mac paddy

June 19, 2026 - Completed the schematics with the final components selection.

I decided all the components to complete my macro-pad and placed them in the schematics.

All components are now placed and wired up.

Now, this is getting exciting because I am thinking of adding some cool stuff as the silkscreen after I am finished with the PCB.

I could hook up only the switches and the diodes to there desired places on the PCB today.

The first thing I will do tomorrow morning is complete the whole PCB.

I decided to use a smaller form factor LED which is the WS2812B 2020 SMD mount package. I am trying to make a per key RGB macro-pad.

Let’s see how it goes.

June 19, 2026 - Started designing my PCB.

Joe Scotto’s video was truly helpful.

Designed my basic PCB idea. I will now add in more parts and update in the next devlog.

So, you might think I posted that I will be using a C5 in my last devlog but I used a S3 instead? Actually, I researched a bit about it on 18th June, forgot to record it, I came to know that C5 or even C6 has no OTG capability for a wired failback but a S3 has it. So, I pivoted on to using a S3.

I watched Joe’s video and learnt new thing about KiCad, I have used it before but didn’t know so much about it. I had to re-install it due to an OS change.

I have also decided to write a custom micro-python script because the Espressif family doesn’t support KMK or QMK first handedly.

Joe’s and HC’s KiCad package is a life saver for someone starting with KiCad as they provide almost all the required components inside it.

I am making a Matrix Design 2x3 macro-pad.

Excited to complete it and feel it in hand.

June 17, 2026 - I started making my own WiFi and BLE enabled macro-pad.

Today, I searched the web for the parts I will need to complete this project apart from the 3D prints and PCB and made a list out of the searched parts.

I am sharing a screenshot of my parts list in this devlog. I also made a time lapse of the research (if you call it a research ).

This helped learn about certain things, will be sharing those as we go ahead.

This is the rough parts list:

1. MCU - XIAO ESP32-C6
2. Switches - Akko V5 Creamy Blue Pro Switch
3. Encoder - EC11 Rotary Encoder
4. LEDs - WS2812B LEDs
5. Diodes - 1N4148 Fast Switching Diodes
6. Screen - 0.91” OLED Display
7. Screws - M3x16mm screws

Note: I took help from the hackpad.hackclub.com page for the parts.