Parametric Fusion 360 mechanics, production STEP/DXF files, a wired six-layer PCB, BOM/CPL, USB HID firmware, and live JLC quotes—assembled into one reproducible first-article package.
From the first prompt to Fusion 360, KiCad, Gerbers, firmware, and a real upload into JLCPCB + JLCCNC.
This is not a disclaimer. It is the product story. One continuous conversational build loop crossed research, industrial design, CNC, multilayer electronics, sourcing, firmware, testing, pricing, and factory handoff—and left every intermediate artifact open for inspection.
Public renders were compared, scaled from the 19.05 mm key pitch, and separated into confirmed, measured, and inferred facts.
Dimensions became a parametric 108 × 108 mm Fusion assembly, four machinable bodies, STEP/DXF, and controlled drawings.
The interface became a clean-room STM32F072 design, six copper layers, 74 placement centers, and a zero-error DRC gate.
TinyUSB firmware, RGB safety limits, factory binaries, checksums, and a browser-based 20-input acceptance test made it behave.
“No soldering at home” became both-side PCBA, consigned switches, manual operations, flashing, FCT, and photo evidence.
Gerbers, BOM/CPL, STEP, drawings, and the turnkey ZIP entered authenticated JLC flows and returned real saved prices.
The best examples are two tiny corrections: “the aluminum thing looks slightly tilted” became a verified 5° wedge; “not a foot, a ring” became a purchased G‑65 O‑ring, a concentric groove in the Fusion body, new STEP/DXF/PDF files, a successful JLCCNC import, and a $68.31 live base quote. That traceable continuity—from sentence to factory cart—is the project.
This independent parody prototype is hosted under the Happy Engineering GitHub Pages domain.
External dimensions were scaled from the official near-orthographic render using the confirmed 19.05 mm key pitch. Internal steps and fasteners remain engineering assumptions until a physical unit can be inspected.
Corrected interpretation: the top panel contains twelve conventional low-profile MX keys. Work Louder's published “13 mechanical switches” count includes the encoder push; there is no mystery thirteenth key in the model or PCB.
A 4×4 coordinate grid centered at ±28.575 and ±9.525 mm. The encoder sits on the left and the planar joystick on the right, matching the full-size official reference.
Z +1.60 mm1.50 mm10.30 mmvariable3.8–12 mm0.90 mm proudThe exact Codex legend set is not sold separately. For a one-off, the most reliable path is genuine Work Louder switch/cap geometry, followed by UV printing or laser ablation after a coating test coupon.
| What to buy | Device quantity | Current source | Status | USD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| wrk. LP1 switches | 12 + spares; pack = 106 | Work Louder / Splash silent or Ember clicky | exact family | $59.00 |
| wrk. MX Pure | 12×1U + 1×2U set | Frosted PC, pass-through light | exact geometry | $19.00 |
| wrk. MX Legend | optional icon donor set | 58×1U + 1×2U, coated/laser etched | similar icons | $54.00 |
| wrk. Dial 2 | 1 | Creator Micro v1/v2 compatible dial cap | exact accessory | $5.98 |
| Planar joystick | 1 + spare | Alps RKJXY100000A surplus or a footprint-qualified clone | obsolete candidate | $10–30 budget |
| M3 hardware + standoffs | 4 + spares | ISO 4762 black screws; threaded brass/aluminum spacers | fit after sample | $10–20 budget |
| Continuous grip ring | 1 | JLCMC AMFG-P5-A65-65 / JIS B 2401 G‑65 / black NBR 65A | in cart | $0.1522 |
How to reproduce the Codex keycaps: use blank low-profile MX PBT with UV printing or temperature-qualified dye-sublimation for white keys. For illuminated keys, start with MX Pure, apply an opaque compatible coating, then laser-open the icon. Single-shot custom PBT is economically irrational for one unit; validate a fully custom shape in tough/clear SLA, beginning with an isolated MX-cross calibration coupon.
All Rev B STEP files passed automated JLC CNC import. The aluminum base is a 5° wedge with a machined G‑65 retention groove; the light pipe is a mandatory captured part under the black POM housing.
The production bezel is machined from black POM with polished cosmetic A-surfaces. It captures the PMMA light pipe, carries M3 PCB bosses, M2.5 base threads, the USB notch, and a service opening for future boards.
A 6061-T6 wedge with a flat top datum, 5° underside, four M2.5 clearance counterbores, post-anodize engraving, and a concentric groove that mechanically captures the purchased G‑65 ring.
A captured clear cast PMMA insert between the PCB and black housing. Transparent-polished edges distribute the nine underglow emitters while a uniformly frosted top face softens the perimeter light.
A rigid POM fit-check part. Cast the final tactile cap in Shore A 40–50 silicone after measuring the real RKJXY or selected substitute.
