Wacky Pad Hand-Wired Keypad

I made this oddly shaped macro pad to show off how you can use keyboard-layout-editor.com and swillkb's plate & case builder to create custom 3D printed, hand-wired keyboards.

1. Perfect your layout in keyboard-layout-editor.com
2. Export it as an svg using swillkb's plate & case builder -- select "costar only" if using stabilizers
3. Import svg to freecad & build enclosure around it -- I built a 2-part enclosure with space for a microcontroller in the Adafruit Feather form factor

Parts you'll need:

• 14 keyswitches
• 14 keycaps (6 1U, 8 2U) (printable ones in this Thing! but for a tunable version, grab this version of the keyv2 thing and open it in the openscad customizer)
• 14 diodes, if you want anti-ghosting
• wire for rows & columns. I love Adafruit's silicone-coated stranded wire
• 16 pieces of glue-in stabilizer clips from this design by ffatolla
• A few hundred mm of 0.8mm metal rod
• M2.5 and M3 threaded inserts & screws for assembly (M3 for case, M2.5 for Feather)
• M2.5 nuts to raise Feather so the USB cable clears the cutout, depending on cable 

This pad is wired as a 4x4 matrix with 2 missing keys. I won't cover how to wire a keyboard matrix here, the internet already has plenty of resources. Similarly, I won't cover how to set up the microcontroller, which depends greatly whether you want to use kmk, qmk, or other software.

I won't lie, this keypad is wacky but not ergonomic. It's a curiosity. But use it to be inspired to create an actual useful layout for yourself!

Note: I work with Adafruit but made this design on my own time.

Print Settings

Printer Brand:

Prusa

Printer: 

I3 MK3S

Rafts:

No

Supports: 

No

Resolution:

200

Infill: 

38

Filament:
Generic PLA Any 
 

Notes: 

Print all parts with the big flat face on the print surface :)

Keyswitches may need adjustment via the openscad customizer for your printer's characteristics ("stem slop"), don't print all keys out before doing a test fitting!

Category: Computer