Setting up KMK on a Pi Pico mechanical keyboard

[@joaquindayrit5746]

I've been wanting to use KMK as where I live, Pi Picos are cheaper than QMK compatible boards such as the Pro Micro. I found the KMK documentation intimidating but this video explains it very well! Thank you!

[@CraigManning]

Glad it helps 👍

[@Wizartar]

Some great info! With micro pro's hard to get and the fact I've a Pico laying around and wanted to build a keyboard. This overview will save me a lot of time figuring out where to start.

[@CraigManning]

Glad it was useful, all the best with your build!

[@misterVladis]

Before this video i didn't know anything what i should when i'll get my Pico. Very very cool and simple! Thank you!

[@CraigManning]

Glad it's helped, hope you have fun! :)

[@patricklepoutre]

Just what I needed for my custom keyboard project. Thank you

[@CraigManning]

Glad it was useful, have fun with your build 😃

[@n1k0n_]

Omg thank you!!! This gets me just far enough that I can still feel good about figuring the rest out. Off to program my kb2040!!!

[@CraigManning]

Glad it was useful! Have fun building 👍

[@raywood1624]

Thanks for this video Craig. I have been thinking about a Pico keyboard. Why did you move on from circuit python? Was it the layer capability? I would like to build a split Pico keyboard with TRRS link. More research first though. Keep up the good work.

[@CraigManning]

Hi Ray, Thanks! I moved to circuit python just to run kmk, they do have a keyboard optimised fork but I haven't tried it yet. There's the capacity for a wired spilt but I've not tried that either: github.com/KMKfw/kmk_firmware/blob/master/docs/split_keyboards.md

[@raywood1624]

@@CraigManning Thanks Craig for your reply. Looking forward to further videos

[@reignandbongao9497]

I'm interested to try making your keyboard. Is this the Redox handwire? if it is how you made with RPi pico instead of the original's Arduino pro micros? is there a guide somewhere?

[@CraigManning]

Hi, yes, it's hand wired, I have an earlier video showing how it did it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h2itdnifes2njck Then set up circuitpython on the pico same as usual and edit the main.py file from KMK to suit your key layout... actually I find I tweak mine fairly regularly, there's a couple of key i'm still not happy with what they do :)

[@paulb36utube]

Any tutorial on how to program a split keyboard?

[@nutz8549]

huh...after try few times,finally got a good sign.thanks bud i use clone pico where have 128mb flash mem but after install circuutpy got 2mb😅

[@MrVikramr]

Nice video..I have built 2 keyboards with Pico and KMK.. one 60% and another a macropad..They are so easy to work on.. but my keyboards stop working after being idle for some amount of time.. I have to disconnect and connect it again for it to work.. did you face any such issue?

[@CraigManning]

Hi Vikram, Are you running windows? I think there's a USB power saving setting... somewhere? I had an issue with a USB wifi adaptor doing a similar sounding thing.

[@MrVikramr]

@@CraigManning Yeah, I am on windows. Let me check that then. Thank you!

[@brayan.zapata.]

Question: How to configure when you have a separate keyboard, or this by default does it alone, thanks

[@CraigManning]

Hi, I haven't used it but there's a section: github.com/KMKfw/kmk_firmware/blob/master/docs/split_keyboards.md this covers both wired and blue tooth.

[@tanmayfuse1747]

Is it possible to update the project with pi pico w and use inbuilt bluetooth?

[@danielarevalo6901]

Hi what a nice video, it was so helpful for me, now I have an issue, as the kmk only works if I keep the thony open, once I close it, unplug the raspberry and put back it does not work any more until I open thony and hit run, any suggestion to fix it?

[@CraigManning]

Hi Daniel, When you plug it back in does it pop up as a drive? Can you see the boot.py file?

[@kaizenwasher3]

i followed a long even from wiring and everything i cant get the code to work for some reason always get the erroe list index out of range

[@CraigManning]

hmm, what's the easiest way to share your code? At a guess I'd start looking in the keyboard.keymap list for one too many or too few brackets?

[@CraigManning]

controlc.com/ ?

[@kaizenwasher3]

@@CraigManning i figure it out what happen hahahahaahahahhahaha its fixed now thank you love ur vids hope u make more keyboards uhuhuhuhuhu ur the only one i found for kmk and pico

[@CraigManning]

@@kaizenwasher3 Glad it's sorted :) Have fun!

[@kaizenwasher3]

@@CraigManning yes thank you so much u dont know how helpful ur video is thank you so much

[@dasfelX]

hello, coud you share same wiring schematics thanks!

[@CraigManning]

Ah! yes, I show the build here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h2itdnifes2njck For wiring up I followed the wiring guide for KMK but this blogpost is also a handy reference: sachee.medium.com/building-my-first-keyboard-and-you-can-too-512c0f8a4c5f The layout of row and columns is sort of dependent on which keyboard you use but... most things can be fixed in software :)

[@neyus819]

Does the KMK Firmware support NKRO?

[@CraigManning]

Hi, I don't think so? Tap dance allows multiple presses of a single key to different things but I've not tried anything with multiple keys on the keyboard side.github.com/KMKfw/kmk_firmware/blob/master/docs/tapdance.md

[@patrickfutato6555]

Is there a way to make it so the finished board does not show up as a drive? I'd like it to be recognized only as a KB/HID.

[@CraigManning]

Hi, not that I know of. I did have a look a the time but nothing leap out.

[@zipp4everyone263]

What is this like using it? Any noticable latency?

[@CraigManning]

I only use it for typing not gaming but I can't notice any lag. As for use, I plug it into a laptop when I'm at my desk, I still haven't settled on a final key layout so not all the key-caps match the key they currently type so I do sometimes jump back to the laptop to find little used keys - but that's me trying to find some 'optimum' not an issue with hardware or software :)

[@misterVladis]

just built my kb, in different games i didn't noticed any lags or latency (KMK, Pi Pico, handwired)

[@CraigManning]

@@misterVladis Awesome! Thanks! I hadn't noticed any lag but I might just be not quick enough :D