Altoids(tm) macropad

This is a 6 button keypad to put in an Altoids™ box. You need additional hardware (see below) and the Arduino IDE to program the MCU. Use sketch provided here. There you can alter the key assignment to your desire.

(Sadly I forgot to taken images from during the build)

current button configuration

ALT+Tab (application switching)   m (for “mute” in slack)   WIN+e (windows explorer)

STRG+x (cut)      STRG+c (copy)     STRG+v (paste)

Additional hardware

• Altoids™ peppermint box
• 6 buttons 12x12x4.3mm (see photo)
• arduino pro micro (see photo)
• some wire (I used spliced flat cable)
• 4 heat set inserts M2 2.3mm height
• 4 screws M2 13.7mm
• optional: Magnet 6mm diameter, 2mm thick
• optional: 2 small adhesive rubber feet

Print instructions

• PLA is sufficient.
• Keys:
  • print 6 times … perhaps every key in different color, if desired
  • use ironing on top surface layer
  • 0.1 mm layer height
•  Body:
  • print every part one time
  • 0.2 mm layer  height

I used polyMaker polyTerra Filaments, Prusament royal blue and the black top body part is Prusament JetBlack.

Assembly

• put buttons in the mid body part. Perhaps you have to use a bit of gentle force.
• make a hole into altoids™ box
  • put arduino into the bottom part.
  • put bottom part into the box
  • take a pen and outline the usb port
  • take bottom part out
  • dremel out the port
  • check if it fits
• wire the buttons (see diagram)
  • connect one side of all buttons to ground of the MCU.
  • connect other side of the button to separate pin to MCU (2-7) (you can change pin/button assigment in code if you need to)
  • !! tripple check wiring and solder joints, loose wires will decrease fun afterwards!!
• place the 4 heat set inserts into top body part
• place the arduino into bottom part
• put all body parts together with the screws
• optional: glue the magnet into bottom hole. This is to clamp the keypad to the box (alternatively, you can fiddle some card board between keypad and box wall to secure it)
• program and test the keyboard (perhaps alter the program to your needs)
• if all goes well, put the thing into the box (fit is somehow tight. You will have a good day, if you have to put in in only one time)
• add rubber feets at the bottom rear to angle the box and as anti slip

additional notes

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If you post a make, let me know which filament you use.

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Hope you enjoy my models.