CADding Case & PCB Finalization (Sec. 7 & 8)

Today I did a final check-over of the PCB, in order to get the correct sizing for my case, which I began and almost finished work on.

P.S. Fusion, i love u but u can be SO ANNOYING at times

Roadmap:

Completed Sections:

1: Getting Started with a Schematic
2: Beginning Wiring & Case, realizing it was all wrong, starting over
3: Creating 2.0 Schematic
4: Wiring 2.0 PCB
5: Troubleshooting 2.0 PCB
6: Adding Silkscreens
7: Final PCB Check
8: Design Case

Incomplete Sections:

9: Final Check-over of Everything
10: Create QMK Firmware
11: Submission of MyCroPad!

Section 7: Final PCB Check

Hours 6:30-6:45

• Just did a simple check-over of the PCB and finalized the sizing so that I could move on to the next section:

Section 8: Design Case

Hours 6:45-7:30

• Made the 3d model of most of the case. Now I just need to make some cutouts so that my awesome silkscreens are visible ;P

My first 6 & 1/2hrs

I hadn’t figured out syncing all my Lapse with Stardance, so this is going to make up for the dev blogs I would have made in that time. This is gonna be a long one.

Roadmap:

Completed Sections:

1: Getting Started with a Schematic
2: Beginning Wiring & Case, realizing it was all wrong, starting over
3: Creating 2.0 Schematic
4: Wiring 2.0 PCB
5: Troubleshooting 2.0 PCB
6: Adding Silkscreens

Incomplete Sections:

7: Final PCB Check
8: Design Case
9: Final Check-over of Everything
10: Create QMK Firmware
11: Submission of MyCroPad!

Alright, let’s get started:

Section 1: Getting Started with a Schematic

Hours 0-1:30

• I was very inexperienced when I started this (well, I had no experience at all) so I didn’t do very well on my first try.
• I made a simple 4-key WASD pad and jumped straight from schematic to case without designing a PCB.
• I really don’t know what I was thinking.

Section 2: Beginning Wiring & Case, realizing it was all wrong, starting over

Hours 1:30-2

• Midway through designing my case, I realized I had to change a few things. For one, it has to be unique and not follow the directions exactly to the letter, as I was. (skipping a few necessary parts ofc)
• I decided it would be best to just start over.

Section 3: Creating 2.0 Schematic

Hours 2-3:45

• Starting over completely, I created a 3x3 key matrix, adding a rotary encoder and an OLED screen to top it all off.
• Maybe this was a bit ambitious now that I think back on it.
• I had a bit of trouble finding correct footprints for everything, but it worked out in the end.

Section 4: Wiring 2.0 PCB

Hours 3:45-5:15

• I realized a few times in here I was doing things wrong, but I learned a lot along the way and ended with what I hope is a job well done.

Section 5: Troubleshooting 2.0 PCB

Hours ???

• Now that I think of it, I can’t remember doing this for 2.0. I’ll go back and do it again.

Section 6: Adding Silkscreens

Hours 5:15-6:30

• This was the most fun part of the whole thing so far. (Probably why I spent so much time on it)
• I added a TON of silkscreens, shown in the screenshot attached, including the Mandalorian, Carl Pei (my role model), credits to Fusion and KiCad (the software used), a Hack Club logo, and a cat for obvious reasons.

##That’s all for now, thanks for reading, please support my project and thanks so much if you do. This has really been a fun project and I’ve had so much fun doing something actually cool and learning along the way.