source file: mills3.txt Date: Mon, 17 Nov 1997 17:40:58 +0100 Subject: Update and correction re Cheap Xen Keyboard From: Steven Rezsutek After having several other things get in the way, I finally got to finish my 22TET-oriented keyboard yesterday. It's now 100% complete, and all buttoned up, but I ran into a snag or two that I want to pass on as as an addendum. One correction to my previous article: The "C & E" 2 key subassemblies *are* the ones I used (along with a single key (D?) to build the white keys up, with one exception noted below. [Should have labelled the piles "use" and "don't" I guess. :-) ] After getting the "metalwork" [trimming the little tabs on the key frame] taken care of, and proceeding to tighten everything down, I found that the "slop" caused by the slightly non-uniform spacing of the key mechanism when laid out for 12, necessitated a minor design change at one end of the keyboard, and a little whittling of a couple of keys to allow them to move freely. No big deal, but it did add some additional trips to the workshop. The design change involved using a "G-B" 2 key assembly on the end where the full width C-key is. I also had to redrill a couple of mounting holes in the assemblies to accomodate the realignment. So, "how does it work?"... Well, not being a keyboard player, I can't be too much of a judge, but overall it is at least as playable to these fingers as it was before I put it under the knife. The resistance of the keys is somewhat uneven, which would probably bother the more skilled among you, but we're talking low end plastic here -- I don't expect too much, especially from a "proof of concept" piece. The resistance issue could probably have been solved by pulling and rearranging the little plunger switches, but I didn't go that far this time around. As it was, I had to fiddle with one problematic key/plunger combination to make it work correctly. I was getting multiple triggers from that key (it would be neat if there was a switch to make that happen instrument wide). As it turned out, the realignment coupled with that particular membranes physical disposition was just enough to cause some kind of bounce. THe problem was solved by removing the problematic keygroup and one of its neighbors, doing a bit more whittling, and then reassembling with the unit ON and hooked up. I twisted and torqued things until it all worked, and then tightened up. So far, so good. Now all I have to do is learn to play the thing. :-) As Paul noted earlier, the stretch is still pretty wide, but at least now I can span a "3/2" (13o22) with one hand. Steve SMTPOriginator: tuning@eartha.mills.edu From: "Patrick Ozzard-Low" Subject: Woodwinds for ATS PostedDate: 17-11-97 20:26:32 SendTo: CN=coul1358/OU=AT/O=EZH ReplyTo: tuning@eartha.mills.edu $MessageStorage: 0 $UpdatedBy: CN=notesrv2/OU=Server/O=EZH,CN=coul1358/OU=AT/O=EZH,CN=Manuel op de Coul/OU=AT/O=EZH RouteServers: CN=notesrv2/OU=Server/O=EZH,CN=notesrv1/OU=Server/O=EZH RouteTimes: 17-11-97 20:25:06-17-11-97 20:25:06,17-11-97 20:25:16-17-11-97 20:25:16 DeliveredDate: 17-11-97 20:25:16 Categories: $Revisions: Received: from ns.ezh.nl ([137.174.112.59]) by notesrv2.ezh.nl (Lotus SMTP MTA SMTP v4.6 (462.2 9-3-1997)) with SMTP id C1256552.006AA9F6; Mon, 17 Nov 1997 20:25:03 +0100 Received: by ns.ezh.nl; (5.65v3.2/1.3/10May95) id AA01029; Mon, 17 Nov 1997 20:26:32 +0100 Date: Mon, 17 Nov 1997 20:26:32 +0100 Received: from ella.mills.edu by ns (smtpxd); id XA01024 Received: (qmail 23060 invoked from network); 17 Nov 1997 11:26:16 -0800 Received: from localhost (HELO ella.mills.edu) (127.0.0.1) by localhost with SMTP; 17 Nov 1997 11:26:16 -0800 Message-Id: <199711171915.TAA10012@imail.norfolk.gov.uk> Errors-To: madole@mills.edu Reply-To: tuning@eartha.mills.edu Originator: tuning@eartha.mills.edu Sender: tuning@eartha.mills.edu