Widget Bar

Minimal USB Macro Widget (0.91" OLED, Pro Micro)

Overview
Widget Bar is a compact USB macro device designed as an accessible and fast-to-print desktop tool.
The project is fully open and currently in early testing. Feedback, hardware variations and improvements are welcome.

This submission focuses on the 3D printable enclosure and practical assembly approach rather than tight industrial tolerances.

Recommended Print Settings (Creality Print)
The model prints well with standard profiles, but enabling the following options improves surface consistency and small-feature definition.

Quality
0.16 wall high, 0.4 nozzle
Precise Wall — enabled
Precise Z Height — enabled
Only One Wall on First Layer — enabled
Small Area Wall Compensation — enabled
Extra Perimeters on Overhangs — enabled
Overhang Optimization — enabled
Strength
Bottom Surface Pattern — Monotonic Line
Speed
Initial Layer Travel Speed — 80 mm/s
These adjustments help maintain clean edges, stable first layer behavior, and consistent overhang quality without increasing print time significantly.

Hardware Config
0.91" OLED display
Resolution: 128x32
Controller: Pro Micro (ATmega32U4)
USB HID device (keyboard class)
2 mechanical keyboard switches
4 capacitive touch buttons (TTP modules, two per side)
The device connects to Windows via USB and appears as a standard HID keyboard.

What It Does

Software (Short Overview)
The Windows companion application extends the device beyond basic macro functionality.

Main capabilities:

- Key remapping for all inputs (mechanical and touch)
- Short press and long press actions
- Swipe mode for paired touch sensors (T1/T2 and T3/T4)
- Application launching
- Custom keyboard shortcuts and macro execution
- Display rotation (0° / 90° / 180° / 270°)
- OLED brightness control
- Optional alternate display mode (clock, visual elements)
- Wake timer and shutdown/sleep timer
The application runs in the system tray and communicates with the device over USB (Serial).
It is currently in early testing and open for feedback.

VID_20260222_225139-ezgif.com-video-to-gif-converter.gif

3D Printing Philosophy
The enclosure was designed with these priorities:

All parts print in approximately one hour
No demanding overhangs
No fragile features
Beginner-friendly geometry
Clean appearance even in basic PLA
It works well as a simple PLA print, but also benefits from post-processing if printed in ABS or similar rigid plastics. Sanding, acetone vapor smoothing, priming and painting are possible without losing edge definition.

The model avoids ultra-tight tolerances intentionally. Real-world components vary, especially OLED modules and microcontroller boards.

Display Alignment
0.91" OLED modules often differ slightly in:

PCB width
Visible screen margins
Flex cable position
For this reason, the display is not locked into a rigid precision frame. It is meant to be centered manually during final assembly.

Recommended method:

Upload firmware
Connect the board via USB
Power the display
Visually align it before fixing in place
This guarantees proper visual centering regardless of module variation.

Board Positioning
The Pro Micro is mounted at approximately 45 degrees inside the enclosure.

This angled placement:

Saves internal space
Simplifies wire routing
Allows the USB cable to exit backward rather than sideways
Keeps the desk footprint visually clean
Since different Pro Micro variants may have slight USB port position differences, minor adjustment during assembly may be required.

The design can be adapted for similar boards such as ESP32-C3 or RP2040-based modules, but alignment should be checked individually.

Bill of Materials (BOM)
Pro Micro (ATmega32U4)
0.91" OLED 128x32 display
4x TTP capacitive touch modules
2x mechanical keyboard switches
Thin flexible wires (silicone insulated wires are strongly recommended)
Solder
Soldering iron
Basic assembly tools
Adhesive (for display and module fixing)
Flexible silicone wire makes a noticeable difference during assembly due to limited internal space.

Assembly Recommendation (Adhesive Choice)
For assembly, a transparent neoprene-based shoe adhesive is recommended.

Compared to cyanoacrylate (super glue), neoprene adhesive provides a short adjustment window. This allows precise alignment of the OLED display and front frame before the glue fully sets.

Another advantage is serviceability. If the enclosure has already been assembled, parts bonded with neoprene adhesive can usually be separated later without damaging the case, provided the glue was applied in moderate amounts. This makes it possible to remove switches or touch modules for debugging or adjustments if needed.

Transparent neoprene adhesive bonds plastic sufficiently for this project. Excess glue can be wiped away cleanly before curing, and its slightly longer setting time compared to super glue makes positioning significantly easier.

Current Status
The hardware design is stable and functional.
The Windows companion software is in early testing phase and open to refinement.

Windows software - WBar 1.0 :
https://github.com/ikarugi-b/Widget_Bar
release v1.0 - (right side)

WBar.exe

Ino file -widget.ino

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The goal of the project is not to present a finished commercial device, but a practical, adaptable tool that can evolve with community feedback.

Widget bar

0.16mm layer, 3 walls, 15% infill

0.2mm layer, 2 walls, 15% infill