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The FatFingerer

An Arduino Leonardo forms the basis of this time-saving tool

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I am an industrial automation engineer by trade. While writing PLC programs or designing HMI screens, I do an awful lot of copy-paste routines. I wanted to make a button pad to automate certain keystroke combinations and strings. I'm also testing some foot pedal switches to see if they would make good inputs as well.

In the picture of the board, the single DIP switch is wired in parallel with the RUN/PROG switch. This helped during prototyping before I had a case. Also the two tact switches on the DIP area of the protoshield are temporarily the foot switch inputs. When I interface the foot switches to the board they will be wired in parallel. External LED is connected to pin 13.

I ordered foot switches on Ebay but they have too much stroke. I may try to adjust the spring and add stops. When I go to the Dayton Hamvention in May I'll take a look at a Heil foot switch, it's supposed to be a nicely made model. If it has a short switch and is "clicky" (like with a microswitch) I may try that.

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    Step 1

    I'm not really going to include a step-by-step.  This project is almost too easy and I'm sharing it to give people an idea of what to do with the Leonardo keyboard emulation.  My physical design won't work for everyone.  I'm not sure that I like this physical arrangement myself.... but it's a prototype. 

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Bill AD8BC wrote 11/18/2014 at 21:28 point
K0VA, it is a bit overkill, I agree... it's kind of a prototype. I intend on making it better later. I do enjoy using it though.

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k0va wrote 11/18/2014 at 07:16 point
It seems like little bit overkill. I think that same thing can be easly done by connecting avr chip as HID

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Atwas911 wrote 11/13/2014 at 06:21 point
OMG whats wrong with the image?! It's PULSATING! ITS ALIVE!

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Gabriel wrote 07/23/2014 at 18:42 point
Dat name though....

You get a skull.

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rhyso wrote 04/23/2014 at 17:52 point
Hi Bill,
I know you're not too interested in posting build instructions but as a "newb" who simply reads HaD daily for the inspiration to get into hacking/mods/builds, I think this project seems a perfect intro to arduino. I can picture skiddies/programmers/artists/writers all being able to take full advantage of this type of product!

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