Naytik's Hackpad
A personal simple, hackpad with 8 keys designed for streamlining my workflow when it comes to designing and making the things I want.
Created by
Naytik
Hackpad
16 views
0 followers
1Mon ⚡
approved Naytik's Hackpad ago
Tickets awarded: 51 tickets
Tier: 4
really nice hackpad!
Naytik
submitted Naytik's Hackpad for review ago
Naytik
added to the journal ago
Firmware completion!
It took me around an hour of troubleshooting to finish up the firmware as I wasn't able to get the hackpad to work first try, I also did not realise that the XIAO did not come preloaded with circuit python.
After installing circuit python and uploading the code it still wasn't able to work for reasons I do not understand, I ended up fixing the issue my running the code on my computer using Thonny, which is one the main editors for python.
here is a picture of my code!:
Naytik
added to the journal ago
I got my hackpad kit and began soldering
I started to solder the hackpad, This took me 3 hours as I made many mistakes and had to resolder few components as I may have accidently bridged them
Here is how my soldering setup looked like:
One components in particular, The XIAO-RP2040 was especially difficult as the pins were small and they were very close together, I ended up soldering it by keeping my iron as far away as I could from any soldered pins, This helped me as it reduced the risk of bridging pins or accidently melting the solder on already soldered pins, The solders former balls instead of cones though this maybe because the pins were extremely flush to be board or I may have added too much solder.
this is how my XIAO looked after I soldered it:
Everything else such as the switches though was really easy as the pins were big and spread apart
I also messed up putting the heatset inserts in my case as I might have overheated the plastic around it causing it to not make a flush fit. This means that my bolts do not screw in all the way. Additionally I might have also heat-shocked the plastic causing it to capture a lot of stress and leading to additional warping:
Here is a picture of my completed hackpad:
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1Mon ⚡
requested changes for Naytik's Hackpad ago
nice job on the hackpad! id like to see some more journaling to see your process in assembling the hackpad, maybe some info on how you soldered it, etc.? additionally, you should include an image of the final assembled product in your readme.
Tier: 4
Naytik
added to the journal ago
I 3d printed the case and got the pcbs
I 3d printed my case today and also recieved my pcb's in the mail!. I will now wait to recieve my hackpad kit before starting to build it!. Due to small tolerance differences I had to fix some stuff and reprint my case after the first time!
Naytik
submitted Naytik's Hackpad for review ago
Naytik
added to the journal ago
Ordered The PCB
I ordered the PCB today from JLCPCB,
I already used the first time offer of $2 for 5 PCBs, So including Shipping this PCB, The final price was $8.50,
Thank you so much hack club!
for allowing me to chase my dreams
Naytik
added to the journal ago
Completely designed the entire pcb
I completely designed the schematics of the hack pad PCB, Routed it the hack pad PCB and CAD modelled the case of the hack pad as well as test fitted everything and uploaded everything to GitHub
Total time taken: 5 hours
CAN ⚡🚀
approved Naytik's Hackpad ago
Nice hackpad
Naytik
submitted Naytik's Hackpad for review ago
Iamalive 🚀
requested changes for Naytik's Hackpad ago
One final thing! Please add a picture of the combined pcb & cad file! You can export your pcb as a step file and add it to your cad file and make sure it fits!
Naytik
submitted Naytik's Hackpad for review ago
zsharpminor
requested changes for Naytik's Hackpad ago
Nice hackpad! Please add images of your CAD, PCB, rendered PCB, schematic view, and assembled hackpad to your README, as well as a list of the parts you'll be using from the kit. Finally, we need preliminary firmware code (I'd recommend KMK), as well as all of your KiCad source files (you're missing the .kicad_pro file), and please organize them into CAD, PCB, and Firmware folders, thanks!
Naytik
submitted Naytik's Hackpad for review ago
1Mon ⚡
requested changes for Naytik's Hackpad ago
please add a readme to your project!
Naytik's Hackpad was submitted for review ago
Naytik
started Naytik's Hackpad ago
12/16/2025 - Completely designed the entire pcb
I completely designed the schematics of the hack pad PCB, Routed it the hack pad PCB and CAD modelled the case of the hack pad as well as test fitted everything and uploaded everything to GitHub
Total time taken: 5 hours
12/18/2025 - Ordered The PCB
I ordered the PCB today from JLCPCB,
I already used the first time offer of $2 for 5 PCBs, So including Shipping this PCB, The final price was $8.50,
Thank you so much hack club!
for allowing me to chase my dreams
1/16/2026 - I 3d printed the case and got the pcbs
I 3d printed my case today and also recieved my pcb's in the mail!. I will now wait to recieve my hackpad kit before starting to build it!. Due to small tolerance differences I had to fix some stuff and reprint my case after the first time!
1/23/2026 6:23 PM - I got my hackpad kit and began soldering
I started to solder the hackpad, This took me 3 hours as I made many mistakes and had to resolder few components as I may have accidently bridged them
Here is how my soldering setup looked like:
One components in particular, The XIAO-RP2040 was especially difficult as the pins were small and they were very close together, I ended up soldering it by keeping my iron as far away as I could from any soldered pins, This helped me as it reduced the risk of bridging pins or accidently melting the solder on already soldered pins, The solders former balls instead of cones though this maybe because the pins were extremely flush to be board or I may have added too much solder.
this is how my XIAO looked after I soldered it:
Everything else such as the switches though was really easy as the pins were big and spread apart
I also messed up putting the heatset inserts in my case as I might have overheated the plastic around it causing it to not make a flush fit. This means that my bolts do not screw in all the way. Additionally I might have also heat-shocked the plastic causing it to capture a lot of stress and leading to additional warping:
Here is a picture of my completed hackpad:
1/23/2026 6:42 PM - Firmware completion!
It took me around an hour of troubleshooting to finish up the firmware as I wasn't able to get the hackpad to work first try, I also did not realise that the XIAO did not come preloaded with circuit python.
After installing circuit python and uploading the code it still wasn't able to work for reasons I do not understand, I ended up fixing the issue my running the code on my computer using Thonny, which is one the main editors for python.
here is a picture of my code!: