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Key bored

ThongNQ867·Key-bored·PCB/Matrix of buttons.kicad_pcb

Key bored PCB layout, top view — open source Nordic nRF board by ThongNQ867
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About the Key bored PCB

Key bored is an open source Nordic nRF PCB design by ThongNQ867, published on GitHub. It is a 2-layer board measuring 271.9 × 133.9 mm, with 146 components from 7 distinct parts.

Its main chip is the XIAO-nRF52840-SMD, from the Nordic nRF family. By type, the board carries 92 diodes, 46 switches, 4 resistors, 2 ICs and 2 connectors.

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

From the project

This is a split keyboard that uses XIAO nRF52840 and MX switches with hotswap, LED and 3-D printed case.

This project is a Split wireless keyboard that run on 2 Xiao nRF52840 on each side. This keyboard runs on ZMM firmware and used MX switches. I made this project because split keyboards are very expensive and I think making one will help people have the similar experience with relatively lower price. Also, the parts like Xiao are reuseable for many projects, making it really cost effective.

Key bored, from the project README
From the project README

Main components on the Key bored

XIAO-nRF52840-SMD

Key bored bill of materials (BOM)

146 components, 7 distinct parts — part numbers from the project's BOM.

QtyPartRefs
2
XIAO-nRF52840-SMD
U1, U2
2
Conn_01x02_Socket
J1, J2
46
SW_Push
SW1, SW2, SW3, SW4, SW5, SW6, SW7, SW8 +38
46
C81598
D_45deg
D1, D2, D3, D4, D5, D6, D7, D8 +38
46
C5149201
SK6812MINI-E
D47, D48, D49, D50, D51, D52, D53, D54 +38
2
CR0805F88063G
806k
R1, R2
2
CR0805F88063G
2M
R3, R4

Key bored design files

The KiCad project lives in the ThongNQ867/Key-bored repository on GitHub; these links point at the commit this page was built from.

Key bored: common questions

What microcontroller does the Key bored use?

The Key bored is built around the XIAO-nRF52840-SMD, from the Nordic nRF family.

How big is the Key bored PCB?

The Key bored measures 271.9 × 133.9 mm, has 2 copper layers and is 1.6 mm thick.

How many components are on the Key bored?

146 components, from 7 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 Key bored design files?

From the ThongNQ867/Key-bored 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 Key bored design in my own project?

The repository has no license, so all rights stay with ThongNQ867. Use it as a reference, and ask the author before reusing the design.

Can I test firmware for the Key bored 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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