Description
Forty Percent Is Not a Compromise. It Is a Decision. A full-size board asks you to reach; a forty percent board asks you to learn. Every key stays within one palm span, the mouse never leaves its patch of desk, and the modifiers you actually press live under the thumb instead of in the far corner. What looks like an amputation to a first-time buyer looks like a clean instrument to anyone who types for a living.
An open board you can re-cut at will. The firmware is QMK-compatible, so layers, tap-hold behaviour, per-key functions and macros are yours to define rather than handed down by a factory. Write one layout for code, another for a game, and switch between them without opening the case. Type-C connection, no proprietary cable in the drawer.
Hot-swap sockets instead of soldering iron. Switch preferences change. A socketed board lets you pull a set and press in another in an afternoon, which is the difference between a keyboard that ages with you and one that ends up in a box the day your taste shifts. The RGB underglow runs beneath the plate rather than through it, so the light reads as a rim on the desk instead of a glare on your fingertips.
Built for the people who assemble rather than the people who unbox. Choose the bare PCB and bring your own case, plate, switches and keycaps, or step up through the kit variants where the stabiliser set is included. If you are building your first ortholinear board, message us with the case you own and we will confirm plate and stabiliser compatibility before it ships.
Layout is personal. The board should be, too.
Key Features
- ✦ 40 percent ortholinear layout (Planck-style), the whole map inside one palm span
- ✦ QMK-compatible firmware with open remapping, layers and macros
- ✦ Hot-swap switch sockets, no soldering to change a switch set
- ✦ RGB underglow lighting under the plate
- ✦ USB Type-C connection with a standard cable
- ✦ Four purchase tiers: bare PCB, or Kit 1 through Kit 3 with stabilisers included
- ✦ Designed for desktop, laptop and tablet use alike
- ✦ Runs on 3-pin and 5-pin switches without modification
Technical Specifications
- Layout: 40 percent ortholinear, Planck compatible
- Connection: USB Type-C, wired
- Firmware: QMK compatible, remappable through VIA
- Switch Mounting: Hot-swap sockets, 3-pin and 5-pin
- Lighting: RGB underglow
- Stabilisers: 2U stabiliser set included from Kit 1 upward
- Operation Style: Mechanical
- Application: Desktop, laptop, tablet and number-pad use
- Programmability: Per-key remap, layers, tap-hold, macros
- Case: Not included, sold as a PCB kit
- Assembly: Tool-light, no soldering required for switches
- Origin: Mainland China
Who Builds on the Matrix Forty
It suits two kinds of buyer. The first already owns a case, plate and switch set and wants a programmable board at a price that does not carry a brand's nameplate premium. The second is moving down from a 65 percent or 60 percent layout to reclaim desk space for a trackball or a second monitor and wants the transition to be reversible. Written-language users also choose the ortholinear grid because the columns line up with finger travel, which changes typing angle on the index and little fingers. Studios and repair desks use them because a socketed board survives a spilled switch or a worn contact as a five-minute fix rather than a reflow job.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What exactly is included in the bare PCB option?
A: The PCB itself. Case, plate, switches and keycaps are not part of the bare option, and the kit tiers add the stabiliser set. Check the variant name for the contents of the tier you select, and message us if you want the current bundle confirmed in writing before ordering.
Q: Does it need soldering?
A: Switches do not. The sockets are hot-swap, so a switch set is pressed in and pulled out with a tool. Stabilisers on the kit tiers fit with the hardware in the bag.
Q: Is the firmware open source?
A: The board runs on QMK-compatible firmware, and layouts are remapped in VIA without reflashing. That keeps switching between a coding layer and a game layer an ordinary software change.
Q: Which switches fit?
A: Standard 3-pin and 5-pin mechanical switches from the common brands. Trimmed-pin switches also fit; the sockets are the limiting factor, not the switch brand.
Q: What layout is it exactly?
A: A 40 percent ortholinear grid in the Planck family, meaning the columns are vertical rather than staggered. If you have only used staggered boards, expect a week of adaptation.
Q: Will this fit my existing case?
A: Ortholinear 40 percent cases in the Planck family usually fit. Tell us the case model before ordering and we will confirm the mounting pattern and plate clearance.
Q: What is the difference between the kit tiers?
A: Each tier steps up from the bare PCB toward a buildable set, with the 2U stabiliser set entering at Kit 1 and the higher tiers adding the next layer of mounting hardware. The variant name carries the tier, and we are happy to spell out the contents before you buy.
Q: Does the underglow light show through opaque keycaps?
A: It is underglow, so the light renders around the plate edge. If you want per-key shine-through you need translucent keycaps and the switch housings to match.
The EastSupplier Promise
Every listing in this catalog is sourced, checked against its stated specifications, and dispatched from a supply chain we control. If a unit arrives damaged or does not match the description, we replace it or refund it, no argument.
Questions about compatibility, bulk quantities, or delivery to your region? Our merchandising desk replies within one business day.
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