2/14/2026 9 PM - The beginning of my project!!

When I finished my last project, I was thinking again about what I could do... I thought I'd try something hard and test my nerves... 💀
So I was looking and came up with this project - DEVBOARD!! I started to gradually make and create a diagram. When I had most of it done, I needed something to make my DevBoard special, to make it unique!
I stopped thinking and went to do something. I opened KiCad and started inserting all the components and connecting them according to the instructions. It went pretty well, but I got stuck on a few things for a while because I had never encountered them before.

2/14/2026 10:01 PM - Adding custom components

I kept adding more and more things and I was slowly getting it done. But then I remembered that I wanted to add something! I decided to go for the ICM-20602 and SHT4x first.

So I put them in the program and started researching how to connect it... I've never worked with them before, so that was probably the hardest part for me so far. I also had to do some research on how these things are connected and I decided to connect the ICM via I2C!! I gradually started adding resistors and other things and after a long time I had it connected with all the things :)

2/14/2026 10:12 PM - Schema editing

Right after adding the sensors I thought I would like to add 2 LEDs for indication and 1 neopixel that would be programmable via GPIO25! So I was looking for some components to make them small but powerful.
I decided on WS2818B-2020 and normal SMD LEDs. I immediately prepared them and added them to the work surface. But I thought for a while how I could use the LEDs and what they would indicate. I told myself that it would be best if I chose this:

• 1st LED - POWER indicator
• 2nd LED - RESET indicator

So I started looking again how to connect them and it went pretty quickly, so I had time to redo a few things.

2/14/2026 10:19 PM - Pin assignment

I was thinking about how I would make the pins on my DevBoard... So I started experimenting and at first the pins didn't fit at all, so I started redoing it and said to myself that I'd better add another 3v3 on one side for some reason, because as I know myself, it will definitely come in handy in the future :)
So I already arranged the pins well and where there was space left, I put GND.

2/14/2026 10:29 PM - Editing a KiCad project

Before I start assigning cases, I made parts of all the things so that I can understand them later and read the schematic better when, for example, I make a PCB.
I didn't know where to do it at all, so I had to look up where to make the border and then I found out that it's normally a rectangle... 🧑‍🦽
So it went pretty quickly, but I had to play around with it to get everything to fit so well.

Assigning cases

As I wrote earlier, I started working on the cases. First, I marked all the same capacitors and gradually assigned them. I did the same with other things. It was the kind of thing that I didn't enjoy at all, but I had to do it anyway so that it would work well later.

2/14/2026 10:40 PM - Getting started with PCB design!

After checking everything to make sure I wasn't missing anything, I ran the rules check test again and there were no errors that would jeopardize my project. So I could move on to the PCB itself.
I imported all the stuff and started connecting everything. I told myself several times that I would never be able to do it and that it would be terrible (it happened).
But I continued with the connections, which was really difficult for me.
Several times I had to delete several paths so that I could run another important wire and then re-draw the ones I had deleted. Well... it was very difficult, but I don't know how I managed to do it. I think I could do it even better next time, but for my first PCB that is difficult for me, I'm glad I connected everything at all.

2/14/2026 10:51 PM - Error correction

I didn't think it would be error-free at all, so I immediately opened DRC and started redoing things that were badly connected, somewhere it touched the connections of some components to each other, but I solved that.

Unfortunately, ICM-20602 was still annoying me and I didn't know why... So I did some research and found out that I had to modify KiCad so that it wouldn't be so strict with this component. So I modified it and then all that was left was to pour the board, with copper.

2/15/2026 4:19 PM - Silkscreen creation

When I was sure I could continue, I decided to go straight to silkscreen.
I created all the necessary things like:

• A QR code that has the URL to my GitHub project
• A name I chose "PicoFlip X" or PFX for short
• I also added my nickname at the bottom
• On the top I put my own images that I created and I wanted some smaller images:

Silkscreen editing

So I continued importing the images and I also had to resize them somehow, so that took me a while. Then I had to put them on the PCB and play around with the layout and here is the bottom:

2/15/2026 4:44 PM - JLCPCB wants a lot of money from me...

I started making tables and all the exports for the production of the JLCPCB board and when I was making tables, it was still quite good... Then I compressed all the files into a .ZIP file and uploaded it to the site. What I was afraid of came - they wanted me to choose a PCBA standard, because components like neopixel, ICM were only installed in the standard.
So I came across this huge problem of mine and said to myself that I would redo it rather than submit with about 100 dollars.

2/15/2026 10:20 PM - Schema reworking

So I had to choose some better components and I decided as follows:

• Instead of ICM I will use MPU 6050
• Instead of WS2812B I will use SK6812. So I found the parts in KiCad and started to modify... But I still had to check if JLCPCB really assembles it in economic PCBA - and it does, so I could celebrate!!!

2/15/2026 10:28 PM - PCB editing

So I started connecting all the components together and it went pretty well, except for a few things where I had to think a little more.
Next I poured copper all over the board, but in some places the copper didn't pour properly, so I had to connect the components manually. This was more difficult for me, but I managed it.
So I continued with silkscreen, because in some places the components were placed differently and would interfere with it. I also rewrote the LEDs so that in the future I would know what each of them indicates.

2/15/2026 10:51 PM - JLCPCB

Right after everything I decided to export and create a spreadsheet for JLCPCB. First I had to remember where everything was and save it all in one folder. Then I continued with the production files, which I compressed into a .ZIP folder and I had this ready.
I put everything on the website and had to edit everything manually, because unfortunately I had a stupid table. I also had to look for what parts to use for my components and that took me a lot of time.
So I chose a black PCB and then I dealt with installing 2 minimal PCBs!

So everything comes out to about 71 dollars, even with shipping. Which is very good, considering the previous price!

2/16/2026 - PicoFlip X

PicoFlip X is a compact RP2040 development board with a built-in IMU for motion tracking, there's also a humidity and temperature sensor! It has several status LEDs, buttons,...

Key Features

• DevBoard powered by RP2040 chip
• Humidity and temperature sensor built right on the PCB
• 2 LEDs for visual feedback (PWR and RST)
• IMU - MPU 6050 to monitor the board's current position, all built-in
• USB-C connectivity
• 2-layer PCB, so it's cost-effective to manufacture!
• Modified GPIO pin layout and added one extra +3V3
• Custom silkscreen with images and descriptions

Why I made this project?

When I finished my last project, I was thinking again about what I could do... I thought I'd try something hard and test my nerves... 💀
So I was looking and came up with this project - DEVBOARD!!

Schema and PCB

Here is the circuit diagram!

Next, here is the PCB that is created in KiCad:

The Design :)

Here is the top side of the PCB:

Also here is the bottom of the PCB!

JLCPCB Order

Bill of Materials

Here is the complete BOM:

The bill of material is also available here: BOM.csv

Made with ❤️ - by @mavory | Also thank you for providing the guide @Kai Pereira!