Authenticated live prices captured July 17, 2026. The cart now contains exactly four current Rev B CNC parts and one purchased grip ring; every superseded CNC revision and the individual rubber feet were removed.
| Part | Quote ID | USD |
|---|---|---|
| CM2-001 / black POM | CNC…1726 | $88.97 |
| CM2-002 / 6061 + G‑65 groove | CNC…1881 | $68.31 |
| CM2-003 / clear PMMA | CNC…1718 | $45.70 |
| CM2-004 / black POM | CNC…1716 | $19.42 |
| CNC subtotal | $222.40 | |
| JLCMC G‑65 ring | $0.16 | |
| Mechanical merchandise | $222.56 | |
Full IDs: base CNC2607185001881-3086316A; cap CNC2607185001716-3086316A; light pipe CNC2607185001718-3086316A; upper CNC2607185001726-3086316A. Prices exclude shipping, tax, duty, and engineering review. First article remains mandatory before ordering multiples.
JLCMC part AMFG-P5-A65-65 is a standard JIS B 2401 G‑65 black nitrile O‑ring. The aluminum groove captures it mechanically and leaves 0.9 mm nominal protrusion, so the device grips the desk continuously without adhesive pads, printed rubber, or user cutting.
The wired version preserves the 90×90 mm mechanical interface and internal volume for a future swappable wireless PCB. Six layers provide continuous GND/+5V planes, two signal layers, and a short crystal-less USB path.
Production gate closed: KiCad DRC = 0 violations / 0 unconnected. The Gerber ZIP includes all six copper layers, mask, paste, silk, Edge.Cuts, and separate PTH/NPTH drill files. Machine-readable connectivity is exported as IPC-D-356.
| Ref | Component | Selected part | LCSC | Assembly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U1 | MCU | STM32F072CBT6 / LQFP48 | C81720 | JLC bottom |
| U3 | 3.3 V LDO | ME6211C33M5G-N | C82942 | JLC bottom |
| U4 | USB ESD | USBLC6-2SC6 | C7519 | JLC bottom |
| U5 | LED level shift | SN74AHCT1G125DBVR | C7484 | JLC bottom |
| U6 | Touch controller | TTP223-BA6-TD | C42422127 | JLC bottom |
| J1 | USB-C | HRO TYPE-C-31-M-12 | C165948 | JLC top side |
| D1–D12 | Matrix diode | 1N4148W | C81598 | JLC bottom |
| LED1–LED24 | RGB | SK6812MINI-E reverse mount | C5149201 | JLC bottom |
| R3,R4 | 10 kΩ bias | Yageo RC0603FR-0710KL | C98220 | JLC substitution |
| SW1–SW12 | Low-profile switch | Work Louder wrk. LP1 / Gateron footprint | consigned | JLC manual/THT |
| ENC1 | Encoder | Alps EC11E09444A8 | C1322538 | JLC manual/THT |
| JOY1 | Joystick | Alps RKJXY1000006 with knob | consigned | JLC mechanical + FFC |
The production route is now Standard PCBA on both sides, with specialty parts shipped directly into JLC's consigned-parts inventory. JLC manually installs the switches and encoder, fits the joystick, flashes the STM32, runs the supplied USB control test, and installs caps on the PRIMARY unit. The customer only closes the CNC enclosure with four screws after first-article fit approval.
Live turnkey cart: JLC job Y5 / SMT026071763199-3086316A now holds five PCBs and two both-side Standard PCBA units. The captured base is $193.01 ($81.40 PCB + $111.61 PCBA). Function testing, programming/manual work, the PCBA remark, and consigned-part procurement remain quote-after-review, so $193.01 is a floor rather than the finished-device total.
Both-side Standard PCBA, depaneling, photo confirmation, functional testing, and the complete 1.1 MB factory handoff are saved in the live JLC job. All 16 catalog groups passed the BOM matcher. Consigned switches and mechanical controls are called out in the attached SOP for manual assembly and engineering review.
Future Bluetooth compatibility: housing and fasteners do not depend on the STM32F072. The lower volume and port keep-outs remain available for a replacement ESP32-S3/charging PCB, battery, and FFC; the current wired PCB remains a single monolithic board rather than a separate controller module.
PCB $81.40 + bottom-side Standard PCBA $92.25. This saved price verifies the six-layer board and 15/15 bottom-side groups, but it does not include turnkey specialty-part assembly or testing. Whole baseline cart: $347.21 merchandise + $29.69 shipping = $376.90. Do not treat that number as the final finished-device price.
TinyUSB firmware was built with Arm GNU Toolchain 15.2 for the STM32F072CBT6. BIN/HEX/ELF files and checksums are ready; functional verification on a physical Rev A2 board is still required.
All sources are local and reproducible. Before payment, open the STEP and Gerber files in an independent viewer and verify every critical fit against the selected physical components.
This is not leaked CAD and not an official product file. Geometry was reconstructed from public renders and published specifications; branded icons are included only as private-prototype references.
Do not freeze before physical fit-check: the exact internal housing step, screw length, threads/inserts, 2U stabilizer, encoder shaft, joystick-cap fit, and exact planar-joystick marking. Any commercial or public version requires original legends and branding.