boardkey
it's like a keyboard right, but it's better because imma build it!
Created by
the.mridul.goel
Tier 2
10 views
0 followers
Souptik Samanta 🚀
requested changes for boardkey ago
Hey! Please read the submission guidelines and make sure everything is checked off one by one.
https://blueprint.hackclub.com/about/submission-guidelines
the.mridul.goel
submitted boardkey for ship review ago
samliu ⚡🚀
requested changes for boardkey ago
hey! please listen to the feedback of previous reviewers!
the.mridul.goel
submitted boardkey for ship review ago
alexren ⚡🚀
requested changes for boardkey ago
hi there! great first start but your keyboard is currently has a really simple design - I would recommend adding details like cutouts, engravings, etc to polish it!
the.mridul.goel
submitted boardkey for ship review ago
the.mridul.goel
added to the journal ago
Made my first few edit
Didn't take me that long, I just needed to add the BOM.csv file, because I didn't really know I had to add that before. Also fixed up the files, and add a 3D view of the keyboard.
Person20020 (Koji) 🚀
requested changes for boardkey ago
Hi, looks great! There are a few things to fix:
- The boardkey.kicad_pcb file is empty and can't be opened. Could you upload a fixed file?
- You need to included a step model of the full assembly that includes the full case, pcb, and components. You should also export your plate as a step file. You should also include an image of it in your readme.
- I can't fully tell without the pcb file but it looks like you are probably using the wrong footprint/component for your usb port. The part you chose looks like it is meant as a replacement part for a micro usb port so I would recommend finding the matching part for the footprint you have. USB C can be rather hard to solder because the pins are so close together so if possible I would recommend trying to position the pico in a way that you can use the port from that directly.
- Please add the bom as a csv file.
It seems like the you are requesting the grant as the cost in CAD. The grant will be given in USD so you should check prices and set the grant amount as USD.
Please look over the submission guidelines to make sure you have everything: https://blueprint.hackclub.com/about/submission-guidelines
the.mridul.goel
submitted boardkey for ship review ago
the.mridul.goel
added to the journal ago
Finding Stuff
Took quite a lot of time because lets be honest, finding things for cheap is kinda hard, and I had to use aliexpress for most of it, and it still came out to $140 for everything without the PCB! R we serious, but its fine hopefully I get that grant and make my dream boardkey!!
the.mridul.goel
added to the journal ago
Stupid Firmware
Ok i am absolutley bum cheeks at writing code. So this took me so long. I had to watch so many youtube videos, and like Grok aboslutely cooked up, because i could barely write the code for my macropad, and now this.
the.mridul.goel
added to the journal ago
Keyboard Layout
This is my basic layout of the actual keyboard. I used https://www.keyboard-layout-editor.com/#/ for the actual layout because that's what i used for my macropad. I lowk forgot to add this.
the.mridul.goel
added to the journal ago
Top Part of the Case
Again, this barely took me any time, I entered flow state and finished this in under an 1 hour. I mean it wasnt that hard, just figuring out how big it has to be, cause honestly this is the wierdest, but most important peice kind of.
the.mridul.goel
added to the journal ago
Built the bottom part of the case
Basically this took me a little while, but then i got into flow state, and like absolutley built the best thing ever. I had to remember how I built the macropad one first. Then I followed this tutorial on youtube, which said that the actual bottom case for a keyboard should be kind of narrow, so thats what I did, and here it is! I also worked on the top part at the same time, but I'll put that as a seperate journal entry.
the.mridul.goel
added to the journal ago
Deleted Githib repo
I had to delete the github repo because the folders were all messed up and nothing would work. So I made a folder on my desktop to house everything making sure that it is organized, so that I can just upload the folder into the github repo. It makes life a whole lot easier.
the.mridul.goel
added to the journal ago
Top Plate for boardkey
Ok so basically I made a top plate for the boardkey, because I saw in my friend's keyboard that there is some sort of like base layer between the keys and actual case. So i made it on Kicad. It actually took me a hell of a lot time to actually figure out how to make it and what to actually make.
