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BM-16S Programmable Macropad (Choc Switches)

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BM-16S Programmable Macropad (Choc Switches)

Name: BM-16S Programmable Macropad (Choc Switches)
Brand: BM Workshop
SKU: bm-16s-16-keys-choc-switches-programmable-macro-pad
Price: 60 USD
Availability: OutOfStock
Rating: 3.210526 (19 reviews)

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Product Description

If you have room for it, a mini pad makes an excellent companion to your keyboard. This kit comes with everything you need to build your own, including 16 low-profile Kailh Choc switches Read More

Customer Reviews

3.2

(19 reviews)

(3)

(6)

(4)

(2)

25% would recommend to a friend

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pocketoperator

189

Jul 31, 2019

Verified Buyer

Nice little pad.

It's a quality build, I'm really impressed. I was excited and also a bit worried about it, since it is my first programmable macro pad, and I'm really new to this type of thing. I have not been disappointed. Assembly is super easy, and for those who don't know: Switches are hot-swappable. All you need to do is put 4 screws in place and it's ready (see pic below).

Make sure you line up the cutout segment of the backplate with the reset pins ("RE") so you can access them later.

Some seem to have had trouble with the screws - they are regular size in my regard, for this type of device. A TORX T5 screwdriver should work perfectly, but any other small screwdriver (like a + # 1 X 40mm for instance) should also work. You don't need something super specific to make it work. Just get a small 'cross' screwdriver and you should be fine. And the RGB LEDs were a nice little surprise (see pic). As far as the bag being "just a bag of stuff": Yeah it's true, the package only includes the components and nothing else. It would have been nice to get at least some type of instruction or links or whatever, to make the unboxing experience a bit smoother. However, personally, I was kind of prepared to be faced with that, so that didn't really bug me. Some people were nice enough to post instruction in the comments section, which I'll be reposting here again (see below). I'm a noob so these posts made it significantly easier for me to get this thing running. I still need to figure out some things of course. If I find time I might do a video including the basic instructions, seeing that no-one has done that yet. The only thing that bugged me about this pad, was that the colour on one edge of the black case had been scrapped off, probably during transit, but I just put a little paint on it and it's all good.

So here are the steps on basic setup (initially posted by @Orangutang in comments): ------------------------- Got mine to work, staring shamelessly in awe at the RGB now! First QMK and I want to post and help other noobs like myself if possible.

My success stems completely from "textonly" and "blacksunix"posts under the BM-16A drop discussions https://www.massdrop.com/buy/bm-16a-16-key-programmable-mini-pad-kit/talk/2331792 READ these. The only changes I made were to use the json layout files for the BM-16S from the Google Drive

Get: QMK Toolbox from Github, install it Get: the default JSON and instructions from manufacturer Google Drive. This is on their Aliexpress page for the BM-16A as mentioned by "jf647" here. So you can just search for it as well.

I used https://kbfirmware.com/ to modify my layout. Upload the "BM16S.json" file from the manufacturer Google Drive pack into kbfirmware.com
This loads the basic layout in kbfirmware.com. Customize it
Backup your json if you wish under the Settings tab. Then go to the Compile tab and export the ".Hex" file and load it into QMK Toolbox. Make sure the right chip is correctly selected in the toolbox UI
Connect the board to the computer. I shorted the reset pins, labeled "RE" next to the smaller of the board chips, with a pair of needle nose pliers. Definitely gonna solder and run an external switch there at some point...
The keypad will be put into DFU mode with this reset, and will then be visible in the QMK Toolbox console. Here you can flash your custom Hex file to the board
Unplug, replug

------------------------- Note that the Google Drive JSON can be found here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1tlTHQIFcluK2mjZ4UbbKCsdRLgSRSPw6 Here are some pics of how I shorted the terminals in the RE box:

So that's that, I think it's a quality pad.

(Edited)

Recommends this product? Yes

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pocketoperator

189

Nov 15, 2020

Pretty sure I could resin cast something like that. But given the build it would leave most of the MX switch exposed. I can give it a try though and see how it works out. Would be an interesting experiment.

Shalakazaam

596

Nov 15, 2020

pocketoperatordo it, take some pics, and show me how it goes!!

eltonka

Jun 9, 2019

Verified Buyer

Great little pad. Fully functional out of the box, had a bit of configuration hurdles but was able to figure it out with the community and some googling.

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KUNGPAO

100

Apr 20, 2019

Verified Buyer

Amazing little pad! I didn't realize it had rbg lighting until i plugged it in, which was a nice surprise. The only thing I dont like about it is how the "underglow" (the rgb leds are on the bottom instead of the top of the switches) shines directly into my eyeballs from the bottom row, and in order to have it on my desk with the lights on, it has to be sitting on something at an angle in order not to blind me. Its nice and solid feeling though, and looks great on my desk. It supports up to 6 simultaneous key presses. Since it does everything I wanted and more, I'll give it a solid 10/10. Edit: A couple months in 10 of the leds suddenly stopped working, and I am so far unable to get them working again :( Also, kailh hotswap is a joke, the keys pop out whenever i try to change the caps and that's just annoying, I still like it though, but I will be avoiding hotswap sockets whereever possible from now on.

