@qcoral ⚡

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heyheyhey!

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test devlog!

test. /

testing!

testing!

testing

I like to order my days chronologically, but a couple weeks have passed! Now I’ve receive my boards and just have to solder them and assemble it. So first things first, I whipped out all the soldering stuff.

I like to use my trusty pinecil with resin core leaded solder and then I use some wire cutters to cut off the strands.

Something I learned about doing the neopixels, especially SMD like this, is to tin the pads, and then bend the leads so that they touch all the pads, and then just touch the solder to the pads, works very nicely.

Anyways, the boards turned out very nice, and then I added some github keycaps onto them.

Next I needed to assemble the case. I just glued the walls onto the sides nicely, and then I actually forgot to get the top part of my case printed, so I used duck tape to like hold it in place, and I feel like it turned out pretty nice.

I skipped on the acrylic for now, but all stuff I need to do when I get back from my vacation:

And then I just simply uploaded my code, and booted up the XIAO using the UF2 from the circuit python website, and it was ready to go!

I’m a bit sad I didn’t get the neopixels to work in time for my trip, but I’ll get them working eventually!

I like to order my days chronologically, but a couple weeks have passed! Now I’ve receive my boards and just have to solder them and assemble it. So first things first, I whipped out all the soldering stuff.

I like to use my trusty pinecil with resin core leaded solder and then I use some wire cutters to cut off the strands.

Something I learned about doing the neopixels, especially SMD like this, is to tin the pads, and then bend the leads so that they touch all the pads, and then just touch the solder to the pads, works very nicely.

Anyways, the boards turned out very nice, and then I added some github keycaps onto them.

Next I needed to assemble the case. I just glued the walls onto the sides nicely, and then I actually forgot to get the top part of my case printed, so I used duck tape to like hold it in place, and I feel like it turned out pretty nice.

I skipped on the acrylic for now, but all stuff I need to do when I get back from my vacation:

And then I just simply uploaded my code, and booted up the XIAO using the UF2 from the circuit python website, and it was ready to go!

I’m a bit sad I didn’t get the neopixels to work in time for my trip, but I’ll get them working eventually!

I like to order my days chronologically, but a couple weeks have passed! Now I’ve receive my boards and just have to solder them and assemble it. So first things first, I whipped out all the soldering stuff.

I like to use my trusty pinecil with resin core leaded solder and then I use some wire cutters to cut off the strands.

Something I learned about doing the neopixels, especially SMD like this, is to tin the pads, and then bend the leads so that they touch all the pads, and then just touch the solder to the pads, works very nicely.

Anyways, the boards turned out very nice, and then I added some github keycaps onto them.

Next I needed to assemble the case. I just glued the walls onto the sides nicely, and then I actually forgot to get the top part of my case printed, so I used duck tape to like hold it in place, and I feel like it turned out pretty nice.

I skipped on the acrylic for now, but all stuff I need to do when I get back from my vacation:

And then I just simply uploaded my code, and booted up the XIAO using the UF2 from the circuit python website, and it was ready to go!

I’m a bit sad I didn’t get the neopixels to work in time for my trip, but I’ll get them working eventually!

Now I’ve never used Blender before, but I really want to render my case and PCB. But before that, I have to update my KiCad! And it may have taken me way too long, but after 2 hours, I’ve updated KiCad.

Now I can export the PCB with silkscreen (brand new feature!!) and add it to blender alongside my case.

I’ve also added this cool blueprint effect on the plane I’ve put my model on which will look really futuristic in the render. To do this, I just used a wireframe on the plane and then gave them 2 different meshes. Now all this stuff took way longer than I’m making it seem but yeah that’s basically what I did.

Next I added all the meshes and rendered everything, I couldn’t figure out lighting so I may or may not have just used the photo’s from the render without light.

And there’s our render completed!

Now I’ve never used Blender before, but I really want to render my case and PCB. But before that, I have to update my KiCad! And it may have taken me way too long, but after 2 hours, I’ve updated KiCad.

Now I can export the PCB with silkscreen (brand new feature!!) and add it to blender alongside my case.

I’ve also added this cool blueprint effect on the plane I’ve put my model on which will look really futuristic in the render. To do this, I just used a wireframe on the plane and then gave them 2 different meshes. Now all this stuff took way longer than I’m making it seem but yeah that’s basically what I did.

Next I added all the meshes and rendered everything, I couldn’t figure out lighting so I may or may not have just used the photo’s from the render without light.

And there’s our render completed!

Now I’ve never used Blender before, but I really want to render my case and PCB. But before that, I have to update my KiCad! And it may have taken me way too long, but after 2 hours, I’ve updated KiCad.

Now I can export the PCB with silkscreen (brand new feature!!) and add it to blender alongside my case.

I’ve also added this cool blueprint effect on the plane I’ve put my model on which will look really futuristic in the render. To do this, I just used a wireframe on the plane and then gave them 2 different meshes. Now all this stuff took way longer than I’m making it seem but yeah that’s basically what I did.

Next I added all the meshes and rendered everything, I couldn’t figure out lighting so I may or may not have just used the photo’s from the render without light.

And there’s our render completed!

Now I needed to add all of this to GitHub, I left everything pretty organized so it won’t be too much of a hassle! I pretty much have everything in there except for the production files so let’s add those!

First I’m going to add all my CAD files, I’m going to put all the separate files I need to 3D print, I have to separate all of the different parts to 3D print, but it’s not too complicated so I got through with relative ease.

Next I need the production files, all the files I need to actually make my PCB. This is just the:

• All PCB gerbers, drills, pick and place, etc.
• All 3D printed parts
• All firmware

So I just moved my CAD folder into this new one, move the firmware file, and then made a ZIP file with all the gerbers and stuff.

And then finally, I had to add a new CAD folder with just my full case and then I also added my Onshape link as a txt just for the people that are looking there. And that is actually everything!

Next I need to customize the PCB so that it looks rlly cool inside of the case. I wanna go for like exposed trace with cyberpunk drawings style. I used the case DXF as a reference point, and then used figma to draw the lines. Then I just add the image properly scaled to kicad.

Now I completely forgot to add the neopixels so let me do that real quick.

Rewired + new schematic.

Next I did the firmware. It was really simple, just some python with KMK.

Next I completely forgot but I needed a USB port so I added that in.

Then I’ll just add the bolt heads and such, and we’re done with the case!

Now I needed to add all of this to GitHub, I left everything pretty organized so it won’t be too much of a hassle! I pretty much have everything in there except for the production files so let’s add those!

First I’m going to add all my CAD files, I’m going to put all the separate files I need to 3D print, I have to separate all of the different parts to 3D print, but it’s not too complicated so I got through with relative ease.

Next I need the production files, all the files I need to actually make my PCB. This is just the:

• All PCB gerbers, drills, pick and place, etc.
• All 3D printed parts
• All firmware

So I just moved my CAD folder into this new one, move the firmware file, and then made a ZIP file with all the gerbers and stuff.

And then finally, I had to add a new CAD folder with just my full case and then I also added my Onshape link as a txt just for the people that are looking there. And that is actually everything!