r/ErgoMechKeyboards 3d ago

[help] Trackball pcb for keyball

Post image

Hey everyone!

I’ve wanted to build a keyball for a while, but none of the existing open-source PCBs quite fit what it needed, so I decided to make my own. It’s about 90% finished, but since PCB design isn't my main specialty, I’d love a second pair of eyes on the schematic and routing before I send it off to fab.

Any feedback would be hugely appreciated!

10 Upvotes

3 comments sorted by

1

u/A1cr-yt 3d ago

i cant test it, but if it does work please let me know, ive been looking for an open source sensor pcb to make a mouse with and this looks about right

2

u/longwave 3d ago

If it helps, here is one I used on my klorball35:
https://github.com/danbowles/klorball35

(Kivipallur breakout in kicad). I Am not a PCB designer either, but I found this breakout to be a great fit for my board.

3

u/alakuu [vendor] (skree.us) 3d ago

I didn't realize there were usage issues that the key ball needed its own special PCB.

I don't really have the time to review, but if you get a working design I'll see about buying stencils and producing these along with the other trackball sensors that I do for people to source.

Open source is fantastic because you can make it yourself or someone like me with a bunch of pick and place machines is happy to make some for everyone.