Calculator
A custom calculator with 18 buttons, an encoder, an LCD screen, all powered by a pico! The encoder acts as CLEAR when pressed, and changes the cursor position when rotated.
Created by
jim 🚀
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Timeline
jim 🚀
added to the journal ago
Routing attemp v2
i removed all the routing from before and tried again. I did the complex stuff on the back side, but still, I can't finish it because routes keep running into each other. I will have to make a 3d attempt, probably equally split the amount of routing on the front and back!
jim 🚀
added to the journal ago
Tried to Route the PCB
Tried routing the PCB, but I kinda messed up and wasted 1 hour... At least I learned something! I learned that I can route both on the back and front side. Im getting some weird routing suggestions and I will probably ask someone for help, because I can't finish the routing.
jim 🚀
added to the journal ago
final GPIOs + 3d view!
I spent around 2.5 hours setting up the power gpios + 3d view! People in a slack thread helped me set up the gpios, 3v3, GND configurations for the open gpios on the pico, and I close the unused ones! I also did the same on the LCD. I spent some more time researching the manufacturer's website for the lcd, and I also digged the internet to find .step files for every component!
jim 🚀
added to the journal ago
Setup Edge.cuts layer
Today I setup the Edge.cuts layer. I drew a rectangle and used the measure tool, and made sure the usb from the raspberry pi pico is outside of the pcb. I also changed the position of the screen, keys, and rotary encoder to make sure everything is as it should!
jim 🚀
added to the journal ago
Did brainstorming while in stupid class
Today I had ancient-greek class, which I don't care about since imma follow a path with math & cs, so I spent the majority of the time drawing out the design of my calculator. I changed the placement of the button multiple times but the end result is this and I think its pretty cool! it fits everything and takes up the correct space. 
jim 🚀
added to the journal ago
Designed a demo PCB
Did some brainstorimg on the PCB. I imported everything from the schematic - I had to spend some time searching for footprints. After that I was gonna use the Keyboard Layout Editor (KLE) but I just hand-placed the keys for now since I plan this to be bare. I love slowly seeing it come to life! I also spent some time on sketch.io designing the overall look. I will probably have to change everything, switches aren't alined, routing isn't done, and outline is wrong.
jim 🚀
added to the journal ago
Completed half of the schematic
I spent 4 hours yesterday working on the schematic. At first I was gonna use a xiao rp 2040, so I would have to do a matrix layout, but I then decided to go for the raspberry pi pico which has many gpios. I connected all keys and an LCD screen. I used a technique called i2c which a friend told me about. This way, I only had to connect 2 gpios. (4 hours may seem a lot, but it is my second PCB and I remade it 2-3 times because I tried to actually understand everything. I also have to switch to labels soon)
jim 🚀
started Calculator ago