Fusion Pad
Added 8 keys for streamlined fusion design. Plus rotary encoder for volume, click to mute.
Created by
abushfinn
Hackpad
5 views
0 followers
CAN ⚡🚀
approved Fusion Pad ago
Tickets awarded: 20 tickets
Tier: 4
Awesome project! Thank you for going back on your work just to take pictures!
abushfinn
submitted Fusion Pad for ship review ago
abushfinn
added to the journal ago
Another Past update
I forgot to take pictures while I was assembling it so I took it apart and we are going to pretend this is me building it.
After I had soldered all the pieces on I realized that the 3d printed plate was supposed to go UNDER the switches... I think. I thought it would be really difficult to unsolder everything and then have to get the pins on the XIAO nice and clean again to put into a new PCB so I left it how it was and it turned out just fine.
And then after that I was having major issues with the heated inserts I could not get them to stay for some reason and it was a huge pain. So I ended up trying a couple options and I used a variety of ways to attach the two pieces.
There are two nuts at the bottom that were heat set
And then one heat insert. That is just hanging in there
And then one of them I threaded the 3d printed plastic with the correct tap. So there is a big hole where the heat insert was supposed to be
Overall there was a lot of issues but if theres one thing I've learned is that you must keep trying and doing. And not to let the little setbacks stop you from making a project.
m0.hid ⚡
requested changes for Fusion Pad ago
Hey - great work on this but we need some more details in your journal about the actual assembly process, and some pictures of your hackpad being made!
Tier: 4
abushfinn
submitted Fusion Pad for ship review ago
abushfinn
added to the journal ago
Past Journal Updates
Just adding some past stuff to my journal and explanations on everything. I decided to go with a 2x4 vertical macropad because I use my macropad on my left hand and I prefer the encoder to be the closest.
This is my schematic...
And here is the final PCB design...
Some things that went well were the routing of the PCB and the schematic creation. I struggled for a little bit trying to get the right footprint for the XIAO (I didn't know where the footprint was) but after I got past that everything was smooth sailing.
1mon ⚡
requested changes for Fusion Pad ago
really nice hackpad! you need a picture of the completed build in your repo so please add that before resubmitting, along with reading through this to make sure your project is ready to go! https://blueprint.hackclub.com/about/submission-guidelines. id also like to see some more journaling on your process behind making this!
Tier: 4
abushfinn
submitted Fusion Pad for ship review ago
abushfinn
added to the journal ago
Built It!
I spent two hours assembling the pcb. I had to make a minor cad edit as my rotary encoder wouldnt fit. I 3d printed the case in a cool matte clay PLA. Overall I'm pretty happy with my project and i might 3d print a knob for it later too. And cut acrylic to cover the rp2040. 
CAN ⚡🚀
approved Fusion Pad ago
Nice hackpad
abushfinn
submitted Fusion Pad for ship review ago
abushfinn
started Fusion Pad ago
1/23/2026 - Built It!
I spent two hours assembling the pcb. I had to make a minor cad edit as my rotary encoder wouldnt fit. I 3d printed the case in a cool matte clay PLA. Overall I'm pretty happy with my project and i might 3d print a knob for it later too. And cut acrylic to cover the rp2040.
1/31/2026 - Past Journal Updates
Just adding some past stuff to my journal and explanations on everything. I decided to go with a 2x4 vertical macropad because I use my macropad on my left hand and I prefer the encoder to be the closest.
This is my schematic...
And here is the final PCB design...
Some things that went well were the routing of the PCB and the schematic creation. I struggled for a little bit trying to get the right footprint for the XIAO (I didn't know where the footprint was) but after I got past that everything was smooth sailing.
3/19/2026 - Another Past update
I forgot to take pictures while I was assembling it so I took it apart and we are going to pretend this is me building it.
After I had soldered all the pieces on I realized that the 3d printed plate was supposed to go UNDER the switches... I think. I thought it would be really difficult to unsolder everything and then have to get the pins on the XIAO nice and clean again to put into a new PCB so I left it how it was and it turned out just fine.
And then after that I was having major issues with the heated inserts I could not get them to stay for some reason and it was a huge pain. So I ended up trying a couple options and I used a variety of ways to attach the two pieces.
There are two nuts at the bottom that were heat set
And then one heat insert. That is just hanging in there
And then one of them I threaded the 3d printed plastic with the correct tap. So there is a big hole where the heat insert was supposed to be
Overall there was a lot of issues but if theres one thing I've learned is that you must keep trying and doing. And not to let the little setbacks stop you from making a project.