Comprehensive Peripheral Cluster On-A-Stick
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CPC-Cyber Cepter is a Comprehensive Peripheral Cluster on-a-stick.
It provides any connected device with a suite of peripherals, like mouse, keyboard, multiple LAN options, wifi-scanner, and external display via pico projector, VR HMD, or traditional monitor.
Since it doesn't have a dedicated computational core, I consider it more of a Cyberdock.
VR Support for Linux is still in it's infancy. I think If I'd set up a Windows partition on my steam deck, this would work much better, but it still works.
Using ALVR, side-loaded onto my Quest, and installed on the Steam Deck in Desktop mode (https://github.com/alvr-org/ALVR/wiki/Installation), it pretty seamlessly connects and renders a VR environment.
I'd like to try SumulaVR (https://github.com/SimulaVR/Simula) or XrDesktop (https://uploadvr.com/xrdesktop-collabora-linux-vr/), but I haven't had the opportunity yet.
Here it is, in it's glory!
The Comprehensive Peripheral Cluster, Cepter
Check out that CAM lever. It's a Keyblade from Kinddom Hearts. I made that!
This would look better if I had a proper screen, but I wanted to show off my water-color maps of Elden Ring.
I'd tried a handful of SteamDeck mounting kits, and the DeckMate (even the version I printed at home) stands out above the rest.
I made my own mount that would connect to the ring-mount, and featured VESA-compatible prongs that I could use for additional accessories, if desired.
I printed the support "beams" of the deckmount with a rough texture (called fuzzy skin) in PRUSA Slicer, so it would have a little more friction when clamped onto the rings, and that (plus some rubber washers) seems to hold quite nicely.
Finally, I needed a way to connect my keyboard and device, so they could be adjusted if necessary.
Why do I need to adjust them? Because I like to make things difficult.
The E-Waste Gods had graced me with a Gen-1 Apple Magic Keyboard. I made these parts to securely affix it to the hilt, using Cam-levered 5mm "go-pro" compatible bolts. It took a lot of trial and error to get the mounts to fit the keyboard properly, but it works just as well as I'd hoped.
I needed a pommel of some sort to help keep the weight balanced.
Initially, I just made a storage box that would fit my laptop charger, or extra cables/tools.
This was basically perfect, and painfully over-engineered. The "lid" of the box has a slot that lets the box seat easily, without needing maker-beam to attach to the far side of the box. This was good, but I was ahead of schedule, and I was going to VEGAS for a hacker convention (I HATE VEGAS SO MUCH). I had to kick it up a notch.
BAM! This little box houses a "PIQO" projector that I'd kickstarted a few years back. The projector is mounted inside a free-spinning cylinder that allows for Y-axis adjustment, while all necessary controls remain accessible. The projector also has its own batter, good for about 2 hours, though it can also be powered from the connected powerbank.
I apologize. I'd written a detailed and hilarious story about all the work I went through to build this hilt, and how I even considered building in an umbrella holder, but then my network connection pooped, and I lost my work. So this is what you get.
Starting from the awesome Katana design made by Grzywa on thingiverse, I traced over the mesh, and made my own copy that more specifically met my requirements. https://www.thingiverse.com/grzywa/designs
I cut out material to allow the makerbeam (1 cm extruded aluminum bars) to run through the middle, added a cable channel, and made adjustments to the model to facilitate vertical, supportless printing.
I built in a cut-out, so I could add this dangerous looking wi-fi antenna that came with my motherboard. (It was too easy to get this on a plane initially).
This is the most substantial part of the build, and I ended up printing quite a few prototypes before I was satisfied.
The first thing I had to design was the "Big Box." Initially I made a triangular container, inspired by an awesome Lego Space ship... but it felt both too large, and was too small to house both the power bank and the hub :^(. So for Round 2, I went with a rounded square, and I thought that did the job just right. I sized it as small as I could while still fitting the power bank, and made slots for the hub as well. The whole thing is designed to be printed without supports, because supports are my nemesis.
I apologize for the terrible angle of this (and surely the rest) of the captures. I barely know how to use Fusion 360.
The Comprehensive Peripheral Cluster was born out of a need to connect a suite of dongled-devices to my various simpler computational slabs.
My Smartphone, Surface, Tablet and Steamdeck are all compatible with keyboard, mouse, and external displays, provided I've got a way to connect and transport them.
Hence, the Cyberdock. I say Dock, since the computational power is externally sourced.
The first version of my Cam Lever wasn't large enough, or strong enough.
However, sizing it up was easy, and with the help of some print-on supports, the whole thing prints in one piece, without supports. Hooray!
I also made a variation that uses a keyblade handle instead of a lever.
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5516126
This is my first post, which is weird, because my project is almost done. I have some back-filling to do.
I think a cam lever is a convenient way to attach and tighten the various bits and bobs to my ring mount, but the "real" ones are expensive. Even worse (or better?!) I can't find one for download online, free or paid.
This (and the summer heat) smells like an opportunity to make the world better!
Time for CAD.
Figure 1. I placed the cam-shaft hole too-far off-center. Can you tell this is my first time?
Figure 2. I'm self-taught in Fusion360, so there are always weird things that I don't understand. For example, I can't select the circular sketch here. No idea why.
Figure 3. Version 1 of the Cam Lever is ready for printing! I'll have to try it out tonight.
This process took me about 2 1/2 hours.
Sp4m
Carpespasm
Auron
Tom Nardi