Thia is a custom macropad which have 15 keys and one encoder made for easy workflow it contain 2 small LEDED
Each key have its own function to perform the encoder helps to adjust the valume accoring to usee
Made this project for speedup my task
I started this project with the idea of building a small macropad for shortcuts. At first I was not fully sure about the exact design, but I had a rough idea. I spent time looking at other macropad builds to understand how they work and what components are needed.
I started working on the circuit design. I tried to understand how switches and diodes are connected in a. It was a bit confusing in the beginning and I had to check multiple references. After some time I was able to make a basic schematic.
I moved to PCB design. This doing proper PCB, so it took longer than expected. Placing components and routing tracks was not easy and I had to redo some parts because spacing was not correct.
I worked on the CAD design for the case. I wanted the macropad to look clean and compact. The first design was not fitting properly, so I had to adjust dimensions and rework it. After few tries I got a better layout.
I started working on the firmware. I used some reference code and tried to modify it according to my design. At first nothing worked properly and it was a bit frustrating. Understanding key mapping and inputs took time.
Debugging took most of the time today. Some keys were not responding correctly and I thought it was hardware issue, but later I found mistakes in the code. After fixing small issues, things started working.
I tested the full setup and checked all inputs. The rotary encoder and LEDs were also tested. There were still small issues but overall it was working as expected.
| Component | Purpose | Quantity | Price (USD) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SK6812 Mini RGB LED | LED lighting | 2 | 1.18 | Robu |
| Rotary Encoder (with switch) | Volume control | 1 | 2.67 | Amazon |
| 1N4148 Diodes | Signal control | 1 | 3.08 | Amazon |
| MX Mechanical Switches | Key input | 1 | 18.14 | Amazon |
| XIAO RP2040 Controller | Main controller | 1 | 12 | Amazon |
Total Cost: $37.10
This project was little difficult than I expected, especially PCB design . I learned a lot about circuit design, CAD modeling, and firmware development. There were many mistakes during the process, but fixing them helped me understand things better. If I do this again, I would plan the design more carefully from the start.