usb chess board 101

Robert...

What about "Conductive Thread"?

http://www.sparkfun.com/categories/204

I'm really interested in a pure vinyl/cloth board with a e-fabric controller. Just can't seem to get enough time to build one.

Nice project and I sympathise with those trying to duplicate the work, hand soldering small components is an aquired skill requiring speed, steady hands and asbestos fingers, almost imposibble to achieve without a good quality soldering iron like a Weller. Plus lots of practice!

Would probably not gone for membrane or fabric switches but instead used magnetic or optical sensors. To get around the fiddly soldering I'd use surface mount components and mount on a home etched PCB that could be then drilled and snapped apart into postage stamp sections as this would be easier to wire up a large board.

Sensors can be expensive but there's more than one way to trip a switch and this article you may find illuminating... http://projects.dimension-x.net/archives/32 the video at http://hackedgadgets.com/2006/04/14/led-touch-sensor/ is also an eye opener.

So I got my 4mm switches this evening.  Wow those things are small.  I guess I knew they would be but I was still surprised when I got them.  I am able to use them through the vinyl board but if the pieces aren't flat (any kind of concave bottom or felt) they wont press.  Also they will certainly require some fancy soldering on my part.  Will solder hold to the backing of the vinyl chess board (is vinyl with single thin layer of thread)?  If so then maybe a "sloppy" soldering job would help me resolve how I intend to attach all this to the back of the board.  Will post some pictures when I get a chance.

Robert

Wow! This is pretty sweet. Awesome work. Patent it and make some money!

i used gray tape on back of board ,trust me 16 solder joints is better. I know you want to roll board ,I got idea on roll up board .

 Matt and Jimmy have been DIY'ed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEDv_USdSd8

Update for those interested. 

Since Dream Cheeky boards are next to impossible to get for a reasonable price anymore I developed a new hardware only solution using the Teensy USB device.

You can learn more about it here: Sish Chess

The code is free, you just need to buy a Teensy or Teensy++ (< $30).

Let me know what you think.

Thanks!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcU-GknHYz4

my latest board .

This is just the coolest thing ever! I have to try and build one!!!

I have a Dream Cheeky Board. Where can I find the USB software?

Thanks

Matt has recently updated his blog with some very interesting comments!

http://sishchess.blogspot.co.uk/

Greetings guys,
I've been looking for a good wooden chess board to wire for USB.  I am planning on using reed switches, but could use some information reguarding how well they would work with a woooden chess board. About how thick can the board be and still work and not require a magnet strong enough to interfere with another square's switch?  Can anybody who has gone this route give some advice as to what to look for or avoid in a chess board? Thanks

Matt, Bryan, 

Thank you, Bryan, who send me Matt's software. I've been trying with my "nightmare cheeky", is not working so well, but it is indeed a big advance.  By the way, do you both have ever thought about selling the customized boards? I would be very happy to pay, say, U$30 on a board like this (here in Brazil we do not pay any government taxes if the ammount (price + shipping) is U$50 - beyond this, we pay 60% (!!) of taxes). That would be a huge save, specially compared to those VERY EXPENSIVE DGT boards... : )

Best regards from Sao Paulo, Brazil,

Viveiros

No worries, I'll tell you though, there's someone making USB Chessboards that has my full blessing (and support).

http://www.digitalchess.co.uk/

He's not completely online yet, but he's using a wooden board based off my Sish software.

Matt

Viveiros, if your having problems with your Dream Cheeky just email me and I will try and help you.

Congratulations Jimmy, looks great.  How did you encode the piece?, that is, well into the middlegame any piece could be at any given square, so other than knowing a square is in use by a piece, how do you tell which piece is on a given square?

Bryan,

Thank you so much! I'm about to be on vacation, so do expect me to contact you!

Regards,

Viveiros

The usb roolon chess is hard to find now days do you know a plase that has the rollon chess with usb interface board thanks in advance,

eBay is your best bet

Hi everybody!

I bought a dream cheeky on ebay last night about 15 euros!

Can i have a copy of Matt Fragilio's software for use it with Arena or Deep Fritz?

I wrote to Matt but i had not answer...

my email is fabio.facciaroni@gmail.com