2 layers155 × 80 mm
2 layers358.1 × 123.2 mm
Keyboard
Fern518/Chesters-KeyboardA custom build keyboard with an OLED display that shows the current track, and a rotary encoder to control volume and play/pause
- Size
- 358.1 × 123.2 mm
- Copper layers
- 2
- Thickness
- 1.6 mm
- Parts
- 171
- Nets
- 142
- Pads
- 689
- Tracks, vias
- 982, 147
- Routed
- Yes
- KiCad
- KiCad 9.0 (file 20241229)
- Created
- 13 Dec 2025
- Updated
- 31 Dec 2025
Overview
Keyboard is an open-source printed circuit board by Fern518, from the Fern518/Chesters-Keyboard repository on GitHub. It is a 2-layer board of 358.1 × 123.2 mm with 171 parts on 142 nets, routed with 982 tracks and 147 vias.
Its parts include 84 diodes, 1 IC and 1 switch. It belongs with the keyboards and input and lEDs and displays boards and the RP2040 boards of this library.
README
README.mdChester's Keyboard
A custom TKL keyboard built for the Hack Club Blueprint program.
It functions as a miniature media dashboard: the display shows the current track (TO BE IMPLEMENTED), the knob controls volume, and the six keys can be bound to any shortcut.
The Keyboard
Everything fits together using 4 M3 Bolts and Heatset inserts, one in each corner.
It has 2 separate printed pieces. The base, where the PCB sits, and the top cover, which protects the PCB.
PCB
My PCB was designed in KiCad. The rPi Pico is mounted on the bottom of the PCB between the home keys and arrow keys to make it as compact as possible.
Schematic:
PCB:
BOM:
- 1x Case
- 1x Raspberry Pi Pico 2W
- 1x 0.91" 128x32 OLED Display
- 1x 1N4148 Diodes - 100 Pack
- 1x EC11 Rotary Encoder
- 1x PCB (gerber files in pcb/)
- 89x Cherry MX Switches
- 89x Keycaps
- 1x Keycap Stabilizers pack
- 1x Adafruit MCP23017 I2C GPIO Expander Breakout
- 4x M3x5x4 Heatset inserts
- 4x M3x16mm SHCS Bolts
Parts
171| Qty | Value | Footprint | References |
|---|---|---|---|
| 84 | D_Small | Diode_SMD:D_SOD-123 | D1, D2, D10, D11, D12, D13, D14, D15, D16, D17, D18, D19, D20, D21, D22, D23 +68 |
| 84 | SW_Push | Button_Switch_Keyboard:SW_Cherry_MX_1.00u_PCB | A1, ALT1, B1, BACKSPACE1, BSLASH1, C1, CAPS1, CBRACKET1, COLON1, COMMA1, CTRL1, D67, DARROW1, DEL1, E1, END1 +68 |
| 1 | Conn_01x04 | Connector_PinHeader_2.54mm:PinHeader_1x04_P2.54mm_Vertical | OLED DISPLAY1 |
| 1 | Pico | MCU_RaspberryPi_and_Boards:RPi_Pico_SMD_TH | U1 |
| 1 | RotaryEncoder_Switch | Rotary_Encoder:RotaryEncoder_Alps_EC11E-Switch_Vertical_H20mm | SW1 |
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Questions
How big is the Keyboard PCB?
It measures 358.1 × 123.2 mm and has 2 copper layers, 1.6 mm thick.
What parts does the Keyboard use?
171 parts. The full list of its parts is on this page, with links to each part's symbol and footprint where PCBKit's library has them.
Where can I download the Keyboard KiCad files?
From the Fern518/Chesters-Keyboard repository on GitHub, at the commit this page was made from: the board is PCB/keyboard.kicad_pcb and its schematic PCB/KiCad-RP-Pico-main/Test/Test.kicad_sch. PCBKit opens the board in the browser, with nothing to install.
Can I use the Keyboard design in my own project?
Its repository states no licence, so its author keeps all rights: ask Fern518 before reusing the design.