Does anyone implemented a touch piano keyboard (using Arduino ,o similiar MCU, ADC) with the keys painted or covered by some sort of colored tape?
I'm think of a multiple octaves (2...4) keyboard with copper strips, but I do not like the natural appearance. I wonder if having a thin layer of something will reduce to much the sensitivity.
Thanks
P.S. if the painting is acceptable, which is the best kind of varnish?
Right now this is just a preliminary idea for a long dreamed project.
Basicly I want to drive a VS1053 module (already used in the past and now retested) with an Arduino (Mega or an ESP32 maybe). The touch keyboard will have 2 or 3 octaves (possibly even 4) driven by a series of MPR121. Awaiting for these modules just ordered I started to think about the mechanics.
I'm totally in denial with this phase, both in tools and knowledge, so my idea is to have something very simple, like a support of any kind with copper strips in suitable dimensions (like 2cm wide for 12cm height, for the white keys; the blacks will be proportionated).
I ordered a roll of very thin (less than 0.1mm) copper tape to cut the keys.
As I said I want to cover the keys with some sort of varnish (black & white) or a colored PVC (the one used to cover the furniture). This last is just plastic and quite thin, aound 0.5mm.
The last doubt is the minimum spacing among the keys to avoid crosstalk.
Thanks for your answer
Please follow the forum guidelines posted above, and post links to, or complete data about the hardware that you mentioned.
The kind of varnish that you would put on unknown keys, is by definition, unknown.
From the document you were asked to read:
We need to know exactly what hardware you have. We need to know what Arduino board (or other brand, such as ESP32) you are using and exactly what other hardware you are connecting it to. The more details we have, the easier it is to help.
If you are using something that is a non-Arduino product then it helps to have a link to its technical data sheet or a link to where you bought it.
Uhm, I'm very surprised by the response tone.
As I wrote I'm just thinking ahead to something I would like to do, so I do not have any sketch, or schematics, or datasheet yet...and I don't know what kind of coverage I will use, exactly as I asked.
I though that this Forum, that I use since few months, was based on friendly help too.
If I did something wrong or I posted in a wrong section, please accept my apologies.
Even if you are just thinking ahead, you mentioned some hardware, but didn't provide the kind of information that the forum guidelines document asks you to provide. Also, the need to provide that information is supported by simple common sense as well as the guidelines. I even quoted the section of the guidelines that pertains to your omission, to save you the trouble of identifying it.
I have only asked basic questions, and made standard, common suggestions. It is insulting that you imply that my "tone" is inappropriate. Welcome to my permanent ignore list. I will not see any further replies from you.
For further help, please correct the deficiencies in your post, and maybe someone else will offer ideas.
Well, since possibly I did something wrong and offended someone, let me please riformulate my question.
Has anyone tried to cover a copper strip used for ADC touch sensing with a varnish or, better, a thin plastic foil? I wonder if the touch sensitive is reduced too much.
Thanks
The response tone you think you hear is proportional to the information you provide.
It is always best to give too much information than not enough.
Different paints / varnishes have different properties and the coating thickness will also come into play.
Same with plastics which all tend to have different properties so you need to know the type of plastic.
Some paints are more conductive than others and there are even special conductive paints.
Simply using a copper sheet with spaced paint areas would not normally produce too much difference in conductivity.