2 layers228.6 × 80.7 mm
Open keyboard
PanosEconomou/open-keyboard
A 100% from scratch open source super cool awesome keyboard that will take years to make if ever
136 parts
2 layers26 × 28.5 mm
Controller
PanosEconomou/open-keyboardA 100% from scratch open source super cool awesome keyboard that will take years to make if ever
- Size
- 26 × 28.5 mm
- Copper layers
- 2
- Thickness
- 1.6 mm
- Parts
- 39
- Nets
- 58
- Pads
- 192
- Tracks, vias
- 319, 58
- Pours
- 6
- Routed
- Yes
- KiCad
- KiCad 10.0 (file 20260206)
- Created
- 19 May 2026
- Updated
- 11 Aug 2026
Overview
Controller is an open-source printed circuit board by PanosEconomou, from the PanosEconomou/open-keyboard repository on GitHub. It is a 2-layer board of 26 × 28.5 mm with 39 parts on 58 nets, routed with 319 tracks and 58 vias.
It is built around the RP2040, W25Q16JVUXIQ and AP2112K-3.3, with the TF31-18S-0.5SH(800), USBLC6-2SC6 and SKRPAME010 among its other parts. Its parts include 17 capacitors, 8 resistors, 5 ICs, 3 connectors and 2 switches. It belongs with the keyboards and input boards and the RP2040 boards of this library.
Main components
8
RP2040
LQFN-56(7x7)12bit 133MHz 30 LQFN-56(7x7) Microcontrollers (MCU/MPU/SOC) ROHSRaspberry PiMicrocontrollers (MCU/MPU/SOC)
W25Q16JVUXIQ
USON-8-EP(2x3)-40℃~+85℃ 100,000 cycles 10uA 133MHz 16Mbit 2.7V~3.6V 20 Years 3ms SPI USON-8-EP(2x3) NOR FLASH ROHSWinbond ElecNOR FLASH
AP2112K-3.3
SOT253.3V 600mA CMOS Low Dropout Linear Regulator with EnableDiodes IncorporatedUncategorised
TF31-18S-0.5SH(800)
SMD,P=0.5mm,卧贴-40℃~+85℃ 0.3mm 0.5mm 1.75mm 18P Bottom Contact Gold Hinged Lid Phosphor bronze Surface Mount, Right Angle SMD,P=0.5mm,卧贴 FFC, FPC (Flat Flexible) Connector Assemblies ROHSHirose ElectricFFC, FPC (Flat Flexible) Connector Assemblies
USBLC6-2SC6
SOT-23-60.35pF、0.8pF 100nA 150W@8/20us 15V 2 5V 6A@8/20us 6V ESD SOT-23-6 ESD and Surge Protection (TVS/ESD) ROHSUMWESD And Surge Protection (TVS/ESD)
SKRPAME010
SMD-4P,4.2x3.2mm-40℃~+90℃ 100,000 cycles 16V 2.5mm 3.06N 3.2mm 4.2mm 50mA J-Lead Oval button SPST-NO Surface Mount, Right Angle SMD-4P,4.2x3.2mm Tactile Switches ROHSALPSALPINETactile Switches
ABM8-272-T3
SMD3225-4P-40℃~+85℃ 10pF 12MHz 50Ω SMD crystal oscillator ±30ppm ±30ppm SMD3225-4P Crystals ROHSAbraconCrystals
TYPE-C-31-M-12
SMD-30℃~+80℃ 1 10,000 cycles 16P 20V 5A 7.35mm Female Surface Mount, Right Angle Type-C SMD USB Connectors ROHSHRO ElectronicsUSB Connectors
README
README.mdopen-keyboard
I want a cool keyboard, and if I am going to spend so much money on a good one that someone else makes why not spend even more money for a worse one that I make?
Journal
There is a journal here somewhere that documents the process.
Acknowledgements
This project uses or is inspired by a lot of open-source tools, projects, and generous people who documented their work. Thank you so much!
