beardedfreedom / Pico Macro Keyboard AI Placement [Example]

Loaded

0

0

Files

Schematic

PCB

Log InSign Up

Pico Macro Keyboard PCB Design

beardedfreedom

beardedfreedom

Fresh-place the entire Pico Macro Keyboard PCB from scratch on a 100 mm × 100 mm rounded-rectangle 4-layer board. Top side priority:
Keep the top side clean and user-facing. Place the mechanical key switches in a regular macro-keypad grid with consistent row/column spacing and aligned orientation. Keep the RGB LEDs visually associated with their corresponding switches and avoid crowding the key grid. Place rotary encoders and any user-facing controls on the top side in ergonomic positions near the key grid. Place mounting holes near the board corners and keep them clear of switches and encoders. Bottom side priority:
Place the Raspberry Pi Pico / MCU module and the majority of supporting electronics on the bottom side. Group the MCU, flash, crystal/oscillator, regulator/power parts, reset/boot circuitry, USB/support passives, and decoupling capacitors by function. Keep decoupling capacitors close to their associated IC power pins, crystal/load caps close to the MCU oscillator pins, and power components clustered together. Minimize estimated routing distance between the bottom-side MCU and the top-side switches, LEDs, and encoders. Prefer moving support passives on the bottom side rather than contaminating the top-side visual layout. Placement quality goals:
Resolve overlaps, keep all components inside the board outline, preserve routing channels between the key grid and MCU area, and maintain clean edge/corner clearance. Use both layers intentionally: top for human-interface components, bottom for dense electronics. After placement, run DRC/review and report any remaining overlap, off-board, or layer-assignment issues.
5 days

flux

0:53

Creating a project plan.

Thinking deeply about your request.

Creating a concise execution plan.

Finalizing actionable steps.

Defining additional constraints and strategy.

I've made a plan and started work on it.
Plan
#Goal
  • Freshly place and route the Pico Macro Keyboard PCB on a 100 mm × 100 mm rounded-rectangle 4-layer board, with a dedicated top side for the user interface (macro-keypad switch grid, per-key RGB LEDs, and rotary encoders) and a bottom side for the Raspberry Pi Pico/MCU module and its supporting electronics. Component groups must be organized by functional blocks and ergonomic placement, with careful routing between the interface and MCU areas.
#Implementation plan
  1. Board Configuration
    1. Define the board outline as a 100 mm × 100 mm rounded rectangle.
    2. Configure the PCB with a standard 4-layer stackup.
  2. Top Side Placement
    1. Place and align the macro-keypad switch grid to form a clean user interface.
    2. Place per-key RGB LEDs paired with each switch ensuring they are visually connected yet not crowded.
    3. Position rotary encoders and additional user controls near the keypad grid to maintain ergonomic access.
    4. Insert mounting holes near the clear corners of the board for mechanical stability.
  3. Bottom Side Placement
    1. Place the Raspberry Pi Pico/MCU module in a central location on the bottom layer.
    2. Group and place supporting electronics such as decoupling capacitors (close to associated ICs), crystal and load capacitors (next to oscillator pins), power components, and reset/boot and USB support passives near their respective connection points.
  4. Routing and Final Review
    1. Preserve routing corridors between the bottom-sided MCU and the top-sided interface to minimize trace distances.
    2. Resolve any component overlaps and ensure all parts lie within the board outline.
    3. Run a DRC and review process to identify and address any remaining placement or layer issues.
#Success criteria
  • Board dimensions and stackup match the design constraints (100 mm × 100 mm and 4-layer rounded rectangle).
  • Top side exhibits an aligned macro-keypad grid, paired RGB LEDs, positioned rotary encoders, and properly placed mounting holes.
  • Bottom side shows clustered placement of the Raspberry Pi Pico/MCU with grouped supporting components.
  • Preserved routing channels ensure minimal MCU-to-interface trace lengths and no unresolved overlaps, with a successful DRC review.
USB top edge
Clean top priority
Switch spacing
Focused review
5 days
​
Sign up to send

To get started, talk to Flux or create a New Document.

Reviews

Documents

    Documents are markdown text files which describe project goals, capture details, or even simulation outputs.

    Assets

    step

    Kailh LP Choc PC Keycap.step

    Kailh LP Choc PC Keycap3D Model
    image.png

    image.png

    imageThumbnail
    stp

    RB-67-0-CEMENT.stp

    RB-67-0-CEMENT
    Raspberry-Pi logo.svg

    Raspberry-Pi logo.svg

    Raspberry-Pi logoDefault

    Pico Macro Keyboard AI Placement [Example]

    Pico Macro Keyboard AI Placement [Example] thumbnail
    The Pico Macro Keyboard is a compact and powerful macro pad built using the latest Raspberry Pi Pico 2. Inspired by the Figma Creator Micro, this keyboard is designed for customizable control and enhanced productivity. It features mechanical switches with per-key RGB lighting, along with two rotary encoders for added functionality. With a modular 4-layer PCB and fully customizable keymaps, it seamlessly integrates with any software, making it perfect for designers, gamers, and power users alike.

    Properties

    creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

    Pricing & Availability

    Distributor

    Qty 1

    Arrow

    $3.36–$3.36

    Digi-Key

    $9.30–$10.93

    LCSC

    $8.11–$8.30

    Mouser

    $9.85

    TME

    $0.99

    Verical

    $6.35–$8.42

    Controls

    Welcome 👋

    Flux helps you build PCBs faster with an AI teammate!

    Create your account to collaborate, stay updated, fork your own version, and get instant answers from our AI agent.

        Introducing AI Placement!
        AI Placement Demo

        AI-Powered Component Placement

        Let AI place your components intelligently. AI Placement analyzes your schematic and positions components for optimal routing, signal integrity, and board density.

        From Schematic to Layout in Seconds

        Skip the tedious manual placement. AI Placement generates a starting layout you can refine, saving hours of repetitive work on every new design.

        Works With Auto-Layout

        Pair AI Placement with Auto-Layout for a complete AI-driven PCB design flow — from component placement through trace routing, all with one click.

        Try it