WTP glove update

[WinnieThePoo]

I was just reading the excellent "reviews of vibrating glove" linked to in the "Tass gloves - how to check improvement" thread - and read that WTP was updating his documentation and web site in March. You've heard of the old lady who named her castrated cat "Tomorrow" (Tom for short) because Tomorrow never comes

Well, this glove upgrade has been "tomorrow" for too long now. I had a break-through today. When will I ever learn? I have been struggling on and off (mostly off) for the last couple of months to get the touchscreen working, by configuring the linux startup files, when I know next to nothing about linux, and regularly locking myself out with errors in the config file. Turns out it was nothing to do with the configuration - I had a dodgy micro-usb lead! How stupid!

So - I'll look to the website, but lets take a quick look here. This picture is all the components for my audio exciter finger pod, using the DAEX-9-4SM exciter which costs a fiver. The only soldering required in the entire glove project is what you see there x8. Take a pair of the mini connector cables, Curl one end by wrapping it round a pencil, fixing it with selotape, and heat it with a heat gun or hairdryer. Let it cool, and remove the selotape and you have a "curly cable". On the end you can see in the picture, cut about 5cm off the red cable, and solder the red cable to one end and black to the other. It is really delicate -so better to find an expert to do it for you - if you buy them a drink. Friends teenager who does electronics? Local school or college? Mobile phone repair shop? PC repair shop? You'll find someone. Thereafter it's like a model kit. Just plug everything together

[WinnieThePoo]

As this picture shows, this is MUCH smaller than previous versions - approx 3x2x1cm. The previous picture shows the exciter with a "nut holder" glued to the exciter by the self adhesive on the exciter. That nut holder has a plastic hex nut in it - an inteference fit (you just push it in). The plastic screw has been trimmed to about 8mm long, and has a spring (trimmed from a pen spring) on it. The spring stops the screw from turning and tightening or loosening as the exciter vibrates. The there is the box that the exciter drops into , a plate to hold down both ends of the exciter, and a lid with a finger cut out

guitar pic

[WinnieThePoo in reply to WinnieThePoo]

So - fit the plastic screw and spring into the plastic nut and give it a couple of turns with a screwdriver. Drop the exciter and cables into the box. It's a snug fit

Exciter in the box

[WinnieThePoo in reply to WinnieThePoo]

Fit the spacer so the 2 bars hold down the exciter

fit the spacer

[WinnieThePoo]

Fit the lid and fix with 4 M2 hex bolts. I ended up with a slightly larger box so I could use M2 bolts which are much more robust, and easier to work with

with lid on

[WinnieThePoo]

I wrap insulating tape round the box, to secure the cables and protect the joints , and route both cables up the fingertip end of the box, to come over the top to the connection on the glove

full assembly

[WinnieThePoo]

Mrs WTP makes these elastic straps with a popper, which wraps round the box, and holds it on my finger

elastic strap

[WinnieThePoo]

The finished unit - just slide my finger in the end that doesnt have the cables sticking up. Mrs WTP is due to make these sewn to size - eliminating the popper and the overlap flap

finished finger box

[WinnieThePoo]

The gloves are Decathlon cycle gloves. Mrs WTP has sewn little elastic loops on each knuckle to keep the cables tidy

loop on gloves

[WinnieThePoo]

Then there are loops on the back of the glove to hold the RJ45 connector - you can see one pointed out by the screwdriver tip

loops on RJ45 holder

[WinnieThePoo]

This is the full glove - easy to put on and take off

The full glove

[WinnieThePoo]

Much smaller, easier to wear, and less restrictive. And easy to make, if you can find someone who will solder a few joints for you

glove on hand