vortexecu / Pico Macro Keyboard AI Placement [Example]

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Pico Macro Keyboard Design

vortexecu

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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

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Plan
#Goal
  • Freshly place the entire Pico Macro Keyboard PCB from scratch onto a 100 mm × 100 mm rounded-rectangle, 4-layer board. The top side is dedicated to user-facing controls (mechanical switches, per-key RGB LEDs, rotary encoders, and mounting holes) and the bottom side is reserved for the Raspberry Pi Pico and supporting electronics, ensuring an organized, production-grade layout.
#Implementation plan
  1. Board Setup
    1. Configure the board to a 100 mm × 100 mm rounded-rectangle with a standard 4-layer stackup.
    2. Validate board dimensions and stackup settings prior to component placement.
  2. Component Fresh Placement
    1. Clear all previous placements to start with a clean slate.
    2. Place top-side components:
      1. Position mechanical switches in a regular aligned grid for user interaction.
      2. Place per-key RGB LEDs adjacent to corresponding switches.
      3. Add rotary encoders near the switch grid for ergonomic control.
      4. Place mounting holes in the clear corners.
    3. Place bottom-side components:
      1. Position the Raspberry Pi Pico (MCU) and group the associated support components (USB, reset, boot, passives, decoupling capacitors, oscillator pins, etc.).
      2. Ensure decoupling capacitors and oscillator load capacitors are near their respective IC pins.
      3. Maintain proper spacing and routing channels between top and bottom groups.
  3. DRC and Layout Review
    1. Run the DRC check to identify any overlaps, off-board component issues, and airwire/routing constraints.
    2. Report and resolve issues related to layer assignment and spatial conflicts, ensuring the top side remains visually clean.
    3. Make adjustments as necessary to satisfy design rules and maintain a logical grouping of components.
#Success criteria
  • The board is correctly set up as a 100 mm × 100 mm rounded-rectangle 4-layer board.
  • All user-facing controls are placed on the top side, and the MCU/support electronics on the bottom without conflict.
  • The design passes DRC checks, with any remaining placement or layer issues documented for further review.
Enforce top controls
Use 4x4 grid
Center-bottom Pico
Check blockers
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

    Welcome 👋

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