# ItsyBitsy Keybow Mechanical Keypad ## Overview ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/091/690/medium800/gaming_keybitsy-2663.jpg?1591117605) Use the ItsyBitsy M4/M0 as a custom USB mechanical keypad with CircuitPython! The Pimoroni Keybow is a 12 mechanical keyswitch USB HID keyboard controller designed to work with a Raspberry Pi Zero. We'll build a custom Pi Bonnet to adapt the Keybow for use with the Adafruit ItsyBitsy M4 or M0 microcontroller board and programmable in CircuitPython. You can create custom key mapping, macros, media control and your own DotStar RGB lighting with this simple, fast booting, super-charged keypad! ## Adaptation Options You've got a couple of options of how to adapt the Keybow to work with an ItsyBitsy M4 -- you can wire up the pins on a ProtoBonnet as shown in this guide, or [order this nifty PCB](https://oshpark.com/shared_projects/kxhinWVZ) (printed circuit board) designed by John Park for this exact purpose. ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/092/090/medium800/gaming_keybitsy_pcb-2738.jpg?1591885472) Here are the Eagle CAD files for the board: [ItsyBitsy_Keybow_04.brd](https://github.com/adafruit/Adafruit_Learning_System_Guides/blob/main/ItsyBitsy/ItsyBitsy_Keybow/ItsyBitsy_Keybow_04.brd) [ItsyBitsy_Keybow04.sch](https://github.com/adafruit/Adafruit_Learning_System_Guides/blob/main/ItsyBitsy/ItsyBitsy_Keybow/ItsyBitsy_Keybow_04.sch) ## Parts ### Adafruit ItsyBitsy M4 Express featuring ATSAMD51 [Adafruit ItsyBitsy M4 Express featuring ATSAMD51](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3800) What's smaller than a Feather but larger than a Trinket? It's an **Adafruit ItsyBitsy M4 Express** featuring the **Microchip ATSAMD51**! Small, powerful, with a ultra fast ATSAMD51 Cortex M4 processor running at 120 MHz - this microcontroller board is perfect... Out of Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3800) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3800/guides) ![Adafruit ItsyBitsy M4 Express featuring ATSAMD51 connected to a small breadboard. ](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/product-videos/640x480/3800-04.jpg) ### Adafruit Perma Proto Bonnet Mini Kit [Adafruit Perma Proto Bonnet Mini Kit](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3203) Design your own Bonnet or pHAT, attach custom circuitry and otherwise dress your Pi Zero with this jaunty prototyping Bonnet kit! To add to the [Adafruit Bonnet party](https://www.adafruit.com/categories/929), we have this Perma-Proto inspired plug in daughter board. It... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3203) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3203/guides) ![Angled shot of a Adafruit Perma Proto Bonnet on a Pi zero](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/3203-02.jpg) ### "Wire Wrap" Thin Prototyping & Repair Wire - 200m 30AWG Blue ["Wire Wrap" Thin Prototyping & Repair Wire - 200m 30AWG Blue](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1446) This stuff is called "wire-wrap wire" because it used to be used for wire-wrapping high-speed digital circuits on a special kind of contact board. It's pretty rare to see wire-wrapping in these days of low-cost PCB fabrication but the wire is still really handy for prototyping work. It's... Out of Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1446) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/1446/guides) ![Large spool of Wire Wrap Thin Prototyping & Repair Wire](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/1446-03.jpg) - [Next Page](https://learn.adafruit.com/itsybitsy-keybow-mechanical-keypad/circuitpython.md) ## Featured Products ### Adafruit ItsyBitsy M4 Express featuring ATSAMD51 [Adafruit ItsyBitsy M4 Express featuring ATSAMD51](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3800) What's smaller than a Feather but larger than a Trinket? It's an **Adafruit ItsyBitsy M4 Express** featuring the **Microchip ATSAMD51**! Small, powerful, with a ultra fast ATSAMD51 Cortex M4 processor running at 120 MHz - this microcontroller board is perfect... Out of Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3800) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3800/guides) ### Adafruit ItsyBitsy M0 Express - for CircuitPython & Arduino IDE [Adafruit ItsyBitsy M0 Express - for CircuitPython & Arduino IDE](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3727) What's smaller than a Feather but larger than a Trinket? It's an **Adafruit ItsyBitsy M0 Express**! Small, powerful, with a rockin' ATSAMD21 Cortex M0 processor running at 48 MHz - this microcontroller board is perfect when you want something very compact, but still... