Magnetic Mini Keyboard Thumb Joystick V2

UPDATE NOV 17 2024:

Apparently Seeed makes a whole bunch of XIAO boards now. When I made this project, there were only two options. Unfortunately if you buy certain ones, they won't be compatible.

I recommend the SAMD21 or RP2040 versions of the XIAO to keep it simple and 100% compatible.

UPDATE JAN 10 2023:

Someone requested an analog-joystick input so I created a new sketch for that. Download the file that ends in “_analog.ino” and upload it to your XIAO!

UPDATE AUG 31 2023:

The code I had uploaded was messed up. It is now fixed, so if you downloaded the code before this date then please redownload it and reupload it to your Arduino.

UPDATE AUG 02 2023:

Added .STEP files for the top/bottom shell, thanks to @Haystack for converting those for me! Feel free to edit and remix to fit your own parts and needs!

UPDATE JUL 30 2023:

Added the DesignSpark Mechanical project file, so if you want to edit it, you can download that software and have at it.

UPDATE FEB 10 2023: 

I've updated the design slightly. It now sits perpendicular to the keyboard instead of at an angle (in Z axis) and shouldn't shift around as much. It's also slightly smaller. Use the V2 files for this.

What the hell is this?

This is the first iteration of my desperate need for a cheap keyboard joystick attachment.

Don't judge me, but I've played Rainbow Six Siege for years on PC using a Razer Orbweaver. I used the joystick for WASD movement. But let me tell you, I'm a gentle person and I've gone through a literal dozen of those things.. and they're not cheap.

Over the years I learned how to repair them pretty easily, but the components weren't easy to find and it was honestly just not fun to constantly worry about it breaking. Razer's terrible software that always needs to run in the background was the salt on the wound. What made it so frustrating was that I didn't care about the rest of the device, I just wanted the thumbstick.

I know there are some solutions out there. Someone sells something similar to this online, and there are other keypads with thumbsticks available. But a lot of them just add unnecessary bulk and cost, and often the thumbstick is analog. Some games don't play nice with simultaneous analog stick + keyboard input.

Enter my mini thumbstick. Made of cheap components (Under $20 to make from scratch, well under $5 to repair) that are off the shelf and simple to assemble. It emulates the arrow keys for simple keybinding and to avoid conflicts with inputs.

Plus, it has magnets and I love magnets.

Bill of Materials

Prices are at time of writing and may vary for regions.

1x Seeeduino XIAO board ($5.60) (DON'T get the soldered-header version or it WON'T FIT!)
1x Adafruit Mini Thumbstick Breakout Board ($1.50)
1x Adafruit Mini 2-Axis Analog Thumbstick ($2.50)
4x M2x14mm SHCS for V2 (4x M2x10mm SHCS for V1) (~$1.00)
4x 8x3mm Round N50 Neodymium Magnets ($8.00)

Link with some sources: https://1drv.ms/x/s!AuJEnCdpVszXluUzJPEeXMz-L\_6DpA?e=s9Kaoh

The only parts you'd really need to replace are the thumbstick and breakout board. Maybe not even the breakout board. I'll have to test wear over time. (UPDATE: YEARS LATER AND NO SIGN OF FAILURE)

You'll also need:

• A soldering iron + solder
• Some thin gauge wire (I used 24awg silicone wire, thinner is better as it'll all be squished into the shell)
• Some super glue for the magnets. Or just a hot glue gun.
• A USB-C cable to connect to your PC. 

Assembly Instructions

• Print both parts. No supports are needed. Everything is already in printing orientation.
• Solder the mini thumbstick to the thumbstick breakout board. It only fits one way.
• Cut four pieces of ~1inch wire and strip the ends. Solder the breakout board to the Seeeduino XIAO as follows:

GROUND to GROUND

VOLTAGE to 3V3

Y AXIS to PIN 1

X AXIS to PIN 2

• Insert the electronics into the BottomShell. There isn't much wiggle room.
• Cap it with the TopShell and screw it into place.

Make sure the joystick axes face the correct way. Y+ towards the magnets and X- towards the USB port.

• Glue some magnets onto your keyboard's shell wherever you want the thumbstick to sit. Mess around with it beforehand to find an ideal position, or attach the magnets to the ones on the joystick, add drops of glue, then press against your keyboard.
• Connect it to your PC via USB-C.
• Download the latest Arduino IDE software (https://www.arduino.cc/en/software)
• Go to Tools > Manage Libraries, search for “Keyboard” by Arduino, and install
• Download the Seeeduino boards using the instructions on their website (https://wiki.seeedstudio.com/Seeed\_Arduino\_Boards/)
• Open my .ino sketch
• In the Arduino IDE, under the Tools menu, make sure the board is the Seeeduino XIAO, and the COM port is recognizing the board.
• Upload the sketch onto your board by pressing the Upload button (right arrow at the top). 

That should be it. If everything went smoothly, your thumbstick should now send arrow-key keystrokes to your PC when you move the stick. My setup has UP towards the keyboard and DOWN away from it.

If you wanted to change what keystrokes it sends, you can do so by replacing the "KEY_UP_ARROW" bits with whatever key you want. Check the Arduino guides out there for help on that.

If your directional inputs are wrong, you can swap the X and Y pins in the arduino sketch or swap the “KEY_” directions.

What's the point?

I hate buying products, I hate fixing Razer garbage, and I HATE using three fingers just to move around in a game! Three birds with one compact magnetic stone.