Tuesday, April 23, 2019

nein

A 9 key macropad

Powered by a Pro Micro and can fit any of the various different sized variations of Pro Micro.
Each switch is connected to it's own data pin and ground. There is no need for diodes, as each key has a dedicated data pin there is no possibility of ghosting.

The pinout is:
     F4, F5, F6
     F7, B1, B3
     B2, B6, B5

In Arduino the pin numbers are:
     21, 20, 19
     18, 15, 14
     16, 10, 9
The board can be flipped so that the Pro Micro can be mounted right side up, or upside down.

Gerber files on Git. There is also a json file for kbfirmware.com.

Assembled board with some left over Stealth G20 keycaps.

Low profile Peel-A-Way sockets. There is a place for a 5.2mm surface mount tactile switch connected to the RESET pin.

A standard Pro Micro will fit on the two inner rows of pins. 

The larger Pro Micro with the Mini USB connector fits on the outer rows of pins.

The odd ball Pro Micro is half way between the regular and large Pro Micros. It will fit on an inner and outer row.

PCB bottom.

PCB plate, PCB, and bottom assembled with M2 Spacers and screws.

Sunday, April 14, 2019

Mother of the Sea

Happy birthday Kathleen Mary Drew-Baker

I named one of my modular keyboards "nori". I did some googling and found a fascinating story. The modern Japanese nori industry venerates a British scientist for her discovery about the life cycle of a specific algae. The Japanese applied this knowledge to greatly improve the farming of algae that becomes nori.

Having eaten nori in some form or another most of my life, this story surprised me.

If you are in the UK, the BBC broadcast a program about the relationship the Japanese have with her.

Ars Technica published an article about "How an unpaid UK researcher saved the Japanese seaweed industry".

Musubi with green soldermask 'nori'.

Wednesday, April 10, 2019

Cheap Green Arduino Micro and Pro Micro clones

Back in stock on Aliexpress

I bought these before but they stopped showing up on Aliexpress. Both are now back in stock.

The Pro Micro clone is not an exact copy of the Sparkfun Pro Micro. It will not work properly in many split keyboards.

The green Arduino Micro clone is also different than the genuine Arduino Micro. In many ways it is better since it is thinner and has components only on the top side. It also has a Micro USB connector instead of Mini USB.

You can find the green Pro Micro by searching for BTE17-05.

The green Arduino Micro clone is listed under CNT-013.

They do not come with any headers. Just the board by itself.

I bought several.

Thursday, April 4, 2019

GNAP 4x4 in a GNAP case

Assembled a GNAP with 4x4 PCB's in with GNAP PCB case

Everything fits as with the normal GNAP! PCB.

Blue solder mask GNAP top plate. Clicky box switches.

GNAP 4x4 PCB's with Arduino Micro clone.

Bottom plate.

Held together with M2 spacers and standoffs.