passionfruitio / Pico Macro Keyboard AI Placement [Example]

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Pico Macro Keyboard Design

passionfruitio

passionfruitio

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.
4 days

flux

1:02

Planning PCB Setup.

Thinking deeply.

Creating a high-level execution plan.

I've made a plan, and started work on it.
Plan
#Goal
  • Re-place the entire existing Pico Macro Keyboard PCB on a new, 100 mm × 100 mm rounded-rectangle, 4-layer board. The design must keep the top layer clear and user-friendly with a regular, aligned macro-keypad grid of switches (each with its associated LED), ergonomically placed rotary encoders and user controls, and mounting holes near clear corners. The bottom layer will host the Raspberry Pi Pico/MCU module along with grouped supporting electronics; decoupling, crystal, and power circuitry must be placed near the relevant MCU pins to minimize routing distances to the top layer controls.
#Implementation plan
  1. Configure Board Setup
    1. Define a 100 mm × 100 mm rounded-rectangle PCB outline.
    2. Set up the 4-layer stackup with design rules for routing channels and layers.
  2. Component Fresh-Placement
    1. Place top-side components:
      1. Arrange mechanical switches in a regular, aligned macro-keypad grid.
      2. Position associated per-key RGB LEDs next to switches.
      3. Place rotary encoders and additional user controls ergonomically near the grid.
      4. Place mounting holes near the clear corners of the board.
    2. Place bottom-side components:
      1. Group the Raspberry Pi Pico/MCU module with supporting electronics by function.
      2. Place decoupling capacitors, crystal and power circuitry close to their corresponding MCU pins to minimize routing distances.
  3. Routing and Overlap Resolution
    1. Preserve dedicated routing channels between top and bottom layers.
    2. Resolve any overlapping components and off-board placement issues using board layout adjustment.
  4. Design Rule Check (DRC) and Review
    1. Run a DRC to check for remaining overlaps, off-board placements, or layer-assignment issues.
    2. Document and report any residual DRC issues.
#Success criteria
  • The board outline is correctly set to a 100 mm × 100 mm rounded rectangle with a 4-layer stackup.
  • All top-side components (switches, LEDs, encoders, mounting holes) are placed and aligned as specified.
  • All bottom-side components (Raspberry Pi Pico/MCU, supporting circuitry) are grouped by function with minimized routing distances to top-side controls.
  • Routing channels are preserved, and no overlaps or off-board components remain post-DRC.
  • Successful DRC verification with documented resolution of any remaining issues.
Run placement review
Bottom passives only
Prioritize switch grid
Set control spacing
4 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

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