Can i get someone to look over this PCB before i get it printed? (lemmy.ml)

submitted 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) by IndigoGollum@lemmy.world to c/mechanicalkeyboards@lemmy.ml

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I think i'm about ready to get this custom board printed, but i thought i'd ask if anyone here is willing to have a look and see if i've made any big mistakes with it. The KiCad files are here on CryptPad, made with version 7 of KiCad.

I know there's no microcontroller. I'm planning to hand wire in a Raspberry Pi Pico that'll sit in the case so i don't have to make room for it on the PCB. That's what the connections at the top of the board and right of the middle pad are for. They're wired into the matrix already. The seven mounting holes around the edges are just screw holes, and the one on the left hand between some keys is for the stem of a trackpoint that'll also be hand wired under the PCB. The switches here are Choc V1, not MX.

Thanks for this and for all the help i've had with this project so far. I couldn't have done it without this community.

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[-] ralim@sh.itjust.works 17 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

My two cents would be to use thicker traces, in this application using the thin traces doesn't help, and can make them easier to break. I would personally add ground fills on top and bottom out of habit mostly though, not sure if it would help in this situation.

Also use the silkscreen, it's free (effectively) so put labels on connections and also you can import images into it if you want (enjoy it).

(Note I'm on mobile so can't inspect the kicad but will if I remember later)

Edit: sorry didn't see flood fills I'm image. Ignore that 😅

[-] IndigoGollum@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago

Thanks. Traces are updated, DRC passes, and i'm ordering the board now.

this post was submitted on 19 Oct 2025

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