Adafruit
NeoKey 5x6 Ortho Snap-Apart Mechanical Key Switches w/ NeoPixel - For MX Compatible Switches
The Adafruit NeoKey 5×6 Ortho is a snap-apart PCB grid of 30 mechanical key switch sockets, each with a reverse-mount NeoPixel LED. Break the grid along its ...
The Adafruit NeoKey 5×6 Ortho is a snap-apart PCB grid of 30 mechanical key switch sockets, each with a reverse-mount NeoPixel LED. Break the grid along its scored tabs to create any rectangular layout you need — 2×3, 1×6, 4×3, or the full 5×6 — and the routed traces carry power, NeoPixel data, and key matrix lines automatically.
Each key socket accepts any MX-compatible switch (Kailh, Gateron, Cherry MX, etc.) via a hot-swap Kailh socket — no soldering required. Diode-protected row/column lines eliminate key ghosting, and the daisy-chained NeoPixel snake lets you drive all LEDs from a single data pin.
Key Features
- 30 Snap-Apart Key Sockets – Score-break tabs with pass-through traces for flexible grid sizes
- Kailh Hot-Swap Sockets – Plug in any MX-compatible switch without soldering
- Per-Key NeoPixel – Reverse-mount RGB LED shines up through the switch housing
- Diode-Protected Matrix – No key ghosting; connect one GPIO per row and column
- NeoPixel Daisy-Chain – Single data line with 2.2 kΩ pass-through resistors between rows
- 0.75″ (19 mm) Key Spacing – Compact ortholinear layout
- Mounting Holes – 0.125″ (3.2 mm) holes at each key corner for backplane mounting
- 3–5 V Operation – Connect power to any + / − pad on the grid
Ideal For
- Custom macro pads and shortcut keyboards
- Ortholinear keyboard builds
- Interactive control panels with per-key RGB lighting
- MIDI controllers and game pads
Package Contents
- 1× NeoKey 5×6 Ortho snap-apart PCB sheet (with protective top and bottom rails)
Jargon buster
Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.
- GPIO
- General-purpose input/output pins are microcontroller pins you can set in software to read signals, switch devices on and off, or connect to peripherals. The number of GPIO pins matters because it limits how many buttons, LEDs, sensors, and other parts you can wire directly to the board.
- Hot-swap
- Hot-swap means changing or connecting a power source while the circuit is still running. It matters when you want a project to keep operating during battery changes, supply swaps, or plug-in power transitions.
- LED
- A light-emitting diode is a small electronic component that lights up when current flows through it in the correct direction. In this kit, LEDs create the flashing effect, so polarity and correct soldering matter for the project to work.
- MIDI
- MIDI is a standard way for electronic instruments, controllers, and software to send musical control messages such as notes, velocity, and timing. If a board supports MIDI, it can be triggered from keyboards, drum pads, sequencers, or other music gear rather than only from buttons or code.
- NeoPixel
- A type of addressable LED system where colour data is sent along a single digital data line from one LED or controller to the next. Compatibility matters because the timing and signal format must match for the lights or driver board to respond correctly.
- PCB
- A printed circuit board is a rigid board with copper tracks that connect electronic parts without loose wires. For this kit, the PCBs also form the airplane shape, so they are both the circuit base and part of the finished model.
- RGB
- Short for red, green and blue, usually referring to an LED that can mix those three colours. It matters because controlling an RGB LED teaches how separate outputs combine to create different colours.
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