comment: >
  
  You are right. Maybe didn’t push the keycap down far enough in this picture. Looks good now though :)
context: Looks great! Can the Pi Pico run something like qmk? Or is it custom programmed? >
  
  It can run QMK or even KMK which is written in CircuitPython and can be modified by editing a text file in a virtual drive from the pi. Really nifty.
  Edit: link www.kmkfw.io >
  
  Very cool, thanks! >
  
  A little numpad for my nephew I designed and printed. It is using some keycaps from a previous build and Novelkeys BOX Jade Clickys. 
  His name is printed on the underside. He was very happy to receive this gift. >
  
  Are the switches not on a PCB? I can't seem to understand how this is done, what are the switches attached to? >
  
  I think they're slotted into a 3d printed plate and the connections are hand-soldered wires. OP has hidden the wires underneath the plate as you could see a Philips screw head at the top left corner. >
  
  I don't know what I could use it for but it's way past cute!!! >
  
  He calls it a macropad so I'm assuming gaming macros. >
  
  it's amazing! would u share a guide on how to do one like this? >
  
  Go check out Joe_Scotto on YouTube! He has multiple guides on how to build a handwired board. That is where I learned! It was a little bit daunting at first but it all makes perfect sense after you watch some videos. 
  It is definitely a fun challenge and not so difficult as it might seem! :) >
  
  Hey it's me, your other nephew. I would like the same gift, thank you. >
  
  Sorry if i am uninformed but it seemed so logical to need at least 1 pin (of the controller) per keys can someone explain why this is not the case (or why it isn’t necessary at all) >
  
  If you wire it in a matrix like this then you'd get 12 unique connections at each of the crossings to differentiate the keys. >
  
  This was exactly how I wired it up :) >
  
  I did something similar this weekend too, have wired an rp2040-zero to a 3D printed 3x3 layout keyboard.
  Yours looks much neater though. >
  
  I’ve always been fascinated with handwiring a keeb. Looks complicated though. >
  
  It's not really too bad, takes some basic circuit knowledge, soldering skills, and beyond that not much else. You don't need to do programming to make and flash a keymap for qmk. Check out some build videos in YouTube, I'm sure that anyone with a couple days worth of time and effort could learn the necessary skills. It's not necessarily simple, but it's definitely learnable. >
  
  I really want to make this. I bought keys, switches, diodes and a microcontroller to build something like this.
  It passed the solder test, but I have no idea how to take it from a bunch of loosely connected parts nd turn it into an actual keypad with a case. >
  
  I dont want it to sound like im hating on it, it looks like a cool gift but can i just ask what is the purpose of such a numpad? Is it because he has a keyboard without a numpad and he can use this one so it doesnt waste space on the desk when he doesnt use it? >
  
  Haha no worries! He has a TKL keyboard so he can use it as a normal numpad but he will mostly be using it as a macropad to have preprogrammed shortcuts and stuff. 
  Might be a little useless but it was a fun build and will probably build myself one since I am now using a 40% keyboard. 
  It is a simple way to have more buttons but take very little desk space since you can put it where it’s not in the way :) >
  
  I'm not versed in this, but how would it connect? Does it have a USB Bluetooth connector that you plug in? And the keys itself running off of a battery? >
  
  No, it plugs directly into the micro usb on the RPi Pico, no bluetooth >
  
  Good job op ! >
  
  Forgive my ignorance, but what are the advantages to excluding the " +  *  /  - ", & "Enter" keys?  Does the "option" key act as a Shift, for the mathematical operators? >
  
  This is not really a traditional numpad and more of a macropad to have useful shortcuts and stuff. So there is absolutely no advantages to exclude useful functions. 
  I just didn’t think a 12 y/o would have that much use of all the mathematical functions so I excluded them from this build. I use the “option” key as a layer switch so you can add those functions in later on if he wants them :) >
  
  I appreciate the educational and non-hotile answer. :) >
  
  This looks so nice and neat.
  Never wanted to do a number pad like this but I like the design. The option key where it is is pretty great and never thought of that spot before. Did you use stabilisers for the zero key? I haven’t figured out how to incorporate stabilisers in anything I’ve made. 
  And how did you connect the pico, hot glue? I’m still finding a way to avoid hot glue in securing them well enough.
  Can you put the stl on printable please? >
  
  Thank you!
  I didn’t use stabs for the zero key this time just because I didn’t have any laying around and didn’t have time to order any. My nephew didn’t notice anyways but might be something to fix later on. 
  The Pico is hot glued on. u/Joe_Scotto does something pretty smart for one of his boards. He uses pin-socket headers soldered on to the raspberry pi to hold it into place.
  I am currently away for holidays so I don’t have access to the files until after new years. I can for sure upload the STL and send it to you then :) >
  
  Looks like a neat solution. Do you glue the spacer on to the board?
  Upload the finished product later. Would love to see it! >
  
  Printing the file and sticking it to the board would be a good idea. I didn’t think of that. It keeps glue off the board so is a good compromise. Plus retro fitting other projects is an option. 
  I just stuck it on the macropad shell in the stl. I have a resin printer so don’t have to worry about printing flat. I finished printing it but haven’t processed the print (wash and cure). Job for tomorrow. I’ll let you know how it goes. >
  
  That’s awesome. Would love to have a resin printer to print smaller things with more detail. Don’t really have the space for it now though in my small apartment so that will be for another time. 
  Can’t wait to see it! >
  
  Did it. 
  The print worked fine but the attached adapter the holes to hold it are a bit loose. I’ll still need to put a dab of something to hold the board in place. 
  With the resin I’m using I can expect a carry sim percent if shrinkage and that’s what I believed happened as well (and the cutouts for the keys to put in were really tight -much more than usual) >
  
  Upload the result! 
  That is a bit unfortunate. Still interested in how you connected the spacer to your board. Would be awesome to have a way to attach the controller without glueing it on.
  Did you manage to attach all your switches? Maybe have to make the cutouts a little bigger in cad to counteract the shrinkage of resin printing? >
  
  It looks amazing! >
  
  this is why I always buy defuse kit >
  
  I love the use of the Pico there, as a maker it's always great to see people venturing into the world of making your own things right from the bottom. >
  
  I'm totally ignorant here, but isn't a raspi total overkill for this?  Does it take long to boot? >
  
  This is a Pi Pico which is a microcontroller like an arduino. You can definitely have something smaller for a tiny build like this but I had a Pi Pico laying around so that’s what I used for this build.
  It doesn’t take long at all. I use KMK to power it so it is pretty much instant when you plug it in to the computer. >
  
  Very cool, thanks for replying! >
  
  Are you the same guy that posted in the Arduino subreddit a few days ago with his collection of handwired keyboards? In that case I ordered my first raspberry pico to get into hand wiring. Thanks for the inspiration! >
  
  Will definitely share it! >
  
  I feel like the pi might an overkill for a numpad,
  Nevertheless great gift! >
  
  Yes maybe. But I had it laying around and designed the numpad around it to make it a little cooler :) >
  
  Why is there a Windows key on it? >
  
  That’s the win button. For automatically winning games ;) >
  
  Chad response. I doff my cap to you. :) >
  
  I like the idea of putting the controller next to it. How did you fix the controller to the case? Or is it loose? >
  
  I hot glued it directly to the plate. Might try something different next time but for this, hot glue works pretty good! >
  
  Very nice >
  
  Cute ! Is there risk to exposing electronics like this? >
  
  No harm per se but it is easier to damage it for sure. The Pi Pico is so cheap and it is really easy to just swap it and solder the wires on a new microcontroller so I really don’t mind it. 
  I really like the exposed look :) >
  
  Wish my uncle was this cool. Great gift! >
  
  What it do without the +-/* keys? >
  
  W unc >
  
  I am not knowledgeable about keyboard compute requirements - but, can a esp8266 or arduino nano do the job? Do you need a raspy? >
  
  This is a Pi Pico, which is a microcontroller like an Arduino, not a full RPi. Some arduinos can work for this as well, and some other microcontrollers, it has to have HID functionality, which not all of them do. IIRC the nano doesn't, but the Arduino pro micro does, for example. >
  
  Im actually making one right now, but how is it possible to use so few pins? Im making a 9 key one and it uses 10 pins. One for ground and nine for positives. You used 7 for 12. >
  
  The way these are typically done is one pin per column, and one pin for row. That way you don't need one pin per switch + ground. Then you know that column 2 and row 3 shorting together is a certain key, etc. >
  
  Oh that makes sense. That's how full size keyboards are done.  I was clearly an idiot while writing this. >
  
  Not at all! You just hadn't learnt how it worked yet. >
  
  The 3 key looks a little wobbly