Easy75 - 75% mechanical keyboard w/custom PCB!

About Me

I'm Eddy Zhao, a recently graduated high schooler who is attending UC Berkeley next fall. This spring, I discovered a passion for hardware and PCB design through Hack Club's Highway program. I used this opportunity to dive deep into electronics, from creating KiCad schematics to routing PCBs and writing firmware in CircuitPython. PCB creation is genuinely a fun pastime and it feels amazing when you finally finish.

The Project

Easy75 is a simple yet custom 75% gasket-mounted mechanical keyboard run with a Raspberry Pi Pico. The focus is on hotswap support, ergonomics, and RGB lighting. This project is entirely self-initiated and was built from the ground up.

Features include:

• 4.5-degree ergonomic incline
• Ultra-fast Raspberry Pi Pico controller
• Kailh switch hotswap sockets soldered to PCB
• Per-key RGB (SK6812 MINI-E)
• Custom laser-cut acrylic plate
• 1.3" OLED screen
• Custom firmware written in CircuitPython
• Rotary encoder for volume control
• Custom printed circuit board (PCB) with 500+ traces routed
• Lubricated switches and stabilizers for a smoother typing experience
• And more!

I created the board in KiCad, routed over 500 traces on the board, and then created the case in Onshape. Firmware was written using CircuitPython. I also documented the entire creation process on my GitHub Journal. Feel free to check it out!

How PCBWay Can Help

Easy75 has been fully designed from scratch, and now needs a way to move to physical fabrication. This is where I need PCBWay's help. The PCB is a 2-layer board that must be soldered with diodes, LEDs, and switch hotswap sockets. PCBWay's fast turnaround and generosity would allow me to bring this keyboard to life, test out the firmware on real hardware, validate my design, and allow me to continue pursuing my passion of learning hardware and PCB design.

Additionally, the entire project is open-source! This way, future teenagers in Hack Club may use my project as a reference for when they start their own learning opportunities. This isn't just a personal project; it's a chance for many to adopt a new skill. I hope to inspire other students who are also just entering the world of PCB design, and students who share an already-existing passion for electronics like me. PCBWay's support would not only help me fabricate this project but also make PCB design approachable for new makers!