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3727) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3727/guides) ### Pimoroni Keybow Mini Mechanical Keyboard Kit with Raspberry Pi [Pimoroni Keybow Mini Mechanical Keyboard Kit with Raspberry Pi](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4144) **Discontinued** - [you can grab this Adafruit MacroPad RP2040 Starter Kit - 3x4 Keys + Encoder + OLED - ADABOX019 Essentials instead!](https://www.adafruit.com/product/5128) Glow up for keyboards! Pimoroni's **Keybow** is a solderless mini mechanical... No Longer Stocked [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4144) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/4144/guides) ### Adafruit Perma Proto Bonnet Mini Kit [Adafruit Perma Proto Bonnet Mini Kit](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3203) Design your own Bonnet or pHAT, attach custom circuitry and otherwise dress your Pi Zero with this jaunty prototyping Bonnet kit! To add to the [Adafruit Bonnet party](https://www.adafruit.com/categories/929), we have this Perma-Proto inspired plug in daughter board. It... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3203) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3203/guides) ### "Wire Wrap" Thin Prototyping & Repair Wire - 200m 30AWG Blue ["Wire Wrap" Thin Prototyping & Repair Wire - 200m 30AWG Blue](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1446) This stuff is called "wire-wrap wire" because it used to be used for wire-wrapping high-speed digital circuits on a special kind of contact board. It's pretty rare to see wire-wrapping in these days of low-cost PCB fabrication but the wire is still really handy for prototyping work. It's... Out of Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1446) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/1446/guides) ### Break-away 0.1" 2x36-pin strip dual male header (10 pieces) [Break-away 0.1" 2x36-pin strip dual male header (10 pieces)](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1539) Breakaway header is like the duct tape of electronics. Its great for connecting things together, soldering to perf-boards, fits into any breadboard, etc. We go through these guys real fast, and thought that given how handy they are, we'd offer them in a pack of ten! Each pack... No Longer Stocked [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1539) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/1539/guides) ## Related Guides - [Introducing ItsyBitsy M0 Express](https://learn.adafruit.com/introducing-itsy-bitsy-m0.md) - [CircuitPython 101: Functions](https://learn.adafruit.com/circuitpython-101-functions.md) - [CircuitPython Powered AT Hand-Raiser](https://learn.adafruit.com/at-hand-raiser.md) - [NeoPixel LED Necklace Insert with USB Charging](https://learn.adafruit.com/neopixel-led-necklace-insert-with-usb-charging.md) - [Adafruit IO Home: Security ](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-io-home-security.md) - [Alternative languages for programming the SAMD51 boards](https://learn.adafruit.com/alternative-languages-for-programming-samd-boards.md) - [Rotary Encoder in CircuitPython](https://learn.adafruit.com/rotary-encoder.md) - [CircuitPython Animated Sprite Pendants](https://learn.adafruit.com/circuitpython-sprite-animation-pendant-mario-clouds-flying-toasters.md) - [Esenciales para CircuitPython](https://learn.adafruit.com/esenciales-para-circuitpython.md) - [Adafruit Airlift Bitsy Add-On - ESP32 WiFi Co-Processor](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-airlift-bitsy-add-on-esp32-wifi-co-processor.md) - [Introducing Adafruit ItsyBitsy M4](https://learn.adafruit.com/introducing-adafruit-itsybitsy-m4.md) - [A CLI in CircuitPython](https://learn.adafruit.com/a-cli-in-circuitpython.md) - [How to Program SAMD Bootloaders](https://learn.adafruit.com/how-to-program-samd-bootloaders.md) - [CircuitPython with Jupyter Notebooks](https://learn.adafruit.com/circuitpython-with-jupyter-notebooks.md) - [USB HID Crank Controller](https://learn.adafruit.com/usb-hid-crank-controller.md) - [Wireless ESP32-S2 Touch Screen Controller for Pure Data](https://learn.adafruit.com/wireless-esp32-s2-controller-for-pure-data.md)