MechBoard16
SukkoPera·MechBoard16
About the MechBoard16 PCB
MechBoard16 is an open source AVR/Arduino PCB design by SukkoPera, published on GitHub. It is a 2-layer board measuring 386.1 × 97 mm, with 247 components from 162 distinct parts.
Its main chip is the ATmega32U4-AU, from the AVR/Arduino family. Other key parts include the 4066, NE555 and MAX7221. By type, the board carries 68 LEDs, 67 switches, 65 diodes, 16 resistors, 15 capacitors and 6 connectors.
It belongs with the keyboards and retro computing designs in this gallery.
From the project
Mechanical Keyboard for the Commodore 16 and LittleSixteen Computers
MechBoard16 is a mechanical keyboard for the Commodore 16.
Now, while I'm not too fussy when it comes to keyboards, give me anything that works and I'll be happy (although you probably wouldn't want to be one of the witnesses of the third time I typed rep on a keyboard with a misworking G...), making the new C16 keyboard a mechanical one looked to be the best choice for a number of reasons: - Some good soul has already done that for the C64: he did the basic design, took all the relevant measurements, thought about all the parts needed and - best of all - he openly shared all of his notes…

Main components on the MechBoard16
MechBoard16 bill of materials (BOM)
247 components, 162 distinct parts.
| Qty | Part | Footprint | Refs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4066 | SOIC-14_3.9x8.7mm_P1.27mm | U1 |
| 1 | NE555 | SOIC-8_3.9x4.9mm_P1.27mm | U2 |
| 1 | ATmega32U4-AU | TQFP-44_10x10mm_P0.8mm | U201 |
| 1 | MAX7221 | SOIC-24W_7.5x15.4mm_P1.27mm | U202 |
| 2 | MMBT3904 | SOT-23 | Q201, Q202 |
| 1 | 16M | Crystal_HC49-4H_Vertical | Y201 |
| 1 | 16M | Crystal_SMD_3225-4Pin_3.2x2.5mm | Y202 |
| 1 | CONN_C16 | PinHeader_1x20_P2.54mm_Vertical | CN1 |
| 1 | CONN_+4 | PinHeader_1x18_P2.54mm_Vertical | CN2 |
| 1 | USB_B | USB_B_OST_USB-B1HSxx_Horizontal | J201 |
| 1 | CONN_ICSP | PinHeader_2x03_P2.54mm_Vertical | J202 |
| 1 | CONN_MRESET | PinHeader_1x02_P2.54mm_Vertical | J203 |
| 1 | CONN_LED | PinHeader_1x04_P2.54mm_Vertical | J204 |
| 1 | STAB_RTN | Stabilizer_Costar_2.00u | ST1 |
| 1 | STAB_SPC | Stabilizer_Costar_9.00u_Commodore | ST2 |
| 1 | KEY_DEL | SW_Cherry_MX_PCB_1.00u | SW0:0 |
| 1 | KEY_RET | SW_Cherry_MX_PCB_2.00u | SW0:1 |
| 1 | KEY_PND | SW_Cherry_MX_PCB_1.00u | SW0:2 |
| 1 | KEY_HLP | SW_Cherry_MX_PCB_1.50u_OffsetR | SW0:3 |
| 1 | KEY_F1 | SW_Cherry_MX_PCB_1.50u_OffsetR | SW0:4 |
Show 142 more
