The Ploopy Bean is a 3D-printed, open-source hardware pointing stick mouse that runs QMK open-source firmware on a Raspberry Pi RP2040 microcontroller to control four Omron D2LS-21 buttons and a friction nub.
Ploopy is a Canadian company known for its open-source hardware computer accessories. We first covered their headphones in 2023, but they’ve also made a trackball mouse, a trackpad, a USB knob, and other accessories since then. The Bean is just the latest addition.
Ploopy Bean specifications:
- Bean Pointing Stick PCB
- Microcontroller Raspberry Pi RP2040 MCU
- USB – 1x USB-C port for power and data
- Buttons – 4x Omron D2LS-21 buttons configured as left click, right click, middle click, and click-to-drag/scroll by default (but customizable)
- Sensor – Texas Instruments TMAG5273 high-precision 3D hall effect sensor for the nub; up to 20,000 ksps sample rate, detects 3+ microns movements
- 3D-printed parts – Top, bottom, and spring for red nub
- Accessories
- 1x screw
- 1x magnet
- 4x friction pads
- 1x friction nub looking similar to the Lenovo TrackPoint
- USB-A to USB-C cable
- Dimensions – 84 x 64 x 16mm
- Weight – 5.2 grams
While most people will likely buy a fully assembled unit, the Bean is fully open-source hardware, so you could also reproduce it by yourself. The Altium Designer hardware design files (schematics, PCB layout, Gerber…), STEP and STL files for 3D printable parts, UF2 firmware (binary), and documentation, including assembly instructions, can be found on GitHub.
The source code for the QML firmware can be found on the official repo. The company also notes that the Bean can be customized using “VIA” web application, and the users only need to add a config file to enable support, as explained in the documentation, before heading to the VIA web app with a web browser supporting WebHID, such as Microsoft Edge, Chrome, or Opera (but not Firefox). The QMK firmware is released under GPLv3, while the hardware design files are released under OHL CERN v2-S.
Ploopy offers the Bean pointing stick for pre-order for $69.99 CAD (about $51 US). It’s a bit higher than expected, but the product is rather unique and niche, and it funds open-source hardware development.
Via Liliputing
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
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