ronan’s macropad
I want to create a macropod for video editing, school tab shortcuts, and more to enhance productivity. I intend to use 7 switches, and a rotary encoder to max out efficiency. The rotary encoder will be used for volume control, and the bottom 4 switches will be used for play/pause, scrolling through video, and switching tracks.
Created by
ronan.c.samantaray
Hackpad
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0 followers
ronan.c.samantaray
submitted ronan’s macropad for ship review ago
ronan.c.samantaray
added to the journal ago
Thank You Hack Club!
I spent a long time today finishing coding and i had to re solder the xiao;( it came loose. This took a long time because I had to re-solder the tiny pins on the xiao. Unfortunatley, I didnt take pictures but this is the finished product: 
ronan.c.samantaray
added to the journal ago
Finalization
Cadded up a new case design with internal support for the pcb. Unfortunately, I super glued it together so I will not show a picture of the inside. Also, I added silicone feet I found at home to provide some grip. image
Now, I will work on modeling a knob to print out for the final step. This will be tricky, as I do not have a caliper for fine measurements.
ronan.c.samantaray
added to the journal ago
Added Finished Picture to Repository
As Requested by a reviewer, I have added a picture the finished macropad to the Github Repo. Hopefully it will be approved soon!
This is the picture:
‘’
ronan.c.samantaray
submitted ronan’s macropad for ship review ago
m0.hid ⚡
requested changes for ronan’s macropad ago
Hey! Great work on this but can you add a photo of your completed build to your repo please! Otherwise great work on this!
Tier: 4
ronan.c.samantaray
submitted ronan’s macropad for ship review ago
ronan.c.samantaray
added to the journal ago
Parts arrived and final assembly!
Parts have arrived! I will prepare my soldering setup to complete the final process.
UPDATE:
I am getting ready to solder!
I am starting by practicing soldering on an old non-functioning pcb from a raspberry pi 3 speaker.
UPDATE!
Soldering time! I am starting with the switches. Then I will do the rp2040 and finally the rotary encoder.
UPDATE!
Soldering done:
I ran into so many issues. As it was my first time soldering, it was difficult to solder the male-header pins to the xiao, resulting in a near death experience for the xiao. Also, I made several faulty joints, so I used 3/5 of the boards ;( This is the final hardware (without case)
This is with the case:
Overall, Im pretty happy with the case and final look!
FIRMWARE
(spoiler, a lot of issues)
For the firmware, I had absolutley no clue what I was doing so I tried to see the hack club guide on this website. BUTTTTT.... the site was down.
I relied on countless youtube videos, and once I finally got my firmware exported to the microcontroller, the firmware didnt work at all. To be honest, I was abot to give up but then I realized that I had just misassigned the pins to pins that did not exist, so thats that. After all of that, I had thought I got it working until I realized that the top right switch was not soldered right. however, in the end, without the use of ai, I managed to finish the firmware
This whole process has been so cool and I want to expand past the preset hack club projects!
ronan.c.samantaray
added to the journal ago
Some parts arrived
My print legion parts arrived and My hackpad kit parts arrived. The only part remaining is the pcb! Its coming from hong kong ;( I can finally start building once the pcb from jlc arrives!
ronan.c.samantaray
added to the journal ago
UPDATE
Parts should all arrive soon. I havent really been able to do much for the hackpad and I have been working alot on my split keeb. It was finals week but it was virtual so it was the wierdest thing ive ever done. Basically, all I have done is waited and revised. Still worthy of an hour in total though.
wait now that i think abt it prob shouldnt have posted the shipping # buttttt idc
ronan.c.samantaray
added to the journal ago
Color change
At this point i need to consolidate journals like 5 into 1 to even meet the minimum word req.
anyways: color change ;)
Idk is this is better or worse buttt:
ronan.c.samantaray
added to the journal ago
Progress I guessssss
Progress:
Reasearched optimal button setup and I ordered a silicone mat to do my soldering from temu lol(I had helping hands already). I cant wait for everything to commmmeeeee.
ronan.c.samantaray
added to the journal ago
waited
bro im so impatient and thats my fault lol
Amazon has pampered me and now I am paying the price.
Pweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease blueprint gods teleport my package to me
ronan.c.samantaray
added to the journal ago
Parts done!
Parts done and redy to be shipped!
ok now i hae to fill some empty space
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ronan.c.samantaray
added to the journal ago
Ordered parts!!!
Ordered JLCPCB PCB and Case!
