creating cherry mx keyboard pcbs

Switch an diode

both of these can be found in the device folder in components. Hit R to rotate them

first row

drag your cursor over your switch and diode and right click. select copy block and move next to your previous switch. You now have 2 switches and diodes. Continue until you have all the switches in the top row. On the right toolbar there is a green line. that is the wire tool. connect the ends of all diodes in the row by clicking. You now have 1 row!

full matrix

Copy the top row for as many switches you have in your next row. continue until you have all the rows. Then do a wire from the left side of all the switches in a column. I have some spaces where I have 2 switches in the same spot. That is for alternate layouts

The mcu

I use the 32u4 for this pcb. I use the library from MOZ on GH and his split 65% pcb. Good stuff their. Every vcc needs to ce connected to a 0.1uf capacitor then connected to GND. XALT1/2 need to be connected through a 16mhz chrystal. then a 10pf capacitor on each side. each row and col also needs to be attached to a pin on the mcu, I use the global label tool. press P to briong up a menu to connect something to GND or VCC.

The reset button

The reset button should be connected to reset on one side and gnd on the other. The Reset side should also be connected to vcc through a 22k ohm resistor.

select footprints

click the middle icon

select the footprint for each component

I recommend the 0805 size for smd components. Use the preferences>footprint libraries tab to add special footprints like cherry mx switches. save and generate a netlist back in the shematic.

the pcb

move components with M, rotate with R, and flip to the other side of the board with F. You want the switches to be 19.05mm(I recommend putting the grid on 0.05mm) apart and all other components should have red footprints because they are on the bottom of the board. The green line is a trace again. press v to create a via that goes to the other side of the board while making a trace. I recommend keeping all ground disconnected and. select the fill tool and make a a border around the whole pcb that will connect everything to GND. When this is done and everything is grounded(check thrice) go to the edge cuts layer and select the dottet ;line tool. Draw a border around your pcb. You now have a pcb!