{"product_id":"neokey-5x6-ortho-snap-apart-mechanical-key-switches-w-neopixel-for-mx-compatible-switches","title":"NeoKey 5x6 Ortho Snap-Apart Mechanical Key Switches w\/ NeoPixel - For MX Compatible Switches","description":"\u003cp\u003eFor those who like to forge their own path, we now present the easiest way of creating custom ortholinear (that's a fancy word for gridded) key matrices.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInstead of hand soldering together a custom matrix of NeoKey socket breakouts, the Adafruit NeoKey 5x6 Ortho Snap-Apart Mechanical Key Switches with NeoPixel has 30 key switches that can be snapped apart to make any size grid.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThat's right! Even though it comes as 5x6, you can turn it into 2x3, 1x6, 4x3...whatever you wish, and it will work just the way you expect. The little break-apart tabs have traces running through them that pass the power, NeoPixel, and keymatrix lines up and down.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEach 'sub-key' is the same - with a column and row line that is diode protected. For whatever grid size you eventually choose, connect a digital IO pin from your microcontroller to each of the outer rows and columns. With the diode, you don't have to worry about key ghosting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you want to add glowy goodness, that's even easier. Each key also has a single reverse-mount NeoPixel pointing up through the spot where many switches would have an LED to shine through. Connect 3 to 5V power to any of the + and - pins on the grid, and connect a single digital IO line to the beginning of the 'NeoPixel snake' that winds its way through the matrix. A weak 2.2K pass-through resistor will shunt data through at the end of each row, so you don't have to do any jumpering unless the matrix is not-rectangular.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEvery breakout has a Kailh socket, which means you can plug in \u003ca href=\"\/en-eu\/products\/kailh-mechanical-switches-pack-of-12\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003eany MX-compatible switch\u003c\/a\u003e instead of soldering it in. You may need a little glue to keep the switch in place: hot glue or a dot of epoxy worked fine for us. The sub-keys are spaced 0.75\" apart for compact keebing. There's large 0.125\" mounting holes at the corners of each key for easy mounting to a backplane.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlease note, each order comes with one sheet of assembled PCBs that can be broken apart - Adafruit include top and bottom railing bits to help keep it nice and flat during shipment.\u003c\/strong\u003e Once the grid is broken, you \u003cem\u003ecould\u003c\/em\u003e jumper the breakout pads together to re-connect but it won't be very fun. \u003ca href=\"\/en-eu\/products\/kailh-mechanical-switches-pack-of-12\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003eMechanical switches\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"\/en-eu\/products\/keycaps-for-kailh-mechanical-keyboard-switches-pack-of-16\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003ekeycaps\u003c\/a\u003e are not included! Use any MX-compatible switch: Kailh, Gateron, etc all work!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eTECHNICAL DETAILS\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eProduct Dimensions: 115.0mm x 115.0mm x 3.5mm \/ 4.5\" x 4.5\" x 0.1\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eProduct Weight: 41.7g \/ 1.5oz\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Adafruit","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":39403524685907,"sku":"ADA5157","price":28.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0174\/1800\/products\/5157-00.jpg?v=1626710987","url":"https:\/\/shop.pimoroni.com\/en-eu\/products\/neokey-5x6-ortho-snap-apart-mechanical-key-switches-w-neopixel-for-mx-compatible-switches","provider":"Pimoroni Ltd","version":"1.0","type":"link"}