READY - $10 - DIY Through Hole Universal Model F and Beamspring Controller

[cakeanalytics]

Hi. I've laid out a version of this for model f at, if anyone is interested. Tested and working fine.


Kicad files and gerbers can be found here:

https://github.com/frogmaster/TH-XWhatsIt-F

Minor change from my tested version is that all resistors are mounted flat, mine had couple vertical ones.

Any chance you could also include a header for the lock lights?

[hupshall]

I have a question for everybody - I built one of these and had my F working for about 2 minutes, now it's not registering any keypresses at all anymore - even in the keypress util, it's got a threshold of 96 and all keys are "never pressed". Are there any debugging ideas anybody may have? I've checked the resistor values, tried difference IC's and pro micros with no change.

[pandrew]

Hey! Can you send a screenshot of signal level monitor?

[anthonymak]

I have a question for everybody - I built one of these and had my F working for about 2 minutes, now it's not registering any keypresses at all anymore - even in the keypress util, it's got a threshold of 96 and all keys are "never pressed". Are there any debugging ideas anybody may have? I've checked the resistor values, tried difference IC's and pro micros with no change.

My experience with xwhatsit is that you need a good GND connect to the back steel plate before you can have the controller work properly. hope this help.

[hupshall]

Here is the screenshot of the Keyboard monitor:

Untitled.jpg (124.22 KiB) Viewed 2802 times

Here is a picture of the controller:

PXL_20201206_043425595 (Medium).jpg (238.13 KiB) Viewed 2802 times

Here is a picture of the PCB

PXL_20201206_043409755 (Medium).jpg (272.35 KiB) Viewed 2802 times

I have good continuity of ground throughout the setup.

[pandrew]

Here is the screenshot of the Keyboard monitor

Please send a picture of the "Signal Level Monitor". It's a different button in util.exe, and please press a few buttons too, slowly, and see if it changes.

[hupshall]

ok, I hooked up my scope. CH1 is on Row 1, CH2 is on Column 1

Here is a steady state capture:

PXL_20201206_070405355 (Medium).jpg (218.66 KiB) Viewed 2766 times

Here is with my finger pressing down on the pad which would be F1:

PXL_20201206_070413156 (Medium).jpg (222.34 KiB) Viewed 2766 times

So the PCB is at least responding..

[hupshall]

pandrew helped me offline, I ended up building another controller (I had ordered multiple PCB's) and I got the one I built today working great. In fact, I'm typing this in on the model F. I'll spend some time to see if I can figure out what is wrong with the other controller - I'm curious more than anything.

Thanks!

[zzxx53]

pandrew helped me offline, I ended up building another controller (I had ordered multiple PCB's) and I got the one I built today working great. In fact, I'm typing this in on the model F. I'll spend some time to see if I can figure out what is wrong with the other controller - I'm curious more than anything.

Thanks!

I see that you're converting an XT without cutting off the original controller. Good to know that it doesn't interfere with Xwhatsit operations.

[hupshall]

I depopulated it though with my desoldering station so it was just the bare PCB. I really didn't like the idea of cutting up the PCB and so this way, if somebody wanted to put it back to original, they could. I converted this keyboard though because the stock controller didn't work. It was this, or it was going to become a parts keyboard and it looked too nice for that. I also had to remove the blue cable connector, but once I did that, everything fit in the case and I've now put it all back together.

[zzxx53]

Good to know, thanks