super awesome macropad devlog 6 (final)!

I believe this macropad project is basically complete on the digital/design side after about a month. This is the second design of my macropad, the initial one being much smaller but lacking many aspects. The reason I upgraded was to get more functionality in a smaller module to be able to play around with much more through programming, etc.

Macropadsuper has the following functionality:

• bluetooth connection
• battery management & internal power
• voltage booster (3.3V->5V)
• audio amplifier

and components include:

• 9x key switches
• 2x joysticks (pressable)
• rotary encoder switch (pressable)
• OLED screen
• 3pin servo port
• speaker
• camera
• RGB LED

It’s a bit bulkier than I would have hoped, but using this project as a foundation, I hope to improve my pcb design skills and learn a few things I hadn’t practiced in this project like 4 layer pcb boards and overlapping components for compact fit. At least this empty space on the board can be used for decoration!

Through this project I have learned:

• C++
• KiCAD & electronics

and as I submit this project and am waiting to build it, I will try to redesign the case in SolidWorks to try a more professional CAD software (this was done in OnShape)

This was a very fun project!