My finished USB Keypad for WinCab (DWJukebox)

[Dermbrian]

I had posted in http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=104882.0 that I was wanting to build a narrow pushbutton interface to control the jukebox program WinCab (aka DWJukebox) on my PC.  In the end, I went with customizing a USB Keypad.

I think it turned out well.  Here's the way I went about it.

1.  Scanned the keypad in, using our Lexmark deskjet printer/scanner.
2.  Opened that with Microsoft Paint.  Increased the properties of the image to double the width, to give some working room.
3.  Filled that room with some rounded-corner empty squares and rectangles the size of the key tops (a little smaller, actually...).
4.  Added text and select colors to fill in the rectangles squares.
5.  Printed out the new key tops on Avery shipping labels using the color inkjet, selecting "adjust to 100% of normal size" in page setup in Microsoft Paint.
    Note....I edited out the original scanned image and filled the rest of the background with black first.
6.  Cut out small groups of the key tops. 
7.  Covered these with thin packing tape.
8.  Cut carefully, leaving just a very tiny black border.  Clipped corners at tiny 45 degree angles for 'roundness'.
9.  Carefully peeled Avery shipping label backing off and gently place on keys.  Aligned.  Pressed firmly.

One minor issue.   The 'old' #5 button...which is now my #8 button, has a little ridge at its lower edge for helping to locate that key on the fly.  That should probably be filed down.

The keypad, again, is a $12.99 USB keypad carried by Target.  If anyone would like a .bmp of the keytops to duplicate this, just let me know and I'll email you the file, along with a summary of the changes that are needed for controls.ini in DWJukebox to allow this layout.

Brian

[Space Fractal]

This is a very clean and very cool idea, so why not add the bmp file here as well?

This should suit my own jukebox software, MultiFE (using Jukebox GUI) as well others many other keypad apps as well.

Is Insert Coin required on the keypad? I mean you can set DWJukebox on free as well.

Also I do cannot read the blue button, what it does?

[Dermbrian]

I'll upload the .bmp to the files repository area once my registration for that area gets approved.  I didn't realize it existed.  Thanks.

I like having insert coin as a control.  I keep a little piggy bank next to the keypad and occasionally drop some quarters in, too.  A mini savings account for iTunes purchases, etc.

The blue button says "Albums - Singles".  It alternates between the two skins I have defined. 

Brian

[Dermbrian]

http://files.arcadecontrols.com/details.php?image_id=3634

I uploaded a .png file of the key tops, along with instructions regarding the controls.ini changes required.  The file repository doesn't accept .bmp files.  I notice that MS Paint in Windows 7 can open .png files just fine.  They're lossless, like .bmp's, so it's easy to change the images since they're 'pure' colors.


Brian

[contralover]

This USB keypad is really nice!  I wanted to make my own custom USB keypad.  Totally custom layout and so I have been looking online and found this company called www.rapidkeypads.com  Has anybody used them to make a custom USB control?  They claim you don't even have to write any software, you just draw the keypad you want and send it to them.  Please let me know if anybody has had any luck with them.  Also, has anybody tried using capacitive touch buttons in their games?  They say their buttons work through any non-conductive material and they have a proximity button too!  My ideas are going crazy!  Let me know if anybody has tried capacitive buttons!  Thanks!!!

[cush]

The keypad, again, is a $12.99 USB keypad carried by Target.  If anyone would like a .bmp of the keytops to duplicate this, just let me know and I'll email you the file, along with a summary of the changes that are needed for controls.ini in DWJukebox to allow this layout.

Brian


[/quote]

I know this is an older thread :
Anyone know which model number this is ? I would like to copy this idea if possible.

[johnpwilton]

Looks like this one to me... http://www.amazon.com/Targus-AKP10US-Numeric-Keypad/dp/B002NURRL0/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top