ebdroid / Pico Macro Keyboard AI Placement [Example]

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Pico Macro Keyboard PCB Design

ebdroid

ebdroid

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.
7 days

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Plan
#Goal
  • Fresh-place the entire existing Pico Macro Keyboard PCB from scratch on a 100 mm × 100 mm rounded-rectangle, 4-layer board, ensuring that the top layer is dedicated to user-facing switches, RGB LEDs, rotary encoders, and mounting holes, while the bottom layer is reserved for the Raspberry Pi Pico/MCU module and associated support electronics. A subsequent DRC is required to confirm that there are no overlaps, off-board placements, or layer-assignment issues.
#Implementation plan
  1. Board Configuration
    1. Configure the PCB board as a 100 mm × 100 mm rounded-rectangle with a 4-layer stackup.
    2. Validate board outline and clearances, ensuring the rounded edges are maintained.
  2. Component Placement
    1. Fresh-place user-facing components on the top layer:
      1. Place mechanical switches in a regular grid layout.
      2. Place RGB LEDs associated with each switch ensuring they are aligned and do not crowd the switches.
      3. Position rotary encoders and any additional user controls ergonomically near the switch grid.
      4. Add mounting holes near the corners in positions that are clear of other components.
    2. Fresh-place the support electronics on the bottom layer:
      1. Place the Raspberry Pi Pico/MCU module.
      2. Group nearby supporting components such as power regulators, decoupling capacitors, crystal/oscillator, flash memory, and USB/boot circuitry close to the MCU module.
      3. Ensure proper functional grouping so that decoupling and related components are as close as possible to their associated ICs and functions.
  3. Routing Considerations
    1. Optimize placement to minimize routing distances, especially between the bottom-side MCU and top-side user interfaces.
    2. Preserve clear routing channels between the key grid (top layer) and the MCU cluster (bottom layer), ensuring no overlap or off-board placements occur.
  4. DRC and Review
    1. Run a comprehensive Design Rule Check (DRC) for overlaps, off-board placements, and any layer assignment issues.
    2. Review the detailed DRC report to confirm that no critical issues remain.
    3. Report any findings that require further adjustments.
#Success criteria
  • The board is correctly configured as a 100 mm × 100 mm rounded-rectangle 4-layer PCB with no clearance or outline issues.
  • All user interface components are properly placed on the top layer in an orderly grid, and all support electronics are placed on the bottom layer with functional grouping.
  • The DRC check confirms the absence of overlaps, off-board placements, or layer assignment errors.
USB top edge
Clean key grid
Run DRC review
Equal switch spacing
7 days
​
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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

    Welcome 👋

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