DraX Pad
I present to you the DraX Pad. It has 10 hot swappable keys with a OLED display. It has multiple presets as well. (secret- you can play games on the OLED just with the macro pad )
Created by
Notdragon 24
Hackpad
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Notdragon 24
added to the journal ago
Big Mistake
While soldering some hijack wires to the rp2040 footprint i noticed the footprints metal thing fall off. I thought it wasnt a big deal until i realized its the main thing that conducts the electricity. I had no choices but start from the beginning. I started de-soldering everything from the board. Key Switches were the easiest but the diodes were the hardest. I spent a quite alot of time to de-solder the diodes as it might break. So now i'll to start over in a new board. Good thing I have 5 boards. (this is my 3rd board).
I dont really have any experience on soldering/de-soldering so it took me a while to de-solder. I didnt even have a de-soldering pump let alone. So it took me alot of time to de-solder. I also burnt my hands while doing so and I have a small opening in my finger to the 2nd layer :sob:
Notdragon 24
added to the journal ago
Debugging v2
Well I have spent few hour or so to identify the issues with the columns. I fully found what traces have failed. Which was the d8 and d9 on the XIAO has had a production failed on traces. I had to hijack physical wires to fix this. Now all keys except the top left key works. Well i have ignored that tried to test a full firmware just to find the OLED doesn't work. It appears that the SDL and SCA pins on the XIAO are week. I've been researching a little about it. But for today i'll be pausing.
Notdragon 24
added to the journal ago
Debugging v1
I am writing this like few hours later as I was doing this in school (after school ofc).
So I proceeded with testing the keys but I realized something was wrong with my PCB. My right column worked but others did not. I was frustrated ; I ran some test codes to see if the XIAO was the problem or in the circuit it self. Well the board was working well. So I had to look through multiple traces. Still have not gotten the problem neither the solution.
Also in the process I almost quit as I was so frustrated. I threw few cables and the soldering iron multiple time as I was frustrated. non broke
Notdragon 24
added to the journal ago
Soldered the Diodes to the PCB!
I finished soldering the diodes to the board today. It took a bit longer than I expected because I ran into a problem.
I accidentally soldered the diodes onto the wrong side of my first board. Since I couldn't easily move them without making a mess, I decided to start over with a fresh board.
This time, I made sure everything was on the correct side. I also loose-fitted the keys into the board just to make sure they sit right before I solder them down. Now that the diodes are done and the keys are lined up, the next step is to solder the XIAO and the keys so I can finally test it out.
CAN ⚡🚀
approved DraX Pad ago
Nice hackpad
Notdragon 24
submitted DraX Pad for review ago
Shaurya Bisht
requested changes for DraX Pad ago
looks really good, but you need to add an additional render if you could in the readme with the top part of the case off
Notdragon 24
submitted DraX Pad for review ago
Notdragon 24
started DraX Pad ago
1/28/2026 - Soldered the Diodes to the PCB!
I finished soldering the diodes to the board today. It took a bit longer than I expected because I ran into a problem.
I accidentally soldered the diodes onto the wrong side of my first board. Since I couldn't easily move them without making a mess, I decided to start over with a fresh board.
This time, I made sure everything was on the correct side. I also loose-fitted the keys into the board just to make sure they sit right before I solder them down. Now that the diodes are done and the keys are lined up, the next step is to solder the XIAO and the keys so I can finally test it out.
1/29/2026 5 PM - Debugging v1
I am writing this like few hours later as I was doing this in school (after school ofc).
So I proceeded with testing the keys but I realized something was wrong with my PCB. My right column worked but others did not. I was frustrated ; I ran some test codes to see if the XIAO was the problem or in the circuit it self. Well the board was working well. So I had to look through multiple traces. Still have not gotten the problem neither the solution.
Also in the process I almost quit as I was so frustrated. I threw few cables and the soldering iron multiple time as I was frustrated. non broke
1/29/2026 9 PM - Debugging v2
Well I have spent few hour or so to identify the issues with the columns. I fully found what traces have failed. Which was the d8 and d9 on the XIAO has had a production failed on traces. I had to hijack physical wires to fix this. Now all keys except the top left key works. Well i have ignored that tried to test a full firmware just to find the OLED doesn't work. It appears that the SDL and SCA pins on the XIAO are week. I've been researching a little about it. But for today i'll be pausing.
2/4/2026 - Big Mistake
While soldering some hijack wires to the rp2040 footprint i noticed the footprints metal thing fall off. I thought it wasnt a big deal until i realized its the main thing that conducts the electricity. I had no choices but start from the beginning. I started de-soldering everything from the board. Key Switches were the easiest but the diodes were the hardest. I spent a quite alot of time to de-solder the diodes as it might break. So now i'll to start over in a new board. Good thing I have 5 boards. (this is my 3rd board).
I dont really have any experience on soldering/de-soldering so it took me a while to de-solder. I didnt even have a de-soldering pump let alone. So it took me alot of time to de-solder. I also burnt my hands while doing so and I have a small opening in my finger to the 2nd layer :sob: