Finally got around to finishing the 64 button clip matrix...giddy up! The whole process has taken me like 2-3 months to finish, mostly because I have developed some kind of RSI in my neck and back and cannot solder or do much work, and have been seeking massages and therapy from an Osteo so I don't become a cripple (all a result of both this project and sitting down coding all day for work). Anyways I achieved the end result and are totally stoked with the fruits of these labours....would I do it again....no. To recap what I did for the clip matrix;
- Ordered 128 cheap tactile APLS momentary switches for the buttons.
- Had 128 15mm opaque perspex cubes laser cut by Plastix.
- Made a drilling jig up and drilled about a 1/4" hole in each cube for the LED.
- Ordered 128 cheap RBG LED's direct from manufacturer in Hong Kong.
- Sanded the ends of each one on an angle so I could mount it diagonally upwards in the cube.
- Stuck blank electrical tape to the sides of each cube to prevent light from spilling in/out.
- Glued each LED in eachcube using Araldyte.
- Glued each resulting cube to the top of each button switch.
- Soldered all the common cathodes (rows).
- Soldered all the red annodes (columns).
- Soldered all the green annodes (columns).
- Soldered all the blue annodes (columns).
- Soldered together the DOUT module with the darlington modification.
- Connected it all up to the MB core.
- Designed a system for communication between LiveAPI and Midibox app.
- Wrote the software driver for the Midibox app in C (download and download).
- Wrote the software for the LiveAPI in Python (download).
- Debugged all the problems, swearing and cursing.
- Sat back with a satisfied grin as I finally got everything working.
Posts
