Crosses Build Guide

Build

1. Preparation

  • Remove PCBs from rails
  • (Optional) Lightly file down any roughness encountered from freeing PCB.

2. Soldering

  • Solder MCU right side up onto the thumb clusters.
  • ENSURE you are spacing the MCU enough so both USB ports can be used. One with the magnetic attachment, the other with the normal connector. Test fit to understand fitment before soldering.
  • Solder hot swap sockets to all key switch positions. Be mindful of the notch, as the sockets can only be correctly soldered in one way.
  • OLEDs:
    • 3x5: Solder hot swap sockets for OLEDs in place and solder hot swap headers on OLEDs
    • Any other size: Feel free to solder the OLEDs to the board or leverage hot swap headers.

3. Prepare cases

Set your soldering iron as follows:

PLA: 180C-220C (356F-428F)
PETG: 210C-230C (410F-446F)
ABS: 230C-250C (446F-482F)
Nylon: 280C-350C (536F-662F)

  • Burn in six heat set inserts (iron ~230f) per side, on the thumb cases
  • Burn in four heat set inserts per side for the matrix cases.
  • Burn in two heat set inserts per side into the bottom leg of the top trackball carrier.

4. Thumb Connections

  • Connect JST PH1.0 with the side that has the ribs facing down.
  • Connect FFC cable by carefully opening the little dark brown lid and inserting the cable with the blue side facing up. Ensure that the cable is well seated in the connector before closing the lid.

5. Thumb Initial Assembly

  • Place thumb cluster PCB in the thumb cases, making sure to not get the JST cable stuck or pinched as you place it
  • Install two M3x6 bolts onto the PCB by the thumb switches.

6. Trackball Initial Assembly

  • Take the two M3x12 bolts and begin screwing them in to the underside of the trackball mount. Just enough so the Trackball Sensor can index into place.
  • Take the connected side of the JST PH.10 cable and connect it to the Trackball Sensor. Ensure that the ribs are facing down, just as when you connected the cable to the thumb cluster PCB.
  • Insert two M3x8 bolts into the footing of the trackball mount and screw them in just enough to help index them onto the thumb cluster.
  • Install the Trackball mount onto the thumb cluster, using the screws as an index. Ensure that the long portion of the footing is facing towards the three thumb switches, and fasten the bolts into place.
  • Move the Trackball Sensor into mounting position, leveraging the indexing of the M3x12 bolts from the thumb assembly.
  • Install headless three M3 bolts and three roller bearings onto the Trackball Carrier Base
  • Install the base trackball carrier on top of the Trackball Sensor PCB, along with the top of the trackball carriers. Ensure both triangles on the top and bottom carrier are aligned and pointing towards where the matrix case will be.

7. Marry Cases

  • Gently bend the JST cable into a U shape.
  • Guide JST U-shaped bend and FFC cable through the opening of the Matrix Case, to ensure cables do not get pinched or damaged.
  • Insert and fasten two M3x6 bolts to marry the matrix and thumb cluster.

8. Final Connections & Assembly

  • Take the matrix PCB and insert the FFC cable using the same guidelines as the thumb cluster.
  • Set the PCB in place, ensuring that you are not pinching any wiring.
  • Install four M3x6 bolts to fasten the PCB into the Matrix Case.
  • Install switches into their marked placements and add key caps.
  • Cables:
    • Remove both USB-C cables from their bags and take the magnetic tips from each.
    • Keyboard left side: Install the magnetic plug on the bottom USB-C port (not the MCU).
    • Keyboard right side: Install the magnetic plug on to the top USB-C port (MCU), and install the regular end of one of the USB-C cables. This is the cable that goes to the left side.
    • Run the remaining cable from your host to the magnetic connector on the *right* side of the keyboard.
  • Install 34 mm track ball(s) into the carrier(s)

Modification/Firmware

Each kit/build comes with flashed Vial firmware for your selected size. You are welcome to install the app or use the web to modify your new keyboard. Alternatively, you are free to use any firmware you want. As of today, your options are either QMK or Vial, both of which are available for modification here:

Questions/Community

If you have any questions, feel free to join our Discord and get help or join in the conversation. https://discord.gg/twFA7XjAXy