Tools & Software
- Keyboard Layout Editor — Ian Prest's layout design tool, used for every layout iteration
- QMK Firmware — the open-source "Quantum Mechanical Keyboard" firmware
- FreeCAD — open-source CAD used for the case design
- KiCad — open-source EDA used for the schematic and PCB
- Blender — used for the renders
- Plate & Case Builder — swillkb's tool for generating plates/cases from a layout
Open-Source Projects & Libraries
- cubiq/OPK — open keycap profile / library (included as a submodule)
- CadQuery — Python-based parametric CAD used for keycap generation
- ai03-2725/MX_V2 — MX switch KiCad component library
- ebastler/marbastlib — recent MX hotswap footprint library (the one I went with)
- kiswitch/kiswitch — switch footprint library
- olkb/olkb_parts — OLKB's CAD parts, referenced for case design
- adafruit/Adafruit-Feather-RP2040-PCB — RP2040 reference design
- Unified Daughterboard standard — daughterboard spec for the gasket-mount design
- network2501/planck — long-press shift layout idea
Guides & Articles
- Ruiqi Mao's Keyboard PCB Guide — invaluable PCB walkthrough
- The Planck Constant — thoughtful write-up on Planck layout design
- Evan Travers — 40% keyboard layouts — community layout roundup
- Designing Keycaps for Fun and Profit (kbd.news) — PBS keycap creator's guide
- RP2040 Hardware Design Guide (Raspberry Pi)
- How to make your PCB hotswappable
Community Threads & Inspiration
- r/olkb and r/MechanicalKeyboards — the wikis, guides, and countless threads
- Detailed guide to making a custom keyboard
- Default Planck layout thread and Planck PCB options
- 40s keycaps — where to begin
- Gasket mounting discussion (geekhack) and switch LED orientation (geekhack)
- Planck PCB rev 6 (imgur) — component-margin reference
- Geonix and YMDK Air 40 builds that got me started (linked in the README)
Parts
39| Qty | Value | Footprint | References |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 100n | Capacitor_SMD:C_0402_1005Metric | C6, C7, C8, C9, C11, C12, C14, C15, C16, C17, C18 |
| 3 | Mount | MountingHole:MountingHole_2.2mm_M2_ISO14580_Pad | H1, H2, H3 |
| 2 | 10k | Resistor_SMD:R_0402_1005Metric | R6, R10 |
| 2 | 10u | Capacitor_SMD:C_0603_1608Metric | C2, C3 |
| 2 | 15p | Capacitor_SMD:C_0402_1005Metric | C4, C5 |
| 2 | 1k | Resistor_SMD:R_0402_1005Metric | R5, R9 |
| 2 | 1u | Capacitor_SMD:C_0402_1005Metric | C10, C13 |
| 2 | 33 | Resistor_SMD:R_0402_1005Metric | R7, R8 |
| 2 | 5.1k | Resistor_SMD:R_0402_1005Metric | R1, R2 |
| 2 | SKRPAME010 | EasyEDA_Lib:KEY-SMD_4P-L4.2-W3.2-P2.20-LS4.6 | SW1, SW2 |
| 1 | ABM8-272-T3 | Crystal:Crystal_SMD_Abracon_ABM8G-4Pin_3.2x2.5mm | X1 |
| 1 | AP2112K-3.3 | Package_TO_SOT_SMD:SOT-23-5 | U5 |
| 1 | I2C | Connector_PinHeader_2.54mm:PinHeader_1x02_P2.54mm_Vertical | J2 |
| 1 | PWR | Connector_PinHeader_2.54mm:PinHeader_1x02_P2.54mm_Vertical | J3 |
| 1 | RP2040 | Package_DFN_QFN:QFN-56-1EP_7x7mm_P0.4mm_EP3.2x3.2mm | U4 |
| 1 | TF31-18S-0.5SH(800) | EasyEDA_Lib:FPC-SMD_18P-P0.50_TF31-18S-0.5SH-800 | U2 |
| 1 | TYPE-C-31-M-12 | Connector_USB:USB_C_Receptacle_HRO_TYPE-C-31-M-12 | J1 |
| 1 | USBLC6-2SC6 | Package_TO_SOT_SMD:SOT-23-6 | U1 |
| 1 | W25Q16JVUXIQ | EasyEDA_Lib:USON-8_L3.0-W2.0-P0.50-BL-EP | U6 |
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Questions
How big is the Controller PCB?
It measures 26 × 28.5 mm and has 2 copper layers, 1.6 mm thick.
What parts does the Controller use?
39 parts, built around the RP2040, W25Q16JVUXIQ, AP2112K-3.3 and TF31-18S-0.5SH(800). 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 Controller KiCad files?
From the PanosEconomou/open-keyboard repository on GitHub, at the commit this page was made from: the board is pcb/gasket-mount/controller/controller.kicad_pcb and its schematic pcb/gasket-mount/controller/controller.kicad_sch. PCBKit opens the board in the browser, with nothing to install.
Can I use the Controller design in my own project?
Its repository states no licence, so its author keeps all rights: ask PanosEconomou before reusing the design.