So ecxited to finally be making progress lol
Used #printing-legion shoutout to ethan for the print
pcb will take 2 weeks fordelivery broooooooo
ronan.c.samantaray
added to the journal ago
Watched copious amounts of soldering vids lol
spent way too much time on figuring out how to solder lol. I watches a bunch of videos and found my dad's old pair of helping hands. Still looking pretty overwheliming tbh:>
CAN ⚡🚀
approved ronan’s macropad ago
Nice hackpad
ronan.c.samantaray
submitted ronan’s macropad for ship review ago
Iamalive 🚀
requested changes for ronan’s macropad ago
Nice work on the hackpad! Just resubmit this project as a tier 4 and don't request any funding, since you'll automatically get the hackpad kit mentioned in the guide, along with a $20 grant to get your pcb!
ronan.c.samantaray
submitted ronan’s macropad for ship review ago
Shadow
requested changes for ronan’s macropad ago
Hey! For the macropad! Please submit it as macropad and not a custom project! You will be provided a kit with all the components mentioned in guide, and a grant to get your PCB and case.
ronan.c.samantaray
added to the journal ago
Research and Firmware turning
Researched uses for my macropad and finalized firmware. I realized that I could use my pad for tasks beyond what I had previously listed.
. I want to maximize the knowledge I gain from this project to use in the future.
ronan.c.samantaray
submitted ronan’s macropad for ship review ago
ronan.c.samantaray
started ronan’s macropad ago
1/19/2026 - Research and Firmware turning
Researched uses for my macropad and finalized firmware. I realized that I could use my pad for tasks beyond what I had previously listed.. I want to maximize the knowledge I gain from this project to use in the future.
1/26/2026 2:26 PM - Watched copious amounts of soldering vids lol
spent way too much time on figuring out how to solder lol. I watches a bunch of videos and found my dad's old pair of helping hands. Still looking pretty overwheliming tbh:>
1/26/2026 2:28 PM - Ordered parts!!!
Ordered JLCPCB PCB and Case!
So ecxited to finally be making progress lol
Used #printing-legion shoutout to ethan for the print
pcb will take 2 weeks fordelivery broooooooo
1/26/2026 3 PM - Parts done!
Parts done and redy to be shipped!
ok now i hae to fill some empty space
o/
/|
/ \o/
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/ \zz
1/27/2026 3 PM - waited
bro im so impatient and thats my fault lol
Amazon has pampered me and now I am paying the price.
Pweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease blueprint gods teleport my package to me
1/27/2026 6 PM - Progress I guessssss
Progress:
Reasearched optimal button setup and I ordered a silicone mat to do my soldering from temu lol(I had helping hands already). I cant wait for everything to commmmeeeee.
1/27/2026 7 PM - Color change
At this point i need to consolidate journals like 5 into 1 to even meet the minimum word req.
anyways: color change ;)
Idk is this is better or worse buttt:
1/31/2026 - UPDATE
Parts should all arrive soon. I havent really been able to do much for the hackpad and I have been working alot on my split keeb. It was finals week but it was virtual so it was the wierdest thing ive ever done. Basically, all I have done is waited and revised. Still worthy of an hour in total though.
wait now that i think abt it prob shouldnt have posted the shipping # buttttt idc
2/3/2026 - Some parts arrived
My print legion parts arrived and My hackpad kit parts arrived. The only part remaining is the pcb! Its coming from hong kong ;( I can finally start building once the pcb from jlc arrives!
2/7/2026 - Parts arrived and final assembly!
Parts have arrived! I will prepare my soldering setup to complete the final process.
UPDATE:
I am getting ready to solder!
I am starting by practicing soldering on an old non-functioning pcb from a raspberry pi 3 speaker.
UPDATE!
Soldering time! I am starting with the switches. Then I will do the rp2040 and finally the rotary encoder.
UPDATE!
Soldering done:
I ran into so many issues. As it was my first time soldering, it was difficult to solder the male-header pins to the xiao, resulting in a near death experience for the xiao. Also, I made several faulty joints, so I used 3/5 of the boards ;( This is the final hardware (without case)
This is with the case:
Overall, Im pretty happy with the case and final look!
FIRMWARE
(spoiler, a lot of issues)
For the firmware, I had absolutley no clue what I was doing so I tried to see the hack club guide on this website. BUTTTTT.... the site was down.
I relied on countless youtube videos, and once I finally got my firmware exported to the microcontroller, the firmware didnt work at all. To be honest, I was abot to give up but then I realized that I had just misassigned the pins to pins that did not exist, so thats that. After all of that, I had thought I got it working until I realized that the top right switch was not soldered right. however, in the end, without the use of ai, I managed to finish the firmware
This whole process has been so cool and I want to expand past the preset hack club projects!
2/11/2026 - Added Finished Picture to Repository
As Requested by a reviewer, I have added a picture the finished macropad to the Github Repo. Hopefully it will be approved soon!
This is the picture:
‘’
2/14/2026 - Finalization
Cadded up a new case design with internal support for the pcb. Unfortunately, I super glued it together so I will not show a picture of the inside. Also, I added silicone feet I found at home to provide some grip. image
Now, I will work on modeling a knob to print out for the final step. This will be tricky, as I do not have a caliper for fine measurements.
2/20/2026 - Thank You Hack Club!
I spent a long time today finishing coding and i had to re solder the xiao;( it came loose. This took a long time because I had to re-solder the tiny pins on the xiao. Unfortunatley, I didnt take pictures but this is the finished product: