4×4 Button Array Keypad for GPIO

4×4 Matrix Keypad Enclosure

This 3D-printable 4×4 button matrix keypad enclosure is designed around 16 individual tactile push buttons and can be used with Arduino, Raspberry Pi, and other SBC or microcontroller projects.

What’s Included

The model consists of 4 printable models:

• Backplate – Holds all 16 tactile push buttons, with the electrical pins protruding through the back.

• Faceplate – Secures the buttons and provides a finished front surface.

• Single Button – A single button cap that can be printed 16 times. This option is ideal if you want to mix and match button colors.

• Button Array – An optional single-piece model containing all 16 button caps. This makes printing a complete set in one color much easier.

Dimensions & Mounting

The assembled keypad is approximately:

• 54 mm wide

• 54 mm tall

• 8 mm thick (plus pins and wires)

• 48 × 48 mm mounting-hole spacing (center-to-center)

The four mounting holes are designed for M2 hardware.

The included dimension drawing shows the overall dimensions and mounting-hole locations, making it easier to incorporate the keypad into a larger project or custom enclosure.

Hardware Required

• 4× M2 × 4 mm screws

• 4× M2 nuts

• 16× tactile push buttons (Example)

If the keypad is being mounted directly to a larger project, you can use longer M2 screws and omit the four M2 nuts. The longer screws can pass through the keypad and into the larger assembly.

Wiring & Soldering

The keypad is designed with the switch pins positioned to make wiring the button matrix easier. The pins can be bent toward one another, allowing adjacent switches to be connected directly with solder and minimizing the amount of additional wiring required.

The pin layout is arranged so that one axis of the matrix can be connected particularly easily by bending the pins together, as shown in the photos. The remaining connections can be made by soldering wires directly to the appropriate pins.

Important: Take care when soldering near the printed parts. Excessive heat can soften or melt the plastic.

Flux is mandatory for this assembly. Using flux helps the solder flow quickly, reducing the amount of heat and time required at each connection and helping minimize the risk of damaging the printed parts.

After soldering, it is recommended to protect the exposed solder joints with an appropriate electrical insulating coating, such as liquid electrical tape, to help prevent accidental shorts and protect the connections.

Button Customization

The individual button model makes it easy to print different keys in different colors, while the 16-button model allows you to print the entire set at once without having to arrange 16 individual buttons on the build plate.

This makes the keypad easy to customize for everything from simple button inputs to custom control panels and larger Arduino/Raspberry Pi projects.