What is SpaceFN and why you should give it a try
The SpaceFN concept - setting up your space key as a layer switch when held - is probably one of the most useful tweaks in the keyboard hobby. Let me explain how it works. My SpaceFN article on kbd.news made some rounds recently - quite surprisingly given the age of this concept. This piece you're reading is a condensed version of the full post. If you're left with unanswered questions, you'll most likely find the info you're looking for in the original write-up. On my imaginary top list of the most useful keyboard features, tweaks and hacks, SpaceFN would deserve a podium finish for sure. But what makes it so special? In short: SpaceFN is easy to implement, easy to learn, costs nothing, can be used with any keyboard, and can improve your productivity instantly. I will list its benefits below, but can state right at this point that the SpaceFN concept, setting up your space key as a layer switch when held, is clearly one of the most useful tweaks in the keyboard hobby....
Apr 30, 2024
What to Buy The most critical information to know going in is which RGB emitters will work with this PCB. I got a breadcrumb from Xi and Yanbo at Massdrop - "3228 PLCC4" - and the search began. Eventually I found the right part at Digikey: 1497-1257-1-ND
https://www.digikey.com/products/en?keywords=1497-1257-1-ND
This is part number ZMDKCBDDG45S-9 manufactured by SunLED -- a US-based company. If you don't have access to Digikey in your country obviously you'll have to source a similar part from elsewhere. The critical features to look for are:
- SMD Case Size: 3228 (3.2 x 2.8mm)
- SMD Package: PLCC4 (or 4-PLCC) "Gull Wing"
- Common Anode
- Compatible with the typical 5v USB power
- 20-30mA operating current
- "Reverse" orientation -- can't really search for this term, but you'll know it when you see one. This just means that the LED faces the PCB when installed.
Here's a link to the part on the SunLED web site:http://www.sunledusa.com/SearchResult.asp?Series=XZxxxxxx45S-9&SubCategoryDescription=Multi-Color%20SMD%20LEDs
And the manufacturer's data sheet:
http://www.sunledusa.com/products/spec/XZMDKCBDDG45S-9.pdf
How to Install it The second most important thing you'll need to know is that the silkscreening on the PCB is wrong. Vortex labeled the anode (+) incorrectly for all of the LED pads. The silkscreen indicates the anode position is upper left -- about the 10 o' clock position. It's the opposite. You'll want to orient your LEDs with the anode in the bottom right position -- around 4 o' clock. You'll know you have it right when your anode is on the pad with the largest trace wire. If you look carefully at each LED position it'll be pretty obvious that one of the traces is much thicker than the other three. That's your positive lead. Study the datasheet for your LED if you're not sure which leg is the anode - each component is keyed and marked for orientation.
If you have a hot air station you're probably already familiar with SMD components so you can skip to the end. But if you're like me you've only got a middle-of-the-road consumer soldering station and you'll have to make do. I'll assume for the moment that everyone reading this knows how to solder basic thru-hole components. SMD is a little tricky but you can do it with your basic soldering tools and a set of tweezers.
- Get good tweezers designed for electronics work. :P
- With a hot iron and the smallest tip you have, put a tiny dot of solder on 1 pad for every LED. Try to do the same pad position on each one and only do ONE PAD out of every set of 4. You'll understand why when you start installing the LEDs. This dot of solder is your "glue".
- Hold an LED over the hole and double check your position/orientation. I found my LEDs were a little smaller than the area Vortex gave us to work with, so I had to hold it pretty much dead center.
- Very gently touch your hot iron to the pad with your "glue" on it. If you do this right some of the solder will jump to the LED and stick to it.
- Carefully move the iron away. Don't move the LED at all. It'll need a second or two to cool and harden. Then let go of it with your tweezers. If you did it right, the LED will be stuck in position. If you screw this up you can lift the solder pad and have a bad day, so DON'T MOVE THE LED until it's set.
- Proceed to solder the other 3 joints. You may need to come back and apply a little more heat/solder to the original "glue" pad.
- Repeat 21 times.
Note that you don't need to worry about resistors for this project. Vortex already installed them for us.The easiest way to test your work is just go plug the PCB in. The default light mode is all LEDs on, full white. If any of them aren't white, reflow your solder joints on that LED.
How to Make it Work If you haven't already, you'll want to download and study the user guide linked on the drop description page. Here's the link again in case you missed it, ya lazy bum:
http://s000.tinyupload.com/index.php?file_id=69876951113010020592
Note that the key labeled "Esc" on the PCB silkscreen is correctly labeled "Fn" in the guide. It is actually Fn and not Esc. Thanks, Vortex!
Your two main lighting modes are:
- Fn + 1 -- All lights on (Mode 1)
- Fn + 3 -- Cycles through various on-press reaction modes (Mode 2)
You can choose the color of your Mode 1 backlight. Hold Fn and you'll notice the slash, star, and minus keys change to red, green, and blue respectively. Pressing any one of them while holding Fn will cycle the other LEDs through 7 levels of color intensity for each of the 3 emitter colors. You use the 3 color controls this way to mix about 210 color combinations (assuming maximum light level).The Mode 2 levels are reactive -- you have to press a key to see them.
- Lights the depressed key, white
- Lights the depressed key, random color
- Lights the column of the depressed key, lights the adjacent columns in a wave pattern, white
- Lights the column of the depressed key, lights the adjacent columns in a wave pattern, random color
- Lights the row of the depressed key, lights the adjacent rows in a wave pattern, white
- Lights the row of the depressed key, lights the adjacent rows in a wave pattern, random color
- OFF
Note that the Num Lock LED remains in the pure white color and ignores all LED settings.Use Fn + 8 to increase the overall backlighting intensity and Fn + 2 to reduce it. There are 7 intensity levels including "off".
Enjoy your number pads, guys! :) Full photo gallery here: http://imgur.com/a/AnZ1c