(Edited)

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assistcontrol

Jun 27, 2019

Verified Buyer

Very poorly made

In addition to the baseplate having been miscut, blocking two of the switches from being inserted, two OTHER switch sockets were bad. I asked my 6 year-old to tell me why I couldn't fit the clicky bits into the hole. She stared at it a minute, and said, "The silver thing is in the way." So there you have it. My 6 year-old is better at quality control than the circus clowns who made this.

Recommends this product? No

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pocketoperator

189

Aug 11, 2019

Hmm, I don't know mate. That sucks, but just keep reminding them? Personally, I had a good experience with support so far.

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KUNGPAO

100

Oct 29, 2019

assistcontrolKprepublic sells the components for this if you still wanna use somehow. https://kprepublic.com/products/bm16s-plate-custom-mechanical-keyboard-plate-only-for-bm16sstainless-steel-plate-16

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Kwyzar

Aug 4, 2019

Verified Buyer

Handy, but difficult to program.

When i got the pad it came in parts and had to be assembled, which wasn't that hard. I personally don't like the keycaps because they feel thin and cheap, but those can be changed if desired. It doesn't come with a type C USB cable of its own so i have to sacrifice another keyboard's type C just to use it. Programming it isn't easy if your completely new to it. Took me a while to figure it out. I have done something similar with my MD ALT keyboard, but this pad i had to browse the internet for answers because it didn't even come with simple setup instructions. Currently I still haven't programmed it properly because I have trouble flashing it. It just resets back to the default layout when unplugging it after the flash. If this came with a simple setup instruction manual or tutorial video its wouldn't be so bad.

Recommends this product? No

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pocketoperator

189

Jan 30, 2020

KwyzarIf you still have trouble: Best way to program is through QMK here: https://config.qmk.fm/#/bm16s/LAYOUT_ortho_4x4 But first download the appropriate json (BM-16S) file here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1tlTHQIFcluK2mjZ4UbbKCsdRLgSRSPw6 Do not use the Keyboard Firmware Builder, it will only flash the default layout regardless of what changes you've made. QMK will work just fine.

(Edited)

Keycopter

Jul 27, 2019

Verified Buyer

Not a "kit" just a bag of stuff

All you get is an unlabeled black box with some bags of components. No instructions whatsoever. That's not DIY, that's FEOYWAH (figure everything out yourself without any help). The board requires screwing it down to the plate or else the PCB flops around inside the case. But the screws they ship are the tiniest screws I've ever seen. Are there such a thing as 1/512" hex keys? Do I need some kind of jeweler's tool? I don't know because there are no instructions!

Recommends this product? No

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Ghenghis

Keyboard Club Member

Jan 4, 2022

Verified Buyer

Not bad

This does the job, though I am not a big fan of the low-profile switches.

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Uglymonkey913

Nov 21, 2020

Verified Buyer

Not too slim, Useful, Rough First User Experience

This thing for sure doesn't come with a manual in terms of setting it up. I had to buy a separate USB Type-C cable for this to fit my needs but these days they're becoming more common so not a big deal. I had to read through the comment section to find a few people who had links to sites where you can program the buttons. There are no instructions in the box to buyers beware. If you want an out of the box experience where it just works then go elsewhere. If you want the most customizable macro pad then this is it. Plus it doubles as a blunt weapon if you need to smack things because of it's super nice metal construction. : 3

Recommends this product? No

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camdude

203

Apr 13, 2020

Verified Buyer

Great kit, easy and fun

This was a fun quick project. Physically building it is a piece of cake, just make sure you line up the hole in the plate with the reset button. I haven't tried customizing it yet, but it doesn't look too hard. One issue is that it doesn't have enough keys for a full numberpad, luckily I don't need * or / very often in my day to day work. I'm looking forward to getting the layers working to set up some macros. My biggest issue was that the LEDs were broken off during shipping. It looks like they were torn off the board. Luckily drop offered a partial refund, and I found them all in the box, and was able to re solder them back on. I wouldn't say its an issue with the product.

Recommends this product? Yes

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Jaysah

Apr 13, 2020

Verified Buyer

It is okay... I wish it was better.

This pad would have been wonderful if the kit itself did not look like it went through a war zone. The caps were scratched, the plate was a little bent, the case was little chipped, and the pcb takes a little bit of force to get to sit into the case. However, with a little bit of love and a black sharpie, I was able to hide the scratches a little on both the caps and the case. I like the thinness of the pad so I am rating it a bit higher than I would if i wasn't such a sucker for macropads.

Recommends this product? No

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Recent Activity

rodrigobopu

Is it compatible with qmk or via???

ether

I want to build something similar (choc switches/rgb led) but with a different controller, and would like to see the schematic/board layout. Is there any github or other documentation for this?

Shalakazaam

do it, take some pics, and show me how it goes!!