Render generated by the tracespace.io site.
DISCLAIMER : This PCB has been designed with Kicad6 and prototyped in late 2022. As of December 2023, I use Kicad7 and have converted the files to the new revised format. This is not expected to introduce any bug, but I do not offer any guarantee against it and provide the files AS-IS. You are therefore advised to perform an in-depth review of the design before manufacturing/assembly.
0x42 is an open-source 60% ortholinear keyboard PCB designed to fit the (de facto) standard 60% keyboard cases and use an ergo keycap set (1u alphas, with 1.5u modifiers and -optional- split 2u spacebars).
Heavily inspired by the Boardwalk (although the variety of supported layouts is much lower, see below), 0x42 is based on a Raspberry Pi RP2040 (ARM) MCU with onboard USB-C connexion (or through a daughterboard), it allows the use of a rotary encoder and has a dedicated LED driver for in-switch backlight (monochrome).
- MX-style switches
- Standard 60% format
- In-switch LED backlight using dedicated (Lumissil) LED driver
- Rotary encoder
- No RGB underglow
- USB Type-C with ESD protection or USB daughterboard (through JST connector)
- Powered by QMK (but could be ported to any other open-source MK firmware)
Blue keys show some possible combinations of spacebars, Orange can be replaced by rotary encoder, Green are vertical (ergodox-like) 1.5u modifiers, and Red are optional for HHKB-like layout.
Please note that due to the ortholinear layout, some mounting holes on the PCB had to be moved (the 2 in the center part of the PCB), and consequently will not align with the standoffs commonly found in 60% tray-mount cases. Only the 4 outer mounting holes are available in such situation. This nevertheless results in a good fixation, particularly if using a switch plate, and should not be an issue for most users.
Other mounting types should not be affected.
TODO: add link to QMK repo
Kikit can be used to produce a panelized PCB.
The included configuration in 0x42_panelize.json will produce a single-board panel, i.e. adding a 10mm frame with tabs and mousebites.
This is not strictly required, but provides extra room for tooling holes, as well as order number placement.
kikit panelize -p 0x42_panelize.json 0x42.kicad_pcb panel/0x42_panel.kicad_pcb
The schematic symbols have a "LCSC" property with LCSC/JLCPCB part # for suggested component reference. As far as possible, JLCPCB basic parts have been selected. Some Kicad plugins make use of this information to extract a *.CSV BOM file that can be used for assembly.
There are many alternative references for compatible NOR flash chips, with varying capacity, from 8 to 32 Mbit or even more (note that RP2040 has a limit of 128Mbit/16MB)...
The Kicad JLCPCB Tools plugin has been used to produce the required files (Gerber, drill, BOM & CPL) to have the board manufactured and assembled by JLCPCB.
Kikit can also be used for this purpose, using kikit fab.
CC-BY-SA 4.0
- Rev 2 (work in progress) is almost identical to Rev 1, with MiniMELF diodes
- Rev 1 is based on Raspberry Pi RP2040 MCU
- Rev 0 is the original design and was based on a STM32F072 MCU
- Boardwalk by AlexAtPanc, Shensmobile & others... main source of inspiration for this layout
- Ai03, Acheron Project/Gondolindrim, ebastler for providing excellent opensource reference designs
- and more generaly the mech keyboard community...