the.mridul.goel
added to the journal ago
Routed the PCB
I converted the schematic into a PCB, and then arragned everything to look like a keyboard. I had to look at a real keyboard to get a good idea of what the keyboard should look like. Then I used a tutorial on youtube, and the macropad tutorial to figure out how to wire the PCB.
the.mridul.goel
added to the journal ago
boardkey schematic
I worked basically all throughout school, building the schematic, I made sure to use my info from the macropad here. I had around 84 keys. I also had a rotary encoder, and raspberry pi, making sure that it actually works. I THINK it works, hopefully they do though. AND i made sure to immediately upload this to my github, because I made sure to learn from my mistakes from the macropad thing.
the.mridul.goel
added to the journal ago
Github repository
I made a Github repository, and decided which kind of keyboard I wanted. I chose a 75% keyboard, with a knob (I need the arrow keys for geometry dash). https://github.com/scribbledlife/boardkey
the.mridul.goel
started boardkey ago
2/17/2026 12:11 PM - Github repository
I made a Github repository, and decided which kind of keyboard I wanted. I chose a 75% keyboard, with a knob (I need the arrow keys for geometry dash). https://github.com/scribbledlife/boardkey
2/17/2026 12:47 PM - boardkey schematic
I worked basically all throughout school, building the schematic, I made sure to use my info from the macropad here. I had around 84 keys. I also had a rotary encoder, and raspberry pi, making sure that it actually works. I THINK it works, hopefully they do though. AND i made sure to immediately upload this to my github, because I made sure to learn from my mistakes from the macropad thing.
2/17/2026 4 PM - Routed the PCB
I converted the schematic into a PCB, and then arragned everything to look like a keyboard. I had to look at a real keyboard to get a good idea of what the keyboard should look like. Then I used a tutorial on youtube, and the macropad tutorial to figure out how to wire the PCB.
2/17/2026 9:16 PM - Top Plate for boardkey
Ok so basically I made a top plate for the boardkey, because I saw in my friend's keyboard that there is some sort of like base layer between the keys and actual case. So i made it on Kicad. It actually took me a hell of a lot time to actually figure out how to make it and what to actually make.
2/17/2026 9:21 PM - Deleted Githib repo
I had to delete the github repo because the folders were all messed up and nothing would work. So I made a folder on my desktop to house everything making sure that it is organized, so that I can just upload the folder into the github repo. It makes life a whole lot easier.
2/18/2026 11:05 AM - Built the bottom part of the case
Basically this took me a little while, but then i got into flow state, and like absolutley built the best thing ever. I had to remember how I built the macropad one first. Then I followed this tutorial on youtube, which said that the actual bottom case for a keyboard should be kind of narrow, so thats what I did, and here it is! I also worked on the top part at the same time, but I'll put that as a seperate journal entry.
2/18/2026 11:20 AM - Top Part of the Case
Again, this barely took me any time, I entered flow state and finished this in under an 1 hour. I mean it wasnt that hard, just figuring out how big it has to be, cause honestly this is the wierdest, but most important peice kind of.
2/18/2026 11:37 AM - Keyboard Layout
This is my basic layout of the actual keyboard. I used https://www.keyboard-layout-editor.com/#/ for the actual layout because that's what i used for my macropad. I lowk forgot to add this.
2/18/2026 1 PM - Stupid Firmware
Ok i am absolutley bum cheeks at writing code. So this took me so long. I had to watch so many youtube videos, and like Grok aboslutely cooked up, because i could barely write the code for my macropad, and now this.
2/18/2026 2 PM - Finding Stuff
Took quite a lot of time because lets be honest, finding things for cheap is kinda hard, and I had to use aliexpress for most of it, and it still came out to $140 for everything without the PCB! R we serious, but its fine hopefully I get that grant and make my dream boardkey!!
2/19/2026 - Made my first few edit
Didn't take me that long, I just needed to add the BOM.csv file, because I didn't really know I had to add that before. Also fixed up the files, and add a 3D view of the keyboard.