Modding Project all-plexi keyboard --KONG is a god!! -- no really! he is!!!

Order an assortment of normal sized caps first, so you can play with the sizes/values. Then after you have it the way you like it, you can order the smt caps and start working on the incredibly difficult job of soldering the circuit up.

Just my $0.02.

Otherwise, looking good

 

i need the smt caps for a number of reasons-- one i need to practice soldering them 2 i need to play around with how it will all fit together without triggering each other 3 i want to see how small they Really are

 

You don't need to use a larger resistor on the LED to make it dim longer, since you are using a transistor to activate the LED, then you can instead put the capacitor and resistor (Not LED resistor) on the base of the transistor.

When you press the key the cap will charge, then when you let go the charge will disipate, causeing the transistor to fade off.
(Controling the LED's brightness)

I did the same thing for this circuit:
http://www.zapwizard.com/led_Changer/

But I have also ran the capacitor in parallel with just the LED in this circuit
http://www.zapwizard.com/Bezel_lights/

Like malcs is saying.. experiment

 

smt transistors turned out to be £70 for 110 so that would be wayyy to expensive... therefore i have decided to take bards plan with the extra switches painted onto the transparency... should still work the same in principle have been working out models in Crocodile Clips... BTW does ANYONE have 3ds Max who could convert the file from .max to .dxf?? i am having problems starting up max on my main machine after i changed the gfx card

 

HELP!! i need somebooody... HELP!! not just Anyboooody....



someone with 3dsmaxr5 to convert a .max to a .dxf and do a little light Boolean stuff as 3dsmax is HAVING a MARE. i will post the file later

 

I think its -w or -m or something...but theres a command prompt for 3dsmax that will give you the driver config on startup for the program...search that, it may help...if all else fails, I'll help ya out when I get home from work.

 

thanks Arcana you may just have saved this project


-- KONG!! i have the .DXF it has the keys AND the keyboard pls tell me how much money you need before you cut paypal ok?

 

£75, seem fair?

No, only joking, due to the interest this thread has gained, I'll stick by my earlier offer, and do it for free. I won't be able to cut it until Friday though, as I am right in the middle of something. lets have a look at the DXF.

 

ok hope u have broadband

The DXF file (14008 k)

 

Hmmm, I'm fairly certain that when I spoke to you on MSN, I asked for a 2d file?
Anyhow, how do you want this cut? As I asked earlier, is the base one piece?
Start at the beginning for me, if were going to cut it yourself, please tell me how you would do it as I have no real idea of how you want it to end up!

 

This is the best community ive been in yet...yall doing stuff for free its WONDERFUL!...maybe when my time comes ill be able to get in on this generous display

 

ok sorry about the .dxf not being 2d i couldn't get it any other way..

anyhow i wanted to cut it as one piece (the buttons seperate) if thats possible... the base is intended to be one piece yes.. but i was going to cut that when i have the top and can work out with the circuitry how it will attach without distorting the light too much..

if i was going to cut it myself i would just cut the top out of one piece, then the buttons out of another piece i can give you the buttons in a seperate .dxf if you like?

 

Nope, I really can't get much from that DXF. It's been imported onto a single layer, so there's not a lot I can do! If you could break it up into seperate pieces, then I can cut each piece. You know what I mean?

edit - grr, posted at the same time!

Ok, I can cut the base first, fro ma single piece of plexi - how thick? I can then cut out all the holes for the keys in this base, is that right, or are there no holes in the base, but holes in a seperate piece which fits over the top after? Obviously I need to cut out the keys, so how thich are they also?

 

yes i can do that

 

a new one with objects on layers is uploading now...


edit.. also that is right about cutting the keys into the base... i think you said you had some 2mm polycarbonate that we were going to use for the base and some 3mm acrylic that we were going to use for the keys to give a slight raise off the surface, and to help with the light dispersion

 

I'll get it in a minute...so far I have a height of 4mm on the base, and 6mm for the keys, right so far? So there's a top going over this one yeah, or is that 4mm the total thickness, including the top?!

 

Lol, you're editing your posts as I'm writing mine!
Ok, If I go for a base plate, with NO cutouts for the letters, in 2mm polycarbonate, I can cut that tomorrow. Yes, I have 3mm for the keys, but when/if a top goes on, this will not leave any room. So maybe I get some different/thicker stuff for the keys? Please confirm this before I post again, or before you edit again!

 

Just to help you sort this out; malcs why don't you do a little cross-section thing in paint of just a little area and point out what you want cutting in what thickness etc?

 

wait no base cut yet... we need to work out how it is going to attach to the top without refracting the light too much.. so at the moment just cut the top, with the key holes cut into that (that should be 2mm in the 2mm polycarbonate) the keys cut seperately out of the 3mm acrylic


edit::: just saw your posts good idea nihilist i will do a quick paint picture

 

You two need to get on IRC or something, real-time conversation helps things like this alot