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Ploopy Kit Assembly Instructions

BEFORE YOU DO ANYTHING, READ THIS FIRST.

Do not flash new firmware until you've verified that the electronics are all working.

That means, finish building the trackpad, plug it in, use the stock firmware for about five minutes. Verify that the cursor is moving, and all the buttons are working.

Once you've verified that it all works, you're good to go flashing new firmware.

Main Instructions

In this section, you'll go over how to build a Trackpad from the official Ploopy Trackpad kit.

Here's how these instructions are structured*:

  • 💡 Comments with a lightbulb are good information to know.
  • ➡️ Comments with an arrow are commands. Execute them when you encounter them.
  • ✅ Comments with a checkmark are verification steps. Check what they tell you to check, and if it's all good, move on.
  • 📷 Comments with a camera are references to photos. Check the corresponding image for guidance.

Most steps have photos, so if you need some additional visual help, consult the images.

Note that some of these pictures were taken at different times, so they may show a bit of inconsistency in between steps.

* Thanks to schneems for his great suggestions on how to write documentation.

Step 1

  • ➡️Get a #1 Phillips head screwdriver (or similar; you're looking for a small-ish screwdriver here).
  • ➡️Get pair of pliers.
  • 💡A pair of tweezers are optional, but they'll make future steps easier.
Figure 1: Necessary tools

Step 2

  • 💡 In the photo, a "tab" is being pulled by a pair of pliers.
  • 💡 There may be up to two small tabs on the outside of the PCB.
  • 💡 A pair of pliers will help to gently break the tabs off.
  • ➡️ Break any leftover tabs off the PCB.
Figure 2: Breaking off tabs

A Brief Note about Tape

  • 💡 Trackpads shipped prior to March 2026 will have a large rectangle of 3M adhesive tape applied to the rear of the PCB. After March 2026, Trackpad PCBs will not have this layer of tape, as it was deemed unnecessary.
  • 💡 If your Trackpad has tape on it, you do not have to peel the protective layer of tape off, and you do not have to stick the PCB to the plastic. Proceed through these instructions and ignore the tape.

Step 3

  • ➡️ Get the PCB and Front. 📷 See Figure 3.1.
  • ➡️ Place the PCB into the Front. 📷 See Figure 3.2.
  • ✅ Check that the USB port lines up with the hole in the Front, and that the PCB is sitting flat against the Front. 📷 See Figure 3.3.
Figure 3.1: PCB and Front
Figure 3.2: PCB being placed into Front
Figure 3.3: PCB placed correctly, with PCB sitting flat and USB port lined up with hole

Step 4

  • ➡️ Get the Back. 📷 See Figure 4.1.
  • 💡 Note the lip on the bottom of the Front.
  • 💡 It might require a bit of force to press the Back into the assembly.
  • ➡️ Place the Back into the assembly. 📷 See Figure 4.2 and Figure 4.3.
Figure 4.1: Back and assembly
Figure 4.2: Back being placed into assembly
Figure 4.3: Back being gently pushed into assembly

Step 5

  • ➡️ Get three screws.
  • ➡️ Insert the three screws into the three holes in the Front. 📷 See Figure 5.1, Figure 5.2 and Figure 5.3.
Figure 5.1: Top screw being driven
Figure 5.2: Left screw being driven
Figure 5.3: Right screw being driven

Step 6

  • ➡️ Get the Bootloader Cap and a screw.
  • ➡️ Place the Bootloader Cap into the Back.
  • ➡️ Screw the Bootloader Cap into the Back.
Figure 6: Bootloader cap being screwed down

Step 7

  • ➡️ Get the friction pads.
  • ➡️ Peel and stick the friction pads onto the Back.
Figure 7.1: Friction pad being stuck
Figure 7.2: Friction pads completed

Step 8

  • ➡️ Get the Stylus.
  • ➡️ Insert the Stylus into the Back.
Figure 8: Stylus being inserted into back

Step 9

  • ➡️ Plug the Trackpad into your computer.
  • ✅ Check that moving your finger along the surface of the Trackpad moves the cursor.

Step 10

  • 💡 Congrats, you finished building the Ploopy Trackpad!
  • 💡 It's done! Love it, use it, but don't you dare abuse it!
Figure 10: You're done!