hackclub · aoi2010 · Feb 12, 2026 · Feb 12, 2026
diff --git a/docs/resources/hackpad.md b/docs/resources/hackpad.md
@@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
+| title       | Resources & Tips |
+| ----------- | ---------------- |
+| description | A collection of resources, libraries, tutorials, and tips for designing your hackpad. |
+| priority    | 3                |
+
+# Resources & Tips
+
+Here lies a collection of resources & tips I've amassed over the years; use them well.
+
+With that in mind, there are *thousands* of other resources on the internet that I can't cover here. Use youtube, reddit, discord, whatever works for you!
+
+If a guide doesn't seem to work, try it again. If it *really* doesn't work, try another guide! The magic of it is to keep at it, because if so many other teens can do it, you absolutely can too.
+
+## KiCad Libraries
+
+- [Hack Club's KiCAD care package!](https://github.com/hackclub/hackpad/tree/clean/extras/kicad_care_package)
+- [More Keyswitch footprints](https://github.com/ai03-2725/MX_V2)
+- [XIAO Footprints](https://github.com/Seeed-Studio/OPL_Kicad_Library)
+- [Rotary Encoder footprint](https://kicad.github.io/footprints/Rotary_Encoder)
+- [0.91" OLED Display](https://github.com/gorbachev/KiCad-SSD1306-0.91-OLED-4pin-128x32.pretty/blob/master/SSD1306-0.91-OLED-4pin-128x32.kicad_mod)
+- You can almost always find the footprint/symbol you're looking for if you use [SnapEDA](https://www.snapeda.com/) or similar sites. Google is your best friend.
+
+## Top Tier
+
+- [The Keyboard Atelier Discord](https://kbatelier.org/) <- THE community for keyboard design! PLEASE do not spam the discord though, your best shot is to lurk.
+- [The Keyboard Designer Wiki](https://wiki.ai03.com/books) <- this is insanely useful
+- [Atelier designer spreadsheet](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1K0jNUZzxTTMkgzo043dxc4vBEOrxNa8jVf4VHk-B27U/edit?gid=0#gid=0)
+- I made an example macropad in the GitHub repo [here](https://github.com/hackclub/hackpad/tree/clean/extras/orpheuspad). It has an OLED, a rotary encoder, 4 switches in a matrix, 2 addressable LEDs, and QMK firmware. You can reverse engineer it for pretty much everything else
+
+## Tutorials
+
+- [Joe Scotto's how to design a PCB](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WXpGTIbxlQ)
+- [Joe Scotto's how to design a keyboard case](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7azQkSu0m_U)
+- [ai03's PCB Guide](https://wiki.ai03.com/books/pcb-design) (this is what I learned from!)
+
+## General info
+
+- [XIAO RP2040 Docs](https://wiki.seeedstudio.com/XIAO-RP2040/)
+- [Anatomy of a keyboard](https://matt3o.com/anatomy-of-a-keyboard/)
+- [Keyboard Mounting Styles](https://www.keyboard.university/200-courses/keyboard-mounting-styles-4lpp7)
+
+## Useful measurements & other info
+
+- Making holes for your PCB:
+    - KiCAD has specific footprints for mounting holes, don't use Edge.Cuts - use the M3 mounting hole footprint!
+- Making holes for your case:
+    - if you're using [heatset inserts](https://www.aliexpress.us/item/2255800046543591.html), make a 4.7mm diameter hole, 4mm deep
+    - if you're screwing directly into the plastic, use a 2.9mm diameter hole
+    - if you just want the screw to pass through without threading, use a 3.4mm diameter hole.
+- Use a 0.2mm gap between 3D printed parts
+- There's 19.05mm gap between the center of each switch
+
+
+## 3D models
+
+- [Cherry MX Keycaps](https://github.com/hineybush/CherryMX)
+- [Keyswitches](https://grabcad.com/library/cherry-mx-switches-mx-1)
+- [Stabilizers](https://grabcad.com/library/cherry-mx-stabilizer-mx-1)
+- [EC11 Rotary Encoder](https://grabcad.com/library/rotary-encoder-17)
+- Generally speaking, go to [grabcad](https://grabcad.com/library) and search for your part + sort by popular, and you should be able to find the model you need
+
+## Generally useful tips
+
+- Most DIY keyboards are at least partially open source. You can go to their git repositories and copy their tolerances/footprints/schematics/whatever
+- You can export your KiCad PCB to a PDF and print them to check measurements!
+- Most Keyboards are wired in a matrix to save pins, but if you have 6 or less switches just avoid the matrix altogether
+- For screens, just use a 4-pin header for footprints
+- Adding graphics in KiCad is really annoying. Instead, you can design your entire thing in Figma and import it as an overlay instead
+- Google is your best friend. 9 times out of 10 the first result will help you out.
+- Try routing everything on one layers first, if you can't without making a big loop, move to the second layer. This keeps your board clean.
+- Make multiple revisions! I rerouted my first macropad like 10 times while adding stuff.
+- After routing everything, run Tools > Cleanup Tracks & Vias. You gotta press the Build changes button twice for the optimizations to apply.
diff --git a/docs/resources/index.md b/docs/resources/index.md
@@ -14,4 +14,5 @@ These are general resources provided by the community. PR's open!
 <li><a href="/resources/jlc-ordering">How to order from JLCPCB</a></li>
 <li><a href="/resources/parts-sourcing">How to cost effectively source parts</a></li>
 <li><a href="/resources/bom">How to make a Bill of Materials</a></li>
+<li><a href="/resources/hackpad">All resources related to the Hackpad</a></li>
 </ul>