danilop95 / Pico Macro Keyboard AI Placement [Example]

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Pico Macro Keyboard Design

danilop95

danilop95

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.
23h

flux

0:57

Considering PCB placement.

Thinking deeply about your request.

Creating a high-level execution plan.

I've made a plan, and started work on it.
Plan
#Goal
  • Freshly place the entire Pico Macro Keyboard PCB from scratch on a 100 mm × 100 mm rounded-rectangle 4-layer board, prioritizing a clean top side for the macro keypad grid (mechanical switches, per-key RGB LEDs, rotary encoders, and mounting holes) and a bottom side optimized for the Raspberry Pi Pico module with its associated support electronics.
#Implementation plan
  1. Board Setup
    1. Set the PCB outline to a 100 mm × 100 mm rounded-rectangle.
    2. Configure a standard 4-layer stackup for the board.
  2. Top Side Placement
    1. Place the macro keypad grid with mechanical switches for user input.
    2. Add per-key RGB LEDs and rotary encoders for additional controls.
    3. Insert corner mounting holes ensuring proper clearance.
  3. Bottom Side Placement
    1. Place the Raspberry Pi Pico/MCU module.
    2. Group support electronics into functional clusters:
      1. Place decoupling capacitors near IC power pins.
      2. Position the crystal and its load capacitors near oscillator pins.
      3. Cluster power parts to minimize routing distance to the top side controls.
  4. Design Optimization
    1. Preserve routing channels between the bottom and top sides.
    2. Ensure components reside fully within the board outline with clean edge and corner clearance.
    3. Resolve any component overlaps or off-board issues.
  5. DRC and Review
    1. Run the DRC on the arranged layout.
    2. Review and document any remaining overlap, off-board, or layer-assignment issues.
#Success criteria
  • The top side has a clean, user-facing macro keypad grid, integrated with RGB LEDs, rotary encoders, and mounting holes with proper clearance.
  • The bottom side houses the Raspberry Pi Pico and grouped support electronics with decoupling, oscillator, and power clusters properly placed.
  • There are preserved routing channels, no overlaps or off-board placements, and clean edge/corner clearance is maintained.
  • DRC and design reviews report no remaining violations or issues.
Prioritize top controls
Bottom passives preferred
Run placement review
Mounting hole clearance
23h
​
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Reviews

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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

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