10/16/2025 - Created the schematic

I started by installing KiCad and creating the schematic for the PCB. By following the guide, I added buttons according to my own layout, along with diodes for each one and a microcontroller. I had some trouble with the pieces library, but I figured it out.

10/17/2025 - Started work on the PCB layout

I started the PCB layout by arranging the switch footprints in KiCad, simply following the schematic I made yesterday.
However, the process was not completely smooth, at first I did the right side wrong and had to redo it, then when I wanted to arrange the thumb keys i had trouble rotating them.

10/19/2025 - Finished the PCB

Today, I arranged the diodes for each switch, then I routed the whole PCB. I also placed some footprints for the pins that connect to the battery and the mounting holes.
This time, i had trouble because initially I routed the pinholes to the microcontroller instead of the hotswap sockets, so I had to redo most of the wiring. Also, rotating the thumb keys almost gave me a headache again.

10/25/2025 - Started designing the case

I started designing the case for the keyboard in Fusion 360. Fortunately, I already know how to use Fusion, so it isn't that hard. I still have to figure out how to hold the whole thing together.

10/26/2025 - Redid the PCB

I realized that the switch sockets were on the wrong side, so I had to redesign the PCB. This time, I used a autorouting plugin to make the wiring quicker. I also made a panelized version, to check if it's cheaper this way (it isn't). While I was at it, I also fixed some outlines that weren't at the right angles.

10/30/2025 - Finished the case

After redesigning the PCB, I completely redesigned the case as well. It has two parts: the bottom one, which holds the battery and has the opening for the USB C port and the top one, that also acts as a mount plate for the switches. Everything is held together by 3 M3 screws. I initially used M2 screws, but I realized the threads were kind of small to be 3d printed. I also added an incline to the case for comfort.

11/14/2025 - Worked on BOM and final render

While I worked on the final render, my brother created the BOM. I added switches and keycaps to the Fusion project. I struggled a bit with importing them and arranging them in the right places, but I worked it out. My brother has a problem with the budget: the components are too expensive...

11/16/2025 - Learned about the firmware and organized GitHub repo

I looked up the ZMK firmware that was recommended in the guide and found that it's highly customizable. Fortunately, I was able to fins a similar wireless split keyboard, that uses the same microcontroller and I built the firmware using that configuration. I will write a custom keymap from scratch after building the keyboard. After this, I finished the BOM and I organized all the project files as required in the submission guidelines and uploaded them to GitHub.
So...I'm done.

1/6/2026 - Tried to fix CAD and soldered pieces onto PCB

My brother and I took turns soldering the pieces on the PCB. I soldered the diodes and the chips, while he worked on the sockets. Combined, this took about 3 hours.

I then printed the case for the right side of the keyboard, but it had multiple problems: The PCB didn't fit easily in the case, it couldn't be completely inserted because the usb c port didn't have space, the components were hitting the battery compartment, the screw holes on the top part were too small (I initially wanted to use M2 screws and forgot to change them) and the switches weren't easily removable because of the steep margin right next to them.

I fixes all of these problems and printed another case, hoping it was ready to use this time. However, it now had other flaws: the PCB didn't sit right and it wobbled because I didn't take into account the thickness of the chip when designing the case. I quickly fixed this with my special drill. When I tried to put it all together with screws, one of the threads broke off and the other somehow got taller.

Now I'm kind of frustrated, but I'm thinking of designing some clips to hold the pieces together.

Here's a picture of the work-in-progess PCB. It only had a few soldered diodes, but I was very proud of the way it was going.

Here is a photo of the finished PCBs: