noisedeck

a cyberdeck for dealing in noise

features

• btrfld keyboard
• trackpad
• headphone jack
• mic jack
• 1x usb c data port
• 1x usb c charge port
• 1x usb a port
• ipad: magnetically mounted
• ipad pencil and charging cradle
• rpi zero 2 w + 5000mah battery

future:

• extra keys in topcase for common hotkeys(?)
• choc key one octave keyboard in topcase(?)
• pitch joystick/wheel that snaps back to the center

the rpi zero 2 w is ran so its usb is in gadget mode, so it tells the ipad it is an ethernet device. with this you can setup a local network and ssh directly from the ipad to the rpi without using wifi this leaves the wifi chipset useful for other things

Size constraints

btrfld:

• 129mm deep
• 215mm wide

parts

hinges: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BFWNJMCY/

hinge fasteners: M3x8 countersunk fasteners: https://www.amazon.com/HanTof-Countersunk-Machine-Wrenches-Threaded/dp/B0B9HWVV61 M3x10 countersunk fasteners M3 threaded, DIN 562 flat square nuts: https://www.amazon.com/M3nS-Printers-Stainless-Conform-Quantity/dp/B0BD2N9KTV

power switches: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075RC6TFB

apple pencil charging cradle: https://www.amazon.com/Paiholy-Compatible-Generation-Lightweight-Convenient/dp/B0BMB7362T

midcase fasteners (plastic to plastic): m2x5 and m2x6 tapered flat head self taping screws

cheap ipad magnetic folio case

btrfld keyboard: https://github.com/SolidHal/btrfld

usbc to 3x usbc (2 data, one power): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09PFR2J82

usbc to 4x usbA : https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09N36LZSQ

usbA dac: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DLY3IW8

usbc right angle extension: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B71BZ4YF

rpi zero 2 w

5000mah battery

pcb usb hub https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09FX4QN4J

used to get a power only usbc port for charging the rpi battery: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07VBV1PY5

Notes

dac must have a power switch, otherwise the ipad will always use it by default and never allow usage of the speakers

TODO:

• holes in midcase/topcase and lid for latch(?)

• extra keys in topcase for common hotkeys(?)

• choc key one octave keyboard in topcase(?)

Assembly notes

case:

• use 52 gauge drill bit to clean out midcase holes for the m2 screws

• use 46 gauge drill bit to clean out topcase holes for the m2 screws

• use chamfer bit on bottomcase holes screws sit flush

• glue eyeglass nosepads to bottomcase for feet

• hinges need to be filed/ground shorter on the side that would otherwise stick out through the bottom case

• cleaning out the hinge holes in the ipad enclosure is annoying. Recommend using a 46 gauge drill bit

• tear down the ipad folio case to just the parts required to hold the magnets in place. lets call this the "case core"

  • attach a thin film to the side of the case core that magnetizes to the ipad
  • superglue the case core into the ipad enclosure so that the ipad is held into the ipad enclosure magnetically

• the 5000mah battery pack fits nicely under the dac.

wiring:

The wiring is a bit messy, but it works and all fits with plenty of space:

ipad -> extension -> usbc/usbc 3 way splitter -> one usbc charging port, one usbc data port, and the usbc to usbA splitter

usbA splitter:

• port 1:
  • data and ground to headphone port dac
  • power to two switches on the left side of the noisedeck. One switch to the dac, other to pencil charger. Only use one of these at a time.
• port 2:
  • data only to rpi zero 2w data port. Power to nowhere
• port 3:
  • to pcb usb hub:
    • port 3a:
      • to btrfld
    • port 3b:
      • to trackpad
• port 4:
  • glued into the left side of the noisedeck, externally accessible usbA port

v2

the 3d printed case is good, but the ipad on its own is a lousy computer. i want it around for logic pro and drawing, but otherwise i want it to be a linux machine.

options i have explored are:

1. remove the ipad, take a macbook screen & logic board and design a noisedeck around them.

   • this gets me a "real" computer, but is quite difficult to pull off
     • the hardest part is always
   • no more ipad, which means it can't be used for drawing/reading/tablet things

2. use the ipad as a remote desktop/vnc display for some SBC

   • battery management is annoying, would have to manage the SBC and ipad battery levels
   • rootfs encryption gets funny when a vnc server is required to get display
     • could work around this with ssh decryption, or even stick a light vnc server in the initramfs?
     • or just do it by feel & have ssh available for debug?
   • user login also gets funny, but i could also either do this by feel/ssh for debug or just auto start sway
   • create a headless display in the sway config with the ipad res, run swaymsg create_output
   • run wayvnc like wayvnc 0.0.0.0 --render-cursor --disable-input --max-fps=60 --output=HEADLESS-1
   • use manual local ethernet connection between the two

3. use the ipad as a display via an HDMI capture card!

   • use something like orion (by lux) (other options available)
   • this limits the ipad to be just a display, uses standard display tech! no special software on the SBC required
   • need to be aware of input lag (hopefull minimal?)