the 4 corners since they been scratching the inner paint of the top case.

Assembled back and here's how it looks on my desk. A bit darker here so the color is diff.

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//gainsborough · 25 Jul 2018, 03:41

YOOOOOOOOOO!! THIS IS SICK AS HELL!!!

Very nice work!!

kokokoy · 25 Jul 2018, 03:49

//gainsborough wrote: ↑YOOOOOOOOOO!! THIS IS SICK AS HELL!!!

Very nice work!!

Thanks man.

Chyros · 25 Jul 2018, 07:46

Goddammit that's gorgeous. Amazing restoration job! Also really like the aviation connector, looks sick

.

Glad to see these nice old boards getting some love ^^ .

HzFaq · 25 Jul 2018, 10:28

Very nice build. I have one of these in a right old state (somewhere), makes me want to get it out and have a play.

andrewjoy · 25 Jul 2018, 11:45

That is amazing ! Fantastic work.

I have a Z150 from the same supplier it even had the same asset tag ( and goo)

My z150 is original. My Z KB2 however....

kokokoy · 25 Jul 2018, 12:33

Thanks all.

I’ll attach the json file and update the image with the row and col numbering here so just in case any one wants to do the teensy route; once I’m back at my place.

One thing, don’t know how to trigger the original beep. Now it beeps more annoyingly, still can be turned off though.

green-squid · 25 Jul 2018, 13:02

Siiiick man!

fer.real · 26 Jul 2018, 17:27

Wow, really nice!

I'm restoring a Z-150 AT, too. Stickers are the worst. There was an asset tag next to the badge that created uneven yellowing. What's worse is that the adhesive from the tag melted the plastic enough to remove the texture. There are also gouges that look like someone went at the asset tag with a knife.

After two rounds of Retr0bright, it's still very noticeable where the tag was.

: Z-150 Retr0brite.jpg (730.47 KiB) Viewed 4112 times

I think I want to go with a coating like you. Where, outside of gun shops can I get something coated with Ceracote?

Scarpia · 26 Jul 2018, 22:36

That’s gorgeous! And I can’t believe how clean those epoxy details look - could you share some tips / technique for that?

kokokoy · 27 Jul 2018, 03:29

fer.real wrote: ↑I think I want to go with a coating like you. Where, outside of gun shops can I get something coated with Ceracote?

The main reason I jump to coat because of the uneven yellowing.

No idea man. I had this done in an auto shop but I’m in Singapore whereby no guns to the public so all custom paints are done on this type of shops.

Scarpia wrote: ↑That’s gorgeous! And I can’t believe how clean those epoxy details look - could you share some tips / technique for that?

Some parts wasn’t.

But for those which are, it just boils down to sanding. Used 1500 and 2000 grit to sand it down. You can also wet sand it also. And while the expoxy is not completely hardened it can be shaped then just let it dry, sand and reapply some more if needed. Problem with the zenith is that the case had some texture on it so for those you need to repair by joining two pieces you need to live with the glue a bit sticking out.

Sangdrax · 27 Jul 2018, 04:12

I love the level of finish. And that particular case color is super appropriate for a Zenith. Almost the exact same as the accents on the 1982 console I grew up watching.

Muirium · 27 Jul 2018, 21:55

One word: Magnificent.

The aviator connector is the boss, and those cables are giving me ideas. Where did you find those?

kokokoy · 28 Jul 2018, 06:39

Thanks all!

Muirium wrote: ↑Where did you find those?

The cable came with the board while the connector from Banggood - https://m.banggood.com/5Pcs-GX16-4-4-Pi ... gLfzvD_BwE

I believe there are smaller ones on eBay, but this one looks perfect with the size of the Zenith cable.

Muirium · 28 Jul 2018, 07:18

Oh right… you made them yourself all from the looooooong original cable. Nice.

I’ve never installed USB jacks on a cable. How hard was it? I can imagine doing something similar to this with a few of the impractically long cables on my own larger boards. I know orihalcon and others make cables like this with Soarer’s converter inside them somewhere, but I don’t know *how*. I’d rather put the Teensy inside the keyboard anyway and have modular cables as you’ve done, so I can dedicate the converter to the keyboard and not have to reconfigure when swapping.

kokokoy · 28 Jul 2018, 09:44

Not that hard at all but better to get new DIY jacks. I reused old usb cable whereby I had to remove the existing rubber molds first; wont be doing that again. Also I had to make the end of the cable’s diameter smaller (by slicing off sides of the cable not exposing the internal wires) so that the jack can hug it. The zenith one is crazy beautifully thick. Then use a 9.5mm adhesive 3:1 heatshrink to cover it.

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre ... 0599563919
https://m.banggood.com/Wholesale-9_5mm- ... 47099.html

Chyros · 28 Jul 2018, 10:26

Yeah, Zenith cables tend to be MASSIVE xD . You did it very elegantly though

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