this post was submitted on 30 May 2024
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Mechanical Keyboards

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I rock a 60% which I love, but I’m learning blender and coding, lack of numpad has gotten frustrating.

Anyone got any macro pad suggestions either available now or in GB/IC?

Preferably a hot swap! Open to different sizes and formats. Was tempted by the Piketea standing desk mounted macro pad, but they appear to be sold out.

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[–] [email protected] 8 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Relatively easy to whip up yourself for little money if you have access to a 3D printer and a soldering iron. Get a RP2040 development board for $2, 9 switches and keycaps and hand solder them directly, you don't even need to source diodes.

[–] wjrii 2 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

I did exacltly that and made the 12-switch version of this for my daughter. As you note, a full size Pi Pico should have the 24 GPIO pins you need to avoid diodes.

For myself, I did a laser-cut numpad to use with the hand wired TKL-like I tend to use on my main PC. Then there are the others. I, uhh, may have a problem.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 6 months ago (1 children)
[–] robalees 1 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Doesn’t have to be a standard numpad, I’m open to smaller designs where I can do additional macros.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago

I got nuthin so far. I have a numpad in my shopping cart waiting for an influx of money lol

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago

Actually, I did just buy a 4 key with a knob off of Aliexpress. The switches and caps are shit, but I've got tons of options for those laying around, and it only cost like $4. I have to plug it into someone's PC to program it though. You can't program it on Mac.

https://a.aliexpress.com/_mOclIE2

[–] DrownedRats 2 points 5 months ago

Drop has a very nice 9 key macro pad called the Nin-doio. It's a macro pad that's made to closely mimic the GBA! It's pricey but it's really good build quality and very very cool.