How to Make a Custom Programmable Braille Macropad

This tutorial will teach you how to program and assemble a macropad tailored for Braille accessibility, as well as using a Lulzbot TAZ 4 to 3D print Braille keycaps.

A macropad is basically a super small version of a keyboard, only having anywhere from 2 to 16 keys as opposed to the typical 104 that your standard keyboard would have.

A Lulzbot TAZ 4 3D printer, if you're reading this you likely already have one.

PLA filament

A computer that can run CURA.

A microSD card.

STL files of the keycaps you are printing, if you don't have these you can find some here.

A 2 key macropad, the best option I've found (and the one I used) is this one.

Cura Lulzbot Edition is the software we will be using to slice our STL files, which turns them into instructions that tell the 3D printer what to do. However, if you are using the Lulzbot TAZ 4, installing the latest version of CURA will not work, as it does not support the TAZ 4. You can download a legacy version that is compatible with the TAZ 4 here, and follow the instructions provided to install.

This step will give us a file we can use to tell the 3D printer what to print. In order to obtain this file, all we have to do is open the .STL file you are using in CURA Lulzbot edition and click the "Save GCode" button in the top left corner. If you only need to print keycaps for certain letters, you can delete the models for the letters you don't need., but be sure to do this before saving as GCode. Also, make sure to go into the Preferences menu and change the selected filament to the one you are using. You can then copy the resultant file to an SD card or microSD card, whichever your 3D printer is compatible with. GCode is the programming language that 3D printers and CNC mills use to determine which actions to take, so now all we need to do is prepare the 3D printer to be able to print the keycaps.

The next step is to make sure the 3D printer's extruder and bed are set to the right temperature for the filament you're using. I used PLA filament, but depending on what you are using you may need to heat your bed and extruder to different temperatures. For PLA, the ideal extruder temperature is within the range of 190-220 degrees Celsius. The ideal bed temperature is 55-70 degrees Celsius. Once the bed and extruder are heated to the specified temperatures, you can move on to printing the keycaps themselves!

Once your bed and extruder are heated to the proper temperatures, you can insert your microSD or SD card into the slot on the 3D printer, navigate to the printing menu and print the keycaps! This will take a while, so indulge in your preferred method of relaxation. Once the printing is complete, wait for the bed temperature to reach 45 degrees Celsius, and then you can remove your custom 3D printed Braille keycaps!

This is probably the most simple step, all you need to do is remove the keycaps (the black plastic caps) from the keyswitches on your macropad, which you can do by simply pulling it upwards, as it should detach.

Now you can attach your new Braille keycaps, which you can do by pressing the keycap down on the switch, making sure that the switch stem lines up with the insert on the keycap. Make sure that the stem lines up and don't press too hard, as otherwise you can damage your keycaps and potentially even break the stem off.

In order to do this, you first need to install the software used to program your macropad. Some may use QMK or VIA, but the one I used (and highly recommend) uses Simpad V2 software, which can be installed here. Make sure to plug in the macropad before you install the software, as you will need to connect it to the software. Once you've installed the software, you can select the macropad from the menu (it should show up as Simpad V2) and then select "Modify Shortcuts. From there, you will see a list of buttons titled BT1, BT2 and so on, as well as their current functions and options to edit their function. Once you click on the edit button, you will see the menu in the above image, which will allow you to select the keys you would press on a keyboard to perform the intended function. For example, if I wanted my keys to be able to copy and paste, I would select Control and C, as well as Control and V for the second keycap. There are other buttons, but they are not keycaps, and would thus likely be less useful to a Braille user. If you wish, you can program them similarly, but this may not be of much help. Once you've assigned the intended functions to the keys, you will have a fully functional and completed Braille macropad!