My X-Keys matrix board
X-Keys sell a bare board for $60 with the capability of talking to
up to 128 keyswitches.
I figured that my specific microswitch requirements meant that this was
suitable for me - so I coughed up the requested $66.44 international shipping
charge and ordered an X-Keys matrix board. It arrived by courier four days
later. I also had to pay tax at 17.5% on the total, and a 4.50 UKP
administration charge, apparenty levied by the courier for the bother of taxing
me.
I have constructed a 128-key keyboard using this device, a
number of Saia-Burgess G3 low force
microswitches, and X-Keys keycaps:
X-Keys Matrix Board keyboard
Construction photos
X-Keys Matrix keyboard - under construction
X-Keys Matrix keyboard - under construction
The X-Keys matrix board
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X-Keys Matrix Board
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X-Keys Matrix Board
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X-Keys matrix board - pins
| Pin | Ribbon | Label | Description of use
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|---|
| 1 | 30 | SW1 | Program (Memory Resident Mode) |
| 2 | 28 | C1 | Column 1 |
| 3 | 26 | C2 | Column 2 |
| 4 | 24 | C3 | Column 3 |
| 5 | 22 | C4 | Column 4 |
| 6 | 20 | C5 | Column 5 |
| 7 | 18 | C6 | Column 6 |
| 8 | 16 | L2 | LED 2 (red layer indicator) |
| 9 | 14 | R5 | Row 5 |
| 10 | 12 | R6 | Row 6 |
| 11 | 10 | R7 | Row 7 |
| 12 | 8 | R8 | Row 8 |
| 13 | 6 | 5V | 5 Volt Source (from USB connection) |
| 14 | 4 | C15 | Column 15 |
| 15 | 2 | C16 | Column 16 |
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| Pin | Ribbon | Label | Description of use
|
|---|
| 30 | 29 | 5V | 5 Volt source (from USB connection) |
| 29 | 27 | R1 | Row 1 |
| 28 | 25 | R2 | Row 2 |
| 27 | 23 | R3 | Row 3 |
| 26 | 21 | R4 | Row 4 |
| 25 | 19 | L1 | LED 1 (green layer indicator) |
| 24 | 17 | C7 | Column 7 |
| 23 | 15 | C8 | Column 8 |
| 22 | 13 | C9 | Column 9 |
| 21 | 11 | C10 | Column 10 |
| 20 | 9 | C11 | Column 11 |
| 19 | 7 | C12 | Column 12 |
| 18 | 5 | GND | Ground |
| 17 | 3 | C13 | Column 13 |
| 16 | 1 | C14 | Column 14 |
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X-Keys matrix board - ribbon cable pin-out
| 1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
17 |
18 |
19 |
20 |
21 |
22 |
23 |
24 |
25 |
26 |
27 |
28 |
29 |
30 |
| C14 |
C16 |
C13 |
C15 |
GND |
5V |
C12 |
R8 |
C11 |
R7 |
C10 |
R6 |
C9 |
R5 |
C8 |
L2 |
C7 |
C6 |
L1 |
C5 |
R4 |
C4 |
R3 |
C3 |
R2 |
C2 |
R1 |
C1 |
5V |
SW1 |
X-Keys matrix board - switch layout
X-Keys matrix board - development photos
X-Keys Matrix Board - terminal blocks and floppy cable
X-Keys Matrix Board - floppy cable tangle
X-Keys Matrix Board - rainbow ribbon cables
Links
From here you can go back to My X-Keys page.
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