Ever wanted a keyboard that does exactly what you need — and nothing else? In this guide, you’ll design a custom macropad from scratch: the circuit board, the case, and the firmware. Hack Club will ship you the parts and fund the manufacturing.
By the end, you’ll have:
- A custom PCB designed in KiCad
- A 3D-printable case designed in Fusion 360
- Working firmware (QMK, KMK, or ZMK)
- A real, physical macropad you built yourself
No prior electronics or CAD experience required. This guide walks you through everything step by step.
What you’ll get
When your design is approved, Hack Club ships you a kit of parts and grants to cover manufacturing:
| Part |
Qty |
| Seeed XIAO RP2040 microcontroller |
1 |
| 1N4148 through-hole diodes |
20 |
| MX-style mechanical switches |
16 |
| EC11 rotary encoders (20mm D-shaft) |
2 |
| 0.91” 128×32 OLED display |
1 |
| Blank DSA keycaps |
16 |
| SK6812 MINI-E RGB LEDs |
20 |
| M3×16mm screws |
6 |
| M3×5×4mm heatset inserts |
6 |
Plus a $15 card grant for ordering your PCB from JLCPCB, and an $18 grant for a soldering iron if you need one. Your case gets 3D printed for free by Printing Legion.
Design constraints
Before you start, know the rules:
- MCU: Must be the Seeed XIAO RP2040 (through-hole, included in kit)
- PCB size: Max 100mm × 100mm, 2 layers only
- Case size: Max 200mm × 200mm × 100mm, fully 3D-printed (no laser-cut or CNC parts)
- Inputs: Max 16 (switches, encoders, etc.)
- Parts: Only kit parts — anything extra is on you
- Firmware: QMK, KMK, or ZMK
