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Stucco{15} v1 Build Guide

Info

This is the Build guide for v1 of the Stucco, with small magnets. The current version of all Stuccos use bigger magnets for easier assembly. This page is for archival reasons still here.

Info

The Stucco{15} was the first keyboard of the Stucco series, developed in colaboration with Jan

More information at the Stucco{15} project page.

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What you need 🎒

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  • Stucco case
  • 24 magnets
  • magnet insertion tool
  • Superglue
  • precision dosing helper (optional)
  • 12 gaskets
  • PCB, Plate and Switches

Magnets 🪄

First the magnets should be inserted into the slots in the case. The slots have a little spring mechanism to hold the magnets in place. This is helpful for glueing them in place (you will see why in a bit) and is enough if you dont want to open your Stucco again after assembly. But when you repeatedly open the case, the magnets are too strong and get pulled out. So we have to glue them in.

Orientation of the magnets 🙃

It is important that all magnets are inserted in the correct orientation! Otherwise the case will not close properly.

  • All magnets in the bottom piece facing one way
  • All magnets in the top piece facing the other way

The magnets are square in profile, so you can not see what the correct orientation is. (Magnets which would do that were not available in the appropriate sizes.) So you have to use other magnets to check the orientation.

To easily check the orientation use one magnet (you have one more than you need) and mark one side with a permanent marker. Check that all magnets on one side show the marker on the magnet and all magnets on the other side don't.

Preparing the glue 🧤

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First put the dosing help on the tip of your glue. It is best to remove the tip for that, so you can really push it on there, so it stays there, without pressing also all of the glue out.

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Also it is good to put a sheet of paper or similar under everything. This probably will get a bit messy.

Be careful not to get any glue on the case where it shouldnt be. The superglue is impossible to remove without a visible stain.

Putting them in 🍆

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Get a few of the magnets and put them in the helper like this. Put several magnets in there so they are aligned all the same way. This helps putting the magnets in the right way.

Be careful and tripple check that the current orientation of the magnet is correct. Removing the magnet even without glue is difficult and will most likely damage the case.

Remember: all magnets in one part of the case need to have the same orientation. And in the other part the opposite one.

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You can check the orientation by putting a stack of magnets on an existing magnet. If they stick to the magnet they are correctly orientated and can be put into this part of the case like this. For the very first magnet it doesnt matter how you put it in.

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Put a small amount of glue into one of the holes, only in the big one in the middle.

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Put the magnet helper on there so it is aligned with the hole. Now push on it so one magnet gets pushed in there.

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Then pull the helper to the side, not up. This way the it can separate without pulling the magnet out again. For this the little springs in the case help as well, because they hold the magnet in even when the glue is not hardened yet.

Repeat for all magnets on this part of the case.

Other part of the case 🐬

For the other half of the case you need to flip the orientation of the magnets.

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Take a few of the magnets and put the on the finished part of the case like this. The side of the magnets that is now in contact with the case should be put head first into the other side.

Again: tripple check that the current orientation of the magnet is correct. Removing the magnet even without glue is difficult and will most likely damage the case.

And it is easy to think the magnets should be put in this way. Always test and not just think! It is easy to get the orientation wrong.

You have one magnet more than you need, so even the last magnet is orientated correctly in the helper tool.

Gaskets 🛌

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Glue the gaskets on both sides of the 6 “wings” of the plate. Align them with the outer edge.

You can also put the gaskets on the case, but it is harder to position them correctly.

If you need more gaskets, the material is EPDM.

Rest 🔥

Now you can put the stabs on the PCB and the switches through the plate into the PCB 🍴. Dont forget to use your awesome Platefork. Solder the switches. Unsolder the switches and lube the switches. Resolder the lubed switches.

Put everything together and Keycaps on.

Take pictures and tag #moinboards and #stucco

Firmware 🤖

Features

  • VIAL with
  • Combos, TapDance, QMK Settings
    • but a bit limited, because the MCU is only a 32u2 with limited memory and RAM
    • Combos, TapDance and Key Overrides: only 4 of each
  • Lighting: the CapsLock RGB LED is there, so I kept lighting enabled. But only these two animations:
    • Breathing
    • Rainbow Mood
    • All others are either ugly or make no sense with just one LED.
    • They will still be visible in VIAL, but dont work.
  • Missing:
    • Key Overrides, MouseKeys
    • Security (the vial security is disabled because it takes space and is unnecessary in a normal environment)
  • If you have other preferences in features feel free to hit me up. I can change the firmware. Or you can do it yourself. This is the Source: Stucco15 waffling60 QMK VIAL Source.zip

Flash the firmware with QMK Toolbox.

https://github.com/qmk/qmk_toolbox

Firmware Download the file:

Stucco15_r0_vial_most features.hex

Select ATmega32u2 in QMK Toolbox

Get VIAL here: https://get.vial.today