Maarten's custom cables

[sixty]

I got some last week but had no time to take pics until earlier. They are very nicely done and clean. I love his mini-usb plug. So sleek. I will eventually write some more on it, for now just pic-dumping:

[GeorgeStorm]

Looks very nice, I do like the right angled plug.
Looking forward to hearing about build quality etc, since I'm tempted to pick a couple up.

[agor]

Looks nice and sleek

[webwit]

Sleek finish, and thin. Most of the other custom cables I've seen look so fat because of the extra layers.

[jil_jil32]

Soooooooooooooo sexy!

[Maarten]

Thanks for the nice shots sixty, id still love to hear back from you what you think could be done better on the little cable

I've already improved upon quite a few points since this prototype and as things are looking now this is roughly how the finished product that ill be offering here will look like (main change since the red prototype you see above is obviously the Type-A plug but also some under the hood stuff);

Quick and dirty pic

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With some luck ill be opening a thread accepting orders later today and ill work on a first come first served basis from within that thread so if youd like one keep your eyes open!

[itlnstln]

Maarten, will these be available with different connectors? I would a like one with a USB A to Micro B for my phone.

[Trent]

Would you be able to make a SDL <-> USB cable?

Much like this eBay one: http://www.ebay.com/itm/USB-to-SDL-6-Pi ... 3f1635a475

[JBert]

@Trent: That's no ordinary cable you are talking about:

The PS2 to USB conversion circuit is contained within the USB plug's plastic molding and supports the FULL PS2 protocol as defined by IBM (the creators of that protocol). It does not drop data, does not require drivers, and does not timeout after periods of inactivity. I've personally tested these cables to work with MacOS X, Windows 2000/ME, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, and recent versions of Linux and Unix. If you have any doubts about it being able to handle certain key combinations where other PS2 to USB converters you've tried have failed, send me a message and I can test it with my IBM type M keyboard to confirm that it will work.

So it needs the converter circuit, and the USB plug needs to room to embed it. It likely takes some tinkering to reverse engineer the guy's work...

[Maarten]

SDL to USB is on my to do list but this indeed involves active circuitry and all that so the cables will be bulky. I also need a proper supplier for those pesky 'SDL' plugs (pref, some plugs that do NOT require a freaking $300 tool to be crimped on).

And yes, i will do different connectors but i don't think ill take my chances just yet with micro-USB stuff..... Mini is already on the small side for my soldering iron (remind me i need to buy a new one lol).

[mintberryminuscrunch]

just start selling what you are able to supply now, and slowly increase your repertoire

[Maarten]

just start selling what you are able to supply now, and slowly increase your repertoire

Exactly what i plan on doing sir!

http://deskthority.net/marketplace-f11/ ... t2457.html

[Trent]

@Trent: That's no ordinary cable you are talking about:

The PS2 to USB conversion circuit is contained within the USB plug's plastic molding and supports the FULL PS2 protocol as defined by IBM (the creators of that protocol). It does not drop data, does not require drivers, and does not timeout after periods of inactivity. I've personally tested these cables to work with MacOS X, Windows 2000/ME, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, and recent versions of Linux and Unix. If you have any doubts about it being able to handle certain key combinations where other PS2 to USB converters you've tried have failed, send me a message and I can test it with my IBM type M keyboard to confirm that it will work.

So it needs the converter circuit, and the USB plug needs to room to embed it. It likely takes some tinkering to reverse engineer the guy's work...

Oh I completely understand, but I just wanted to see if Maarten was up for the challenge

[cactux]

[Account and posts deleted on request]

[Maarten]

Are these cables coming with some kind of warranty? What I like of your cables, is that both ends are not hold by a plastic band and they luck very clean

Warranty... havent really thought about that all that much tbh But i do stand behind what i make so if anything goes wrong with a cable anyone is free to ship it back to me and i'll decide if its a case of user abuse or if something came undone (best i can do atm). But those chances are pretty slim tho, the mini-usb is filled up with epoxy crap in production models and the type a is pretty darn sturdy to start with and its soldered shut and the cable used is a special high mechanical resistance one so that should also be fine.

[Maarten]

Oh I completely understand, but I just wanted to see if Maarten was up for the challenge

Oh please dont challenge me.... i'm too big a fan of 'how i met your mother' So please, also DO NOT USE THE WORD LEGENDARY!! It just cracks me up every time, cant help it

[whiskerBox]

I love that Blue cable marteen. Looks so clean

[Maarten]

I love that Blue cable marteen. Looks so clean

Thanks for the compliment man!

And ive actually had some requests for MOAR minimalism so i also stocked up on simple black USB plugs to match the mini ones. These are not fully shielded but i think that for people who dont need that its a really nice alternative to the large clear USB plug;

IMG_8455 (Medium).JPG (71.55 KiB) Viewed 7528 times

[off]

How much is the size difference? Cause from a quick failshop it seems minimal at best..
It seems it's a bit skinnier on the whole, but not sure; could you perhaps make a pic with one laying on the other?
The transparent one looks wicked imho!

maarten cable new plug size diff minimal.jpg (45.83 KiB) Viewed 7522 times

[Maarten]

Oh your Photoshop skills are absolutely correct, the size difference is actually pretty much neglectable once assembled but its the 'guts' that differ in size.... i just call em big and small plugs for myself not to mix em up when assembling, apologies for the confusion

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As you can see the clear plug has a nice fancy metal cage thingy surrounding the soldering spots completely and a little extra plastic thingy to prevent shorting between the solderings and the shield while the black one doesnt have any of that (just noticed the plugs plastic guts are oopsiedown in the shot). The overall quality on the clear one is just better.

[off]

Hehe, np man, sorry for the failshop in your beautypic thread
Damn nice that clear one, and I especially like the way you lead the cable into it like factory molded.
Looking at those plugs laid out, I'd say the clear one is the smaller one even
*hope you didn't stock up a huge amount of them blacks*

[Maarten]

No worries, i only ordered a couple of them black ones to try em out....

[guilleguillaume]

Sixty I will be posting here my pictures to keep all Maarten's work together so people can see it easily.

I just can say AWESOME package. Seriously I didn't imagine that a cable could come packed like that with silica gel included and USB plastic cover.











Maarten I think your work is fantastic, the cable is really thick and feels solid. The lenght is perfect for connecting it to the Dell U2311h USB hub.

[off]

And a cable holder!

[Maarten]

Wow, thats a pretty nice color match actually... Not perfect but i doubt you'll find anything closer color-wise

I'm glad you like it, thank you for posting the pictures!