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Plico

achen18·Plico·pcb/Plico.kicad_pcb

Plico PCB layout, top view — open source Nordic nRF board by achen18
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About the Plico PCB

Plico is an open source Nordic nRF PCB design by achen18, published on GitHub. It is a 2-layer board measuring 238.6 × 113.7 mm, with 138 components from 6 distinct parts.

Its main chip is the XIAO-NRF52840-SMD, from the Nordic nRF family. By type, the board carries 88 diodes, 44 switches, 4 resistors and 2 ICs.

It belongs with the keyboards and iot & wireless designs in this gallery.

From the project

Fully custom split mechanical keyboard. Runs on ZMK software, controlling key functions and responsive lighting. Future iterations intend to use ultra low-profile switches and a case redesign to allow the two sides to fold together for portability.

To-Do - Multiple layers for different day-to-day needs. Custom key to easily cycle between layers. Indicate current layer with rgb change.

Plico, from the project README
From the project README

Main components on the Plico

XIAO-NRF52840-SMD

Plico bill of materials (BOM)

138 components, 6 distinct parts — part numbers from the project's BOM.

QtyPartRefs
2
XIAO-NRF52840-SMD
XIAO-nRF52840-SMD
U1, U2
44
SW_Push
SW1, SW2, SW3, SW4, SW5, SW6, SW7, SW8 +36
44
D
D1, D2, D3, D4, D5, D6, D7, D8 +36
44
SK6812
D43, D44, D45, D46, D47, D48, D49, D50 +36
2
806K
806k
R1, R2
2
2M
R3, R4

Plico design files

The KiCad project lives in the achen18/Plico repository on GitHub; these links point at the commit this page was built from.

Plico: common questions

What microcontroller does the Plico use?

The Plico is built around the XIAO-NRF52840-SMD, from the Nordic nRF family.

How big is the Plico PCB?

The Plico measures 238.6 × 113.7 mm, has 2 copper layers and is 1.6 mm thick.

How many components are on the Plico?

138 components, from 6 distinct parts, with part numbers taken from the project's own BOM. The full bill of materials is listed on this page.

Where can I download the Plico design files?

From the achen18/Plico repository on GitHub, which has the KiCad layout, the schematic and the BOM; the links under Design files point to each one.

Can I use the Plico design in my own project?

The repository has no license, so all rights stay with achen18. Use it as a reference, and ask the author before reusing the design.

Can I test firmware for the Plico without the hardware?

Yes. HardLabs builds a simulation of the board from its netlist and BOM, so you can run and debug Nordic nRF firmware against it before you order a PCB.

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