[HN Gopher] Show HN: Creavi Macropad - Built a wireless macropad...
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       Show HN: Creavi Macropad - Built a wireless macropad with a display
        
       Hey HN,  We built a wireless, low-profile macropad with a display
       called the Creavi Macropad. It lasts at least 1 month on a single
       charge. We also put together a browser-based tool that lets you
       update macros in real time and even push OTA updates over BLE.
       Since we're software engineers by day, we had to figure out the
       hardware, mechanics, and industrial design as we went (and somehow
       make it all work together). This post covers the build process, and
       the final result.  Hope you enjoy!
        
       Author : cmpx
       Score  : 22 points
       Date   : 2025-11-11 18:58 UTC (4 hours ago)
        
 (HTM) web link (creavi.tech)
 (TXT) w3m dump (creavi.tech)
        
       | sulicat wrote:
       | Looks really nice! It looks real professional!
       | 
       | Is there an ESP on there? Are you using lvgl for the display?
        
         | cmpx wrote:
         | Thanks!
         | 
         | We planned to use ESP, but turned out it needs a lot of energy,
         | so we are using nrf52840 MCU. Yes, we are using lvgl! Such a
         | nice library!
        
       | stavros wrote:
       | This is fantastic. You've detailed a lot of the stuff that ruined
       | my projects, though I never really actually sat down to learn
       | about parasitic inductance and how to combat it. Now I look at
       | the datasheet and make sure I don't miss any of the recommended
       | caps and resistors, though I'm still not at your level of
       | complicated design.
       | 
       | The finished product looks great, well done! By the way, why not
       | add two more buttons at those two blank corners? Is it because
       | the labels wouldn't fit on the display? You could always
       | replicate the layout onto the display itself and put the labels
       | on that.
        
         | cmpx wrote:
         | Thanks!
         | 
         | About the buttons in the corners, I wish we could use that
         | space too! :) Most of the electronic components (MCU, power
         | supply circuit) are located in the corners, while the remaining
         | PCB area is occupied by the mechanical switches,
         | display/battery, and the encoder.
        
           | stavros wrote:
           | Ahh, I see. Wouldn't it work to put those on the underside?
        
             | cmpx wrote:
             | Great idea! Actually the mk3 of the PCB had these parts on
             | the bottom. The reason for putting them on the top layer
             | was that this way we can decrease the thickness of the
             | macropad (we don't need much space between the pcb and the
             | backplate). For now it is basically a tradeoff. One way of
             | improvement could be, that we don't use a BLE module, but
             | solder the MCU directly to the PCB and use smaller passive
             | components. This way the max. height of the components
             | could be decreased and we could put them back on the
             | bottom. This would also mean I have to design the RF parts,
             | which is very far outside of my knowledge.
        
               | stavros wrote:
               | Hm yeah, there isn't really much space for the module,
               | huh. One idea would be to cut the PCB and use castellated
               | edges to solder the module to, which will make it thinner
               | by one PCB height, but it'll be tricky.
               | 
               | Plus, it looks like your module has multiple rows of
               | pads, but I'm not sure about that.
        
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       (page generated 2025-11-11 23:01 UTC)