Design Your Own Keyboard!

Go from zero to hero by following along as I design a PCB for a custom keyboard. Follow along as I prepare a gerber file to order boards from PCBWay! The detailed walkthrough contains everything you need to know to create a custom keyboard PCB using Ergogen and KiCad.

Thanks to my sponsor PCBWay for supporting this video. PCBWay offer PCB fabrication, CNC and 3D Printing and more. They have been super efficient and friendly with all the projects I’ve used them for and I’m very happy to recommend them. You can use this link to support the channel. https://www.pcbway.com/setinvite.aspx?inviteid=499614

Links:
My fork of Ergogen: https://github.com/benvallack/ergogen
KiCad: https://www.kicad.org
Ergogen UI: https://ergogen.cache.works

🪛Soldering Essentials!

Tooling up with these links helps me out at no extra cost to you. Thanks! 🙏

Heat Proof Mat:
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3nn8tiB
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3nn8tiB

Soldering Iron Kit:
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3Frdw87
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3ouxQ1o

Lead Free Solder 0.6 (for sockets and switches):
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3co1GyM
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2YSfZZs

Lead Free Solder 0.3 (for smaller work):
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/30A2Yog
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3HDDU0q

Flux Pen:
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3IemWVP
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3Ko9lNm

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Watch this next for more details on my custom keyboard framework: https://youtu.be/UKfeJrRIcxw

Details on my 16 key layout:
https://youtu.be/5RN_4PQ0j1A

Or how about 34?
https://youtu.be/8wZ8FRwOzhU

Or if you're feeling totally excessive, 36:
https://youtu.be/S0bBmcoVsm8

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Contents:

0:00 Intro
1:18 My Custom Keyboard Format
1:52 Ergogen Basics
7:24 Installing Ergogen Locally
8:08 Outlines
11:34 Creating A KiCad File
13:10 Switch Footprints and Nets
14:42 Controller Footprint
15:11 Keycap Outlines
16:05 Additional Footprints
20:03 Bind Values
22:29 Routing
32:37 Adding Artwork
38:40 Uploading to PCBWay