| Qty | Part | Footprint | Refs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | KEY_F2 | SW_Cherry_MX_PCB_1.50u_OffsetR | SW0:5 |
| 1 | KEY_F3 | SW_Cherry_MX_PCB_1.50u_OffsetR | SW0:6 |
| 1 | KEY_AT | SW_Cherry_MX_PCB_1.00u | SW0:7 |
| 1 | KEY_3 | SW_Cherry_MX_PCB_1.00u | SW1:0 |
| 1 | KEY_W | SW_Cherry_MX_PCB_1.00u | SW1:1 |
| 1 | KEY_A | SW_Cherry_MX_PCB_1.00u | SW1:2 |
| 1 | KEY_4 | SW_Cherry_MX_PCB_1.00u | SW1:3 |
| 1 | KEY_Z | SW_Cherry_MX_PCB_1.00u | SW1:4 |
| 1 | KEY_S | SW_Cherry_MX_PCB_1.00u | SW1:5 |
| 1 | KEY_E | SW_Cherry_MX_PCB_1.00u | SW1:6 |
| 1 | KEY_LSH | SW_Cherry_MX_PCB_1.50u_OffsetR | SW1:7 |
| 1 | KEY_RSH | SW_Cherry_MX_PCB_1.50u_OffsetR | SW1B:7 |
| 1 | KEY_CLK | SW_Cherry_MX_PCB_1.00u | SW1C:7 |
| 1 | KEY_5 | SW_Cherry_MX_PCB_1.00u | SW2:0 |
| 1 | KEY_R | SW_Cherry_MX_PCB_1.00u | SW2:1 |
| 1 | KEY_D | SW_Cherry_MX_PCB_1.00u | SW2:2 |
| 1 | KEY_6 | SW_Cherry_MX_PCB_1.00u | SW2:3 |
| 1 | KEY_C | SW_Cherry_MX_PCB_1.00u | SW2:4 |
| 1 | KEY_F | SW_Cherry_MX_PCB_1.00u | SW2:5 |
| 1 | KEY_T | SW_Cherry_MX_PCB_1.00u | SW2:6 |
| 1 | KEY_X | SW_Cherry_MX_PCB_1.00u | SW2:7 |
| 1 | KEY_7 | SW_Cherry_MX_PCB_1.00u | SW3:0 |
| 1 | KEY_Y | SW_Cherry_MX_PCB_1.00u | SW3:1 |
| 1 | KEY_G | SW_Cherry_MX_PCB_1.00u | SW3:2 |
| 1 | KEY_8 | SW_Cherry_MX_PCB_1.00u | SW3:3 |
| 1 | KEY_B | SW_Cherry_MX_PCB_1.00u | SW3:4 |
| 1 | KEY_H | SW_Cherry_MX_PCB_1.00u | SW3:5 |
| 1 | KEY_U | SW_Cherry_MX_PCB_1.00u | SW3:6 |
| 1 | KEY_V | SW_Cherry_MX_PCB_1.00u | SW3:7 |
| 1 | KEY_9 | SW_Cherry_MX_PCB_1.00u | SW4:0 |
| 1 | KEY_I | SW_Cherry_MX_PCB_1.00u | SW4:1 |
| 1 | KEY_J | SW_Cherry_MX_PCB_1.00u | SW4:2 |
| 1 | KEY_0 | SW_Cherry_MX_PCB_1.00u | SW4:3 |
| 1 | KEY_M | SW_Cherry_MX_PCB_1.00u | SW4:4 |
| 1 | KEY_K | SW_Cherry_MX_PCB_1.00u | SW4:5 |
| 1 | KEY_O | SW_Cherry_MX_PCB_1.00u | SW4:6 |
| 1 | KEY_N | SW_Cherry_MX_PCB_1.00u | SW4:7 |
| 1 | KEY_DN | SW_Cherry_MX_PCB_1.00u | SW5:0 |
| 1 | KEY_P | SW_Cherry_MX_PCB_1.00u | SW5:1 |
| 1 | KEY_L | SW_Cherry_MX_PCB_1.00u | SW5:2 |
| 1 | KEY_UP | SW_Cherry_MX_PCB_1.00u | SW5:3 |
| 1 | KEY_DOT | SW_Cherry_MX_PCB_1.00u | SW5:4 |
| 1 | KEY_COL | SW_Cherry_MX_PCB_1.00u | SW5:5 |
| 1 | KEY_MIN | SW_Cherry_MX_PCB_1.00u | SW5:6 |
| 1 | KEY_COM | SW_Cherry_MX_PCB_1.00u | SW5:7 |
| 1 | KEY_LF | SW_Cherry_MX_PCB_1.00u | SW6:0 |
| 1 | KEY_AST | SW_Cherry_MX_PCB_1.00u | SW6:1 |
| 1 | KEY_SEM | SW_Cherry_MX_PCB_1.00u | SW6:2 |
| 1 | KEY_RT | SW_Cherry_MX_PCB_1.00u | SW6:3 |
| 1 | KEY_ESC | SW_Cherry_MX_PCB_1.00u | SW6:4 |
| 1 | KEY_EQ | SW_Cherry_MX_PCB_1.00u | SW6:5 |
