Kicad Keyboard

jjohnson2001·Kicad_Keyboard

About the Kicad Keyboard PCB

Kicad Keyboard is an open source RP2040/RP2350 PCB design by jjohnson2001, published on GitHub. It is a 2-layer board measuring 314.2 × 95.2 mm, with 169 components from 26 distinct parts.

Its main chip is the RP2040, from the RP2040/RP2350 family. Other key parts include the NCP1117-3.3_SOT223, USBLC6-2SC6 and W25Q128JVS. By type, the board carries 66 diodes, 15 capacitors, 7 switches, 7 resistors, 4 ICs and 2 connectors.

It belongs with the keyboards designs in this gallery.

From the project

a hot swap keyboard designed using the rp2040 MCU.

Hotswap Key Library: A symbols and footprints library for hot swap keys managed by Ebastler.

Kicad KLE Placer: A Kicad plugin used to place switches based on a KLE.

Kicad Keyboard, from the project README — From the project README

Main components on the Kicad Keyboard

RP2040 NCP1117-3.3_SOT223 USBLC6-2SC6 W25Q128JVS

Kicad Keyboard bill of materials (BOM)

169 components, 26 distinct parts — part numbers from the project's BOM.

Qty	Part	Footprint	Refs
1	RP2040	QFN-56-1EP_7x7mm_P0.4mm_EP3.2x3.2mm	U1
1	NCP1117-3.3_SOT223	SOT-223	U2
1	USBLC6-2SC6	SOT-23-6	U3
1	W25Q128JVS	SOIC-8_5.23x5.23mm_P1.27mm	U4
1	ABM8-272-T3	Oscillator_SMD_Abracon_ASE-4Pin_3.2x2.5mm	Y1
1	USB_C_Receptacle_USB2.0_14P	USB_C_Receptacle_HRO_TYPE-C-31-M-12	J1
1	Conn_01x05_Pin	PinHeader_1x05_P2.54mm_Vertical	J2
1	Fuse_Small	Fuse_1206_3216Metric	F1
58	MX_SW_HS	SW_MX_HS_CPG151101S11_1u	MX1, MX2, MX3, MX4, MX5, MX6, MX7, MX8 +50
2	MX_SW_HS	SW_MX_HS_CPG151101S11_1.5u	MX16, MX29
1	MX_SW_HS	SW_MX_HS_CPG151101S11_1.75u	MX31
5	MX_SW_HS	SW_MX_HS_CPG151101S11_1.25u	MX57, MX59, MX61, MX62, MX63
1	MX_stab	STAB_MX_6.25u	S1
3	MX_stab	STAB_MX_2.25u	S2, S3, S4
1	MX_stab	STAB_MX_2u	S5
2	SW_Push	SW_SPST_TL3342	SW1, SW2
66	D_Small	D_SOD-123	D1, D2, D3, D4, D5, D6, D7, D8 +58
2	10u	C_0402_1005Metric	C1, C2
8	100n	C_0402_1005Metric	C3, C4, C5, C7, C8, C9, C12, C13
2	1u	C_0402_1005Metric	C10, C14

Show 6 more

Qty	Part	Footprint	Refs
2	15p	C_0402_1005Metric	C15, C16
1	100nF	C_0402_1005Metric	C17
2	5k1	R_0402_1005Metric	R1, R2
2	1k	R_0402_1005Metric	R3, R7
2	27	R_0402_1005Metric	R4, R5
1	5.1k	R_0402_1005Metric	R6

Kicad Keyboard design files

The KiCad project lives in the jjohnson2001/Kicad_Keyboard repository on GitHub; these links point at the commit this page was built from.

Kicad Keyboard: common questions

What microcontroller does the Kicad Keyboard use?

The Kicad Keyboard is built around the RP2040, from the RP2040/RP2350 family.

How big is the Kicad Keyboard PCB?

The Kicad Keyboard measures 314.2 × 95.2 mm, has 2 copper layers and is 1.6 mm thick.

How many components are on the Kicad Keyboard?

169 components, from 26 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 Kicad Keyboard design files?

From the jjohnson2001/Kicad_Keyboard 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 Kicad Keyboard design in my own project?

The repository has no license, so all rights stay with jjohnson2001. Use it as a reference, and ask the author before reusing the design.

Can I test firmware for the Kicad Keyboard without the hardware?

Yes. HardLabs builds a simulation of the board from its netlist and BOM, so you can run and debug RP2040/RP2350 firmware against it before you order a PCB.