Our Trellis Feather acrylic enclosures are such dense little packages that we put together this guide to help with assembly.

These are sold as both a case+hardware kit (bring your own Trellis, Feather and STEMMA cable), or a more complete kit with Feather M4 and additional parts.

Other tools and skills required:

  • Cutting and stripping wires
  • Soldering
  • Small Phillips head screwdriver

Two Ways to Build

One way to build this Trellis kit is as a “tethered” device — it operates only when a USB cable is plugged in. This is how the Feather M4 Kit Pack is sold.

Another option is as a wireless, battery-operated device. This requires the addition of a panel-mount switch and a lithium-polymer battery, not included in the standard kit. This also implies using a wireless-capable Feather board…most likely one with Bluetooth support (such as nRF52 or ESP32) to create a wireless keypad for a desktop or laptop computer. But, as an open-source device, there’s nothing discouraging you from creating unique wireless projects, if you want to make some kind of WiFi or LoRa remote trigger.

Tips when using the case-only kit (building your own project):

  • This 4-pin STEMMA cable simplifies soldering, and provides just enough extra wire to complete the project. (Included with M4 kit packs.)
  • Use a Feather board without headers installed.

Parts

For 4x4 NeoTrellis projects:

Hand pressing buttons on assembled Trellis Feather Kit
We've upgraded our popular 4x4 Trellis Keypad kit with a super-specifically-laser-cut enclosure that turns your 4x4 'Trellis into a handheld Feather M4...
Out of Stock
Adafruit 4x4 Trellis Feather Acrylic Enclosure + Hardware Kit
A super-specifically-laser-cut enclosure that turns your 4x4 'Trellis into a handheld light/music maker! Perfect for your next cool interface, MIDI instrument,...
$14.95
In Stock

For 8x8 NeoTrellis projects:

Hand pressing buttons that light up on a Adafruit 8x8 NeoTrellis Feather M4 Kit Pack.
We've upgraded our popular UNTZtrument with a total make-over, and it's been reborn as the NeoTrellis 8x8 Kit pack. This open-source 8x8 Grid Controller Kit with...
Out of Stock
Adafruit 8x8 Trellis Feather M4 Acrylic Enclosure + Hardware Kit showing contents
A super-specifically-laser-cut enclosure that turns your 8x8 'Trellis into a handheld light/music maker! Perfect for your next cool interface, MIDI instrument,...
$24.95
In Stock

For all NeoTrellis projects:

Angled shot of STEMMA JST PH 4-Pin to Male Header Cable - 200mm.
This cable will let you turn a JST PH 4-pin cable port into 4 individual wires with high-quality 0.1" male header plugs on the end. We're carrying these to match up with any...
$1.50
In Stock

For wireless NeoTrellis projects (use 500mAh battery for 4x4 NeoTrellis, 2500mAh for 8x8 NeoTrellis):

Angled shot of a Lithium Ion Polymer Battery 3.7V 500mAh with JST-PH connector.
Lithium-ion polymer (also known as 'lipo' or 'lipoly') batteries are thin, light, and powerful. The output ranges from 4.2V when completely charged to 3.7V. This...
Out of Stock
Lithium Ion Polymer Battery 3.7v 2500mAh with JST 2-PH connector
Lithium-ion polymer (also known as 'lipo' or 'lipoly') batteries are thin, light, and powerful. The output ranges from 4.2V when completely charged to 3.7V. This...
$14.95
In Stock
Mini Panel Mount DPDT Toggle Switch
This or that, one or the other, perhaps or perhaps not! So hard to make decisions these days without feeling like you're just going back and forth constantly. Deciding whether or...
$1.25
In Stock
Angled shot of a Adafruit Feather nRF52840 Express.
The Adafruit Feather nRF52840 Express is the new Feather family member with Bluetooth Low Energy and native USB support featuring the nRF52840!  It's...
$24.95
In Stock
Angled shot of rectangular microcontroller.
Aww yeah, it's the Feather you have been waiting for! The HUZZAH32 is our ESP32-based Feather, made with the official WROOM32 module. We packed everything you love...
$19.95
In Stock

This guide was first published on Aug 28, 2019. It was last updated on Mar 08, 2024.

This page (Overview) was last updated on Mar 08, 2024.

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