| 1 | KEY_PLS | SW_Cherry_MX_PCB_1.00u | SW6:6 |
| 1 | KEY_SLA | SW_Cherry_MX_PCB_1.00u | SW6:7 |
| 1 | KEY_1 | SW_Cherry_MX_PCB_1.00u | SW7:0 |
| 1 | KEY_CLR | SW_Cherry_MX_PCB_1.00u | SW7:1 |
| 1 | KEY_CTL | SW_Cherry_MX_PCB_1.50u_OffsetR | SW7:2 |
| 1 | KEY_2 | SW_Cherry_MX_PCB_1.00u | SW7:3 |
| 1 | KEY_SPC | SW_Cherry_MX_PCB_9.00u | SW7:4 |
| 1 | KEY_CMD | SW_Cherry_MX_PCB_1.00u | SW7:5 |
| 1 | KEY_Q | SW_Cherry_MX_PCB_1.00u | SW7:6 |
| 1 | KEY_RUN | SW_Cherry_MX_PCB_1.00u | SW7:7 |
| 1 | SW_RESET | SW_SPST_EVPBF | SW201 |
| 1 | LED_DEL | LED_D3.0mm | LD0:0 |
| 1 | LED_RET | LED_D3.0mm | LD0:1 |
| 1 | LED_PND | LED_D3.0mm | LD0:2 |
| 1 | LED_HLP | LED_D3.0mm | LD0:3 |
| 1 | LED_F1 | LED_D3.0mm | LD0:4 |
| 1 | LED_F2 | LED_D3.0mm | LD0:5 |
| 1 | LED_F3 | LED_D3.0mm | LD0:6 |
| 1 | LED_AT | LED_D3.0mm | LD0:7 |
| 1 | LED_3 | LED_D3.0mm | LD1:0 |
| 1 | LED_W | LED_D3.0mm | LD1:1 |
| 1 | LED_A | LED_D3.0mm | LD1:2 |
| 1 | LED_4 | LED_D3.0mm | LD1:3 |
| 1 | LED_Z | LED_D3.0mm | LD1:4 |
| 1 | LED_S | LED_D3.0mm | LD1:5 |
| 1 | LED_E | LED_D3.0mm | LD1:6 |
| 1 | LED_LSH | LED_D3.0mm | LD1A:7 |
| 1 | LED_RSH | LED_D3.0mm | LD1B:7 |
| 1 | LED_CLK | LED_D3.0mm | LD1C:7 |
| 1 | LED_5 | LED_D3.0mm | LD2:0 |
| 1 | LED_R | LED_D3.0mm | LD2:1 |
| 1 | LED_D | LED_D3.0mm | LD2:2 |
| 1 | LED_6 | LED_D3.0mm | LD2:3 |
| 1 | LED_C | LED_D3.0mm | LD2:4 |
| 1 | LED_F | LED_D3.0mm | LD2:5 |
| 1 | LED_T | LED_D3.0mm | LD2:6 |
| 1 | LED_X | LED_D3.0mm | LD2:7 |
| 1 | LED_7 | LED_D3.0mm | LD3:0 |
| 1 | LED_Y | LED_D3.0mm | LD3:1 |
| 1 | LED_G | LED_D3.0mm | LD3:2 |
| 1 | LED_8 | LED_D3.0mm | LD3:3 |
| 1 | LED_B | LED_D3.0mm | LD3:4 |
| 1 | LED_H | LED_D3.0mm | LD3:5 |
| 1 | LED_U | LED_D3.0mm | LD3:6 |
| 1 | LED_V | LED_D3.0mm | LD3:7 |
| 1 | LED_9 | LED_D3.0mm | LD4:0 |
| 1 | LED_I | LED_D3.0mm | LD4:1 |
| 1 | LED_J | LED_D3.0mm | LD4:2 |
| 1 | LED_0 | LED_D3.0mm | LD4:3 |
| 1 | LED_M | LED_D3.0mm | LD4:4 |
| 1 | LED_K | LED_D3.0mm | LD4:5 |
| 1 | LED_O | LED_D3.0mm | LD4:6 |
| 1 | LED_N | LED_D3.0mm | LD4:7 |
| 1 | LED_DN | LED_D3.0mm | LD5:0 |
| 1 | LED_P | LED_D3.0mm | LD5:1 |
| 1 | LED_L | LED_D3.0mm | LD5:2 |
| 1 | LED_UP | LED_D3.0mm | LD5:3 |
| 1 | LED_DOT | LED_D3.0mm | LD5:4 |
| 1 | LED_COL | LED_D3.0mm | LD5:5 |
| 1 | LED_MIN | LED_D3.0mm | LD5:6 |
| 1 | LED_COM | LED_D3.0mm | LD5:7 |
| 1 | LED_LF | LED_D3.0mm | LD6:0 |
| 1 | LED_AST | LED_D3.0mm | LD6:1 |
| 1 | LED_SEM | LED_D3.0mm | LD6:2 |
| 1 | LED_RT | LED_D3.0mm | LD6:3 |
| 1 | LED_ESC | LED_D3.0mm | LD6:4 |
| 1 | LED_EQ | LED_D3.0mm | LD6:5 |
