This repository contains files and instructions how to build the LucidglovesFae Mod, a mod of the Lucidgloves Prototype 5 by Lucas VRTech.
The mod presently consists of 4 features that can, in theory, be used seperately:
- Custom PCBs to greatly simplify the wiring and provide a compact control PCB featuring an ESP32-S3 chip and most notably no need for a multiplexer chip. With the files provided they can be ordered directly from JLCPCB including most of the assembly.
- A modified sensor module that prints without supports and fits the new PCBs. It can also be used without the new PCBs.
- A new tracker mount that includes space for the control PCB. It can also be used without the new PCBs.
- A two-material version of the rigid mount, that allows you to print part of it with flexible filament (TPU) so it flexes more nicely where it needs to. It can be used without the other parts of this mod. It can also be printed using a non-multi-material printer.
The additional parts, including the custom PCBs and shipping, will set you back ~$30 per glove for 2 gloves, or $20 per glove for 4 gloves. The reason for the massive price difference is that JLCPCB manufactures PCBs in multiples of five, so you will order at least 5 control PCBs. You can have them only assemble 2, but the price difference would be about $1. For the finger PCBs, the price barely increases if you order enough for 20 fingers instead of 10 fingers. So, simply put: You might as well order enough parts for 4 gloves, and split the cost with a friend :)
Keep in mind this comes on top of the cost for the other parts you need for prototype 5 anyway, but you will not need the ESP dev module or the multiplexer chip, which will save you about $6-$7 per glove. You will also not need additional cables as they are all included. In my opinion, the reduced hassle alone is worth the cost.
At the time of writing this, the cost of parts to build the LucidGloves Fae Mod including 3D printing filament and all parts, according to my calculations, comes down to ~$60 per glove for 2 gloves and ~$40 per glove for 4 gloves.
Don't forget that you will still need to buy a SteamVR tracker of your choice, a USB cable and a Powerbank for each glove thogh, of course.
The ESP32-S3 chip does not support BluetoothSerial. This means that, presently, the gloves can only be connected using a wired USB connection. The chip itself supports both Bluetooth Low Energy and WiFi for communication, neither of these are currently implemented in the firmware or the opengloves driver, though there seem to be plans to support BLE for communication in the future.
If you're a developer and feel like implementing communication via WiFi/TCP/UDP or Bluetooth Low Energy in the oopengloves driver and submit a pull request to it, i'm sure it would be appreciated by the community. I don't have enough experience with software development on windows to do it myself. However, i am experienced with firmware development and if someone added the support to the opengloves driver, i would probably be up to implementing the other side of it for the firmware.
- Ordering the parts needed
- 3D Printing the modified parts
- Assembling the modified parts
- Modifying the firmware
Feedback is always welcome.
If you have questions that are about the specific of this mod, feel free to use the issue tracker. If you have questions about the LucidGloves in general and assembly or setup steps that are not different for this mod, please stick to the official support channels of the original LucidGloves.
If you find an error somewhere or see a way to improve the documentation, feel free to open an issue or a pull request.
It sure would be nice if the instructions had some screenshots and images in then. If you feel like it, make some while you follow along with the instructions and submit them to this repo, ideally using a pull request :)