deskthority

I'm not sure whether this is the right place to ask (I'm hoping so).

I'm thinking about making a USB cable for my HHKB Pro 2 Type-S (I have a couple of old Apple USB cables, with the clear outer sleeve, which I'd like to convert to mini USB in one end. I'd prefer the mini USB connector to be angled, such that it can be connected to the keyboard while it's in my bag (I take it with me to the office every day), such that I won't have to wear down the connector by plugging and unplugging the keyboard several times each day.

I've been searching for some nice high quality angled mini USB plugs (do ones with aluminium housing exist?), but I haven't been able to locate any yet. It's fine if they are plastic, as long as the quality is quite good (e.g., tight fitting?). If anyone knows of a brand or a place to buy such mini USB plugs, I would be very grateful.

You must unplug your cable whenever an appliance is not in use.

A right-angle plug simply fails in a different way than a straight plug.

The much greater danger is damaging the female socket, that costs more to replace than a dozen cables.

Are you begin sarcastic?

If I for some OCDish reason want an angled USB plug, does that matter? I'm not asking for a debate whether it's a good choice. I'm just asking if anyone know if such plugs exist (and if so, and where to buy them).

Here in the US, Amazon is a ready source for "mini USB right angle" and "mini USB left angle" cables. Something like this:

http://www.amazon.com/StarTech-Mini-USB ... 004W8EIMW/

You can always make the cable shorter yourself with a soldering iron, Kapton tape, and heat shrink tubing.

My suggestion, given your use case, is to get a little breakout cable: mini USB with an angle on one end, and male USB on the other. This way, you're plugging and unplugging a sacrificial cable. You can then use a USB extension cord of your choosing to connect to the computer.

Thanks for your reply. I'll give Amazon a lookthrough and see what I can find.

Wrt. your suggestion, that was also what I was planing on doing. In fact, currently I use an angled adapter (male mini USB -> female mini USB), which I have secured using some strong double-sided tape. I then plug a USB cable into the adapter. However, it would look cleaner having a cable attached directly to the board, instead of the clunky adapter.

It's a small detail I know, but... It has to be perfect.

Did you consider making a custom one out of epoxy putty?

You'd be able to make it rest tightly against the keyboard's case, reducing any strain on the USB connector. And get a smooth shape on the 8 millimeter part that sticks outside of the connector, so it doesn't grab anything in the backpack.

You can make it as pretty as you want then - this stuff sands down nicely, just make several passes with increasing gradations of sandpaper on a flat surface, then paint it over. Or use a pigment with the epoxy and cover with transparent lacquer afterwards.

That sounds like a nice idea - thanks!

I hadn't heard about this stuff before, but I just saw a guide on head-fi, and it looks manageable.

I got a couple from Amazon about a year ago. Here's one in action:

Did you make the cable yourself?

Muirium wrote: I got a couple from Amazon about a year ago.

I am 99% sure he meant the whole thing.

fohat wrote: You must unplug your cable whenever an appliance is not in use.

A right-angle plug simply fails in a different way than a straight plug.

The much greater danger is damaging the female socket, that costs more to replace than a dozen cables.

I move my HHKB daily from work to home and viceversa, and I don't disconnect the straight cable from it when I put it into my bag (cable does not get forced once there). Do you think disconnecting it should be safer?

My cable is indeed a simple product that I purchased for a couple of bucks. Good and solid at both ends, each one of them 90° so to allow it to hug my Mac nice and close when in use. Can't find the name now though, not on my Amazon history. I was in America when I picked them out and got my brother to order, to save currency conversions.

Anyone fearing for port longevity is doing it wrong. I'm more worried about my stuff getting cracked when I carry it around, because of some idiot colliding with me. Better to keep things protected when traveling. Which is one of the things I like about the official PFU HHKB case that I use. Managed to keep my HHKB safe during several long haul flights now, and a dozen porter lobbings!

I realize it's possible to buy these cables. I am looking for components to make a cable of my own

I have a PFU HHKB bag on the way together with a set of blank caps and the red/blue colored ones. Maybe it won't be a problem with the cable sticking out then.

Currently my keyboard looks like this:

Muirium wrote: Anyone fearing for port longevity is doing it wrong.

Does that include automation industry and the military? Because they fear a lot, and went a long way to be less afraid. Consumer-grade stuff doesn't use such precautions, and not without a reason.