How to Design Mechanical Keyboard PCBs with Kicad

Today we're going to be taking a look at just how simple it is to design your own mechanical keyboard PCB within Kicad. We will cover everything from setting up the program along with applicable symbol and footprint libraries, designing the schematic, laying out the PCB, and finally some information on the differences between HASL and ENIG when ordering.

~ Links ~

~ Handwiring Tools ~

~ Handwiring Parts ~

~ 3D Printing ~

~ Favorite Cheap Switches ~

~ Social ~

~ Community ~

~ Timestamps ~
0:00 - Intro
0:22 - Setup
2:48 - Schematic
7:35 - Footprint Assignment
8:43 - PCB Setup
9:14 - Grid System
10:04 - Positioning
13:55 - Routing Traces
15:37 - Vias
16:17 - Controller Wiring
16:46 - Design Rules Checker
17:00 - Edge Cuts
17:38 - Filled Zones
18:45 - Exporting Gerbers
18:56 - Ordering PCBs
19:15 - HASL vs ENIG
19:58 - Outro

~ Disclaimer ~
Some links may be affiliate links where I will make a small commission. Nothing in this video was sponsored by any outside party and I wasn't paid for the content in this video.

#mechanicalkeyboard #kicad #pcb

[Jallerblue]

The copper fill layers you showed in the video can also be used for a practical purpose beyond aesthetics. They're typically used for power supply and ground connections so you don't have to bother wiring those up (this can save a lot of wiring for projects with multiple devices that require ground and supply voltages). If you're using a PCB with multiple voltage supplies, you can use a multi-layer PCB with different voltage supply planes (GND, 5V, 12V, etc.).

This is an incredibly slick video! I've done some PCB designs with Eagle PCB for some projects during my computer engineering university program, but I've been itching to learn KiCad for some personal projects since it's open source and looks much more elegant.

[hanzo]

Just a comment to agree this is the most understandable and comprehensive explanation I’ve seen thus far. Thanks!

[voidFutureVector]

This should be taught in highschool. For years ive been looking for a good explanation of how this is done. This video was it!

[Bobbakerfield]

Great work. I was watching a few other peoples videos about how to do this and they didn't go into as much detail as you did on the routing. Very appreciated. Also thanks for making and sharing your kicad components list. You've almost taken all the guess work out of how to do this.

[Aliens]

Very good, easy, and clear to follow tutorial. You couldn’t have done a better job!

The only thing I would mention worth adding is the KLE placer plugin, which is pretty much necessary for getting the key footprints in the right location for full sized keyboards.
But overall this is a brilliant intro video!

[joshvanderwillik]

Thanks for this video. You put a lot of polish and organization into this, and it makes for a video that's extremely easy to learn from.
This is pretty much gold standard youtube content in my opinion

[keanerussell]

This is amazing this was insanely helpful i was not using it for keyboards but this was a amazing tutorial thank you SOOO much

[cl-e-m]

Much easier than i was anticipating. Of course thanks to your provided libraries and helpful tips. Probably something ill try out in the future.

[astjuly]

I have no words... This is just amazing and simple! Thank you so much!!!!

[sergeikrivtcov]

Excellent and informative video as always, Joe! Very well done. I am looking forward to electrostatic capacitive keyboard PCB design video 😅

[huntercook]

Any chance you could do this again with v9 now that this is a couple years out of date? It's still really helpful but a lot of things don't quite work right. The searching in the symbol/footprint libraries was easy enough to work around, but the changes to the positioning toos are driving me up a wall right now. I think I figured out setting the grid origin, but the "move with reference" tool will not let me select the corners of most of the keys.

[wfwtonx]

Im having so much trouble moving the footprints in the pcb editor. when it generates the pcb, the switches are much closer together and overlapping on the sides, unlike the video. after changing the grid to be 19.05mm, i cant freely choose the middle pad as a center point to click and drag. as a workaround I chose the 0.1mm grid and placed them into locations that are near the 19.05mm grid points, so when switching back, i can move them according to their centers, but now I dont have the freedom to select the corners of the switch to set an origin point. Ive never used kicad before and am not familiar with its movement tools, but it seems like theres something youre doing in the video that i'm not, and i cant identify it. is there just that big of a difference between kicad 9 and the version used in this video?

[enzebobo]

3:09 i need help i dont see the file when i lookup scottokeys

[LordPhobos]

Protip: When you copied those 'Row x' net labels... instead, select one, and hit INSERT a few times.
The first time might just make a copy of Row 0, but after that it's start making Row 1, Row 2, etc. Easier way to get all your nets done fast n easy :)
Another protip: KiCAD can do basic maths. So... if you wanna change your grid to 1/4 grid, instead of working it out manually, tell KiCad your grid is 19.05/4, and it will work it out.
A small thing, but it'll change your design life. Same is true for parts positions etc as well.

[numtostr]

I think that (s) in "Select item(s)" is just a parenthetical plural verb. BTW great video as always. Next video idea: Adding RGB matrix to a PCB.

[FringanSthlm]

Really great guide! I've been able to design a custom keyboard for the first time. Only thing missing is when a manufacturer is asking for a BOM (which I have) and a CPL file (Pick&Place File); I have no idea what the CPL file is but I'm sure google will help :)

[MejoradoLopezJonathan]

Thanks for the video is really helpful, i have a doubt what's the video of firmware for this keyboard ? o the video for generic firmware i don't find these, thanks friends

[g_avinnn]

how do i add a knob to the keyboard? im planning on adding one to my pcb design but idk how to do that

[koolkd]

How do I make the port that connects to my keyboard to my pcb?

[ulfurfemogfyrre]

great video, thanks! it seems like the 3d models for the diodes and switches are missing, though :/