| 1 | LED_PLS | LED_D3.0mm | LD6:6 |
| 1 | LED_SLA | LED_D3.0mm | LD6:7 |
| 1 | LED_1 | LED_D3.0mm | LD7:0 |
| 1 | LED_CLR | LED_D3.0mm | LD7:1 |
| 1 | LED_CTL | LED_D3.0mm | LD7:2 |
| 1 | LED_2 | LED_D3.0mm | LD7:3 |
| 1 | LED_CMD | LED_D3.0mm | LD7:5 |
| 1 | LED_Q | LED_D3.0mm | LD7:6 |
| 1 | LED_RUN | LED_D3.0mm | LD7:7 |
| 1 | LED_SPC1 | LED_D3.0mm | LD7A:4 |
| 1 | LED_SPC2 | LED_D3.0mm | LD7B:4 |
| 1 | LED_SPC3 | LED_D3.0mm | LD7C:4 |
| 64 | 1n4148 | D_SOD-323_HandSoldering | D0:0, D0:1, D0:2, D0:3, D0:4, D0:5, D0:6, D0:7 +56 |
| 1 | 1n5819 | D_SMA | D201 |
| 9 | 100n | C_0805_2012Metric_Pad1.18x1.45mm_HandSolder | C1, C2, C205, C206, C207, C208, C209, C210 +1 |
| 1 | 10n | C_0805_2012Metric_Pad1.18x1.45mm_HandSolder | C3 |
| 2 | 1u | CP_Radial_D5.0mm_P2.00mm | C4, C204 |
| 2 | 18p | C_0805_2012Metric_Pad1.18x1.45mm_HandSolder | C201, C202 |
| 1 | 100u | CP_Radial_D6.3mm_P2.50mm | C203 |
| 3 | 10k | R_0805_2012Metric_Pad1.20x1.40mm_HandSolder | R1, R4, R201 |
| 1 | 100k | R_0805_2012Metric_Pad1.20x1.40mm_HandSolder | R2 |
| 9 | 1k | R_0805_2012Metric_Pad1.20x1.40mm_HandSolder | R3, R204, R205, R206, R208, R209, R210, R211 +1 |
| 2 | 22 | R_0805_2012Metric_Pad1.20x1.40mm_HandSolder | R202, R203 |
| 1 | 220k | R_0805_2012Metric_Pad1.20x1.40mm_HandSolder | R207 |
MechBoard16 design files
The KiCad project lives in the SukkoPera/MechBoard16 repository on GitHub; these links point at the commit this page was built from.
- LayoutMechboard16.kicad_pcb
MechBoard16: common questions
What microcontroller does the MechBoard16 use?
The MechBoard16 is built around the ATmega32U4-AU, from the AVR/Arduino family.
How big is the MechBoard16 PCB?
The MechBoard16 measures 386.1 × 97 mm, has 2 copper layers and is 1.6 mm thick.
How many components are on the MechBoard16?
247 components, from 162 distinct parts. The full bill of materials is listed on this page.
Where can I download the MechBoard16 design files?
From the SukkoPera/MechBoard16 repository on GitHub, which has the KiCad layout; the links under Design files point to each one.
Can I use the MechBoard16 design in my own project?
The repository has no license, so all rights stay with SukkoPera. Use it as a reference, and ask the author before reusing the design.
Can I test firmware for the MechBoard16 without the hardware?
Yes. HardLabs builds a simulation of the board from its netlist and BOM, so you can run and debug AVR/Arduino firmware against it before you order a PCB.
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