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2 layers114.1 × 77 mmHackPad, the printed circuit board in 3D

This is a custom-made Advanced HackPad, which is coded to be used for your own services. It has a screen to help you monitor activities, it is customisable too. Also, has different menus but that is configured for me. You can make use of this project to create your own customised hackpad that is unique to you.

Size
114.1 × 77 mm
Copper layers
2
Thickness
1.6 mm
Parts
40
Nets
45
Pads
157
Tracks, vias
364, 49
Routed
Yes
KiCad
KiCad 9.0 (file 20241229)
Created
26 Mar 2026
Updated
31 Mar 2026

Overview

HackPad is an open-source printed circuit board by hitenpanda, from the hitenpanda/HackPad repository on GitHub. It is a 2-layer board of 114.1 × 77 mm with 40 parts on 45 nets, routed with 364 tracks and 49 vias.

It is built around the SK6812MINI-E. Its parts include 25 diodes, 9 switches, 1 IC and 1 connector. It belongs with the RP2040 boards of this library.

Main components

1

README

README.md

HackPad v1

A custom parametric mechanical macropad powered by the Seeed Studio XIAO RP2040. Designed, routed in KiCad, and modeled in Fusion 360 for the Hack Club Blueprint initiative.

Images

Overall Look

Overall

Schematic

Schematic

PCB

PCB Layout

Case Assembly

Case Design The enclosure is a parametric Lower Tray model built perfectly to fit the PCB outline. It uses a 2.0mm offset, 4.0mm standoffs, and 8.0mm walls for a clean "Floating Key" aesthetic.


Bill of Materials (BOM)

PartQuantityDescription / Notes
Seeed Studio XIAO RP20401Main Microcontroller (Through-hole)
Mechanical Switches8Kailh Choc V2 switches
Keycaps81U Keycaps to fit each switch
Custom PCB1Custom 2-layer PCB
3D Printed Tray (Bottom)12.0mm thick base with 8.0mm perimeter walls Translucent
Diodes91N4148
Mounting Hardware4M2 2.2mm screws for securing PCB to tray standoffs and Heatset inserts
Display10.91" 128x32 OLED Display
Encoder1EC11 Rotary Encoder and 1 x 3D-Printed Knob

🛠️ Engineering Log & Design Architecture

To give reviewers insight into the design process, here is the technical breakdown of the hardware environment and enclosure architecture.

Development Stack

  • EDA (Electronics): KiCad 9.0
  • MCAD (Mechanics): Autodesk Fusion 360

Mechanical Architecture: The "Tray" Design

The current enclosure is modeled as a Lower Tray. The design logic is heavily parametric, ensuring that any future changes to the PCB automatically cascade into the 3D printed enclosure.

  • The Reference PCB (Global Zero): The PCB was exported from KiCad as a .step file. It serves as the absolute "Global Zero" for all sketch planes. All enclosure components are built on the underside of the board (Negative Z-axis) to ensure pin clearance.
  • The Chassis Floor: Traced directly from the PCB outer boundary using a 2.0 mm positive offset.
    • Fixing the "Swiss Cheese" issue: Initially, the floor generated as a mess of holes because the switch pin cutouts auto-projected from the PCB. Using Timeline Editing, I re-selected only the inner boundary profiles to generate a clean, solid, dust-proof floor.
  • The Standoffs (Pillars): Extruded 4.0 mm up and joined to the chassis floor. This provides crucial clearance for bottom-side solder joints and the XIAO MCU.
  • The Perimeter Walls: Originally modeled at 16.0 mm. After performing a physical Stack-up Analysis in CAD (Standoff [4mm] + PCB [1.6mm] + Switch Housing), 16.0 mm caused severe interference. It was parametrically reduced to 8.0 mm, which perfectly covers the rough PCB edge while leaving the switch housings exposed.

Parts

40
QtyValueFootprintReferences
16SK6812MINILED_SMD:LED_SK6812MINI_PLCC4_3.5x3.5mm_P1.75mmD10, D11, D12, D13, D14, D15, D16, D17, D18, D19, D20, D21, D22, D23, D24, D25
9D_SmallDiode_THT:D_DO-35_SOD27_P7.62mm_HorizontalD1, D2, D3, D4, D5, D6, D7, D8, D9
8SW_PushButton_Switch_Keyboard:SW_Cherry_MX_1.00u_PCBSW1, SW2, SW3, SW4, SW5, SW6, SW7, SW8
1Conn_01x04_PinConnector_PinHeader_2.54mm:PinHeader_1x04_P2.54mm_VerticalJ1
1RotaryEncoder_SwitchRotary_Encoder:RotaryEncoder_Alps_EC11E-Switch_Vertical_H20mmSW9
1XIAO-RP2040-SMDSeeed Studio XIAO Series Library:XIAO-RP2040-SMDU1

The 36 most common of 40 parts.

Questions

How big is the HackPad PCB?

It measures 114.1 × 77 mm and has 2 copper layers, 1.6 mm thick.

What parts does the HackPad use?

40 parts, built around the SK6812MINI-E. 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 HackPad KiCad files?

From the hitenpanda/HackPad repository on GitHub, at the commit this page was made from: the board is PCB/HackPad.kicad_pcb and its schematic PCB/HackPad.kicad_sch. PCBKit opens the board in the browser, with nothing to install.

Can I use the HackPad design in my own project?

Its repository states no licence, so its author keeps all rights: ask hitenpanda before reusing the design.

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