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03 / Hardware · PCB Design

Custom Mechanical Keyboard

Scope: Custom PCB & Case Tools: KiCad, CAD Date: 2025 — Present In Progress

A fully bespoke mechanical keyboard designed from the ground up — custom PCB laid out in KiCad, custom case and plate designed for the build, and a hand-picked switch and keycap set to match.

Project mission: build a mechanical keyboard where every layer — PCB, case, plate, and layout — is designed rather than purchased. A hardware project in its own right, not just an assembly job.

Overview

Off-the-shelf keyboards make tradeoffs that most builders don't control — layout compromises, generic cases, and PCBs you can't modify. This project starts from a blank canvas: a completely custom layout designed around how I actually type, a PCB designed in KiCad from scratch, and an enclosure built to exactly the dimensions and feel I want.

The layout prioritizes [describe your layout goals here]. Every design decision on the PCB, from the key matrix to the controller selection, follows from that goal.

PCB design

The PCB was designed entirely in KiCad. The key matrix is wired for with a at the center. Each key position was placed to match the physical layout exactly, then routed with care for signal integrity and a clean final board.

Case & plate

The case and plate were designed in to match the PCB footprint exactly. The plate material is and the case is .

Build status

Currently in active development. PCB design is [status], and case design is [status].