{"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 folks who want ready-to-go keeb action, we've got the lovely Adafruit Macropad with a 3x4 grid of MX+NeoPixel key switches - but for 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. Instead of hand soldering together a custom matrix of NeoKey socket breakouts, the \u003cstrong\u003eAdafruit\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eNeoKey 5x6 Ortho Snap-Apart Mechanical Key Switches with NeoPixel\u003c\/strong\u003e 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 any MX-compatible switch 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,\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eeach order comes with one sheet of assembled PCBs that can be broken apart - we include top and bottom railing bits to help keep it nice and flat during shipment. \u003c\/strong\u003eOnce 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. Mechanical switches and keycaps are not included! Use any MX-compatible switch: Kailh, Gateron, etc all work!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eTechnical Details\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"tab-technical-details-content\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse in\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"row\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12\"\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProduct Dimensions: 115.0mm x 115.0mm x 3.5mm \/ 4.5\" x 4.5\" x 0.1\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProduct Weight: 41.7g \/ 1.5oz\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cul id=\"product-files\"\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Adafruit","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53697547534612,"sku":"vzu1787258177709","price":21.02,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0946\/9486\/7220\/files\/neokey-5x6-ortho-snap-apart-mechanical-key-switches-w-neopixel-for-mx-compatible_1.jpg?v=1787258182","url":"https:\/\/regalwearstore.shop\/products\/neokey-5x6-ortho-snap-apart-mechanical-key-switches-w-neopixel-for-mx-compatible-switches","provider":"My Store","version":"1.0","type":"link"}