Keyboard Design

Keyboard build

This was a fun project that I did shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic began. I built a keyboard numberpad from scratch using several tools I had learned during my undergraduate mechanical engineering degree and several that I learned for this project. The main tools I used were SolidWorks and KiCad to design the CAD prototype and the PCB, respectively. I also learned to use Blender for rendering and used C to fork the open-source QMK software to write code that worked for my keyboard design. I learned a lot about design work through this process and am very pleased with the result. I still plan to order a CNCed aluminum case, but I have yet to bite the bullet on the cost of ordering one-off custom parts! Here are a few of the design features of the numberpad:

  • Programmable 17-20 key numberpad with alternative layouts
  • Programmable rotary encoder
  • Programmable OLED display
  • Programmable per-key single color LED backlighting
  • Programmable RGB LED underglow with diffuser
  • USB-C I/O with ESD protection
  • Laser-cut brass plate for plate-mounted switches and stablizers
  • Anodized CNCed aluminum body (to do)

See below for a few images showcasing the number pad and the work behind it.

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A prototype design of the keyboard using a 3D printed case.

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Render of the numberpad without the keycaps done in Blender.

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Render of the PCB done in Blender.

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Schematic of the PCB electronics done in KiCad.

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Layout of the PCB done in KiCad.

Other Projects

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AFRL Challenge

A research challenge in which my team won the top performer award for most accurate microscale structure-to-properties predictions

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Heat Sink Design Challenge

My team's competition-winning natural convection heat sink design for the 2021 ASME/IEEE Heat Sink Design Challenge

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