Build guide

This guide covers building a Svalboard from a self-print kit. It also helps with repairs and part swaps on a finished board.

Help us improve it: send comments on the Svalboard Discord.

Before you print, pick your key size. See Sizing before you build.
To configure your Svalboard after the build, use Keybard in Chrome or Edge: https://keybard.svalboard.com

Video build guide

@beepbuildsathing made a video build guide to go with this one: watch it on YouTube.

Some of the video is out of date, and it doesn’t cover steps added since it was made. Where the video and this guide differ, follow this guide.

What’s in the kit

This is the standard packing list for Lightly FDM V2.0. It can vary a little between kit versions. We pack by weight and include a spare or two of most hardware. You can buy more of the small hardware on Amazon or AliExpress.

Part	Minimum count
N35 magnets	about 200 (100, plus 100 spare)
M3x4 heat set inserts	14 (12, plus 2 spare)
M5x5.7 heat set inserts	4
1/4-20 heat set inserts	2
Cluster PCBAs	10 (2 spare)
Thumb PCBAs	2
Main PCBAs (MCUs)	2
150 mm FFCs (flat flexible cables)	12 (10, plus 2 spare)
M2 thread-cutting screws, for PCBAs and palm rest set screws	46 (44, plus 2 spare)
M3 6 mm screws, for cases and clusters	40 (32, plus 8 spare)
M3 square nuts	32 (24, plus 8 spare)
M3 6 mm thread-cutting screws, for the main PCB	9 (8, plus 1 spare)
Stainless steel towers for clusters	set of 10
Rubber feet (FC-036-DCW-PT)	9 (4 per side)
T10 Torx driver	1
T6 Torx bit	1
USB-C to USB-C cables	2
TrackPoint PCBA	optional
Trackball PCBA	optional

The kit has twice the magnets you need, so you can build simple magnet fixtures. They make assembly much more reliable and tidy (Step 2).

Trackballs and static bearings

Kits don’t include a trackball or the static bearing balls. Buy them separately.

Static bearings: 3.175 mm ceramic (ZrO2) balls. We recommend G5 grade on Amazon. Some older holder designs use 3 mm balls (G5 on Amazon).
Trackballs:
- Svalboard Bright Silver, 44 mm: in the Trackball Upgrade Kit, option “Complete with Bright Silver ball - 44mm”.
- SANWA 44 mm red trackball

Trackball size: 44 mm is the default and suits any user. Larger balls need big hands: at least 190 mm, and more likely 200 mm, from wrist to the tip of the middle finger, with a fairly arched fit. A bigger ball affects fit, so start from 44 mm. An average man can probably use a 50 mm ball. Example of a larger ball: SANWA 55 mm.

Handle the PCBAs safely

Static can damage the PCBAs.

Every PCBA is tested and packed in static-dissipative bags or wrap. The exception is the finger cluster PCBAs. They aren’t fully tested, so the kit includes two spares. Test them before final assembly (Step 7).
About 97.5% of finger cluster PCBAs work. The odds of three bad ones are about 1 in 1,000. If that happens, contact support@svalboard.com for a replacement.
Use ESD-safe handling: a properly grounded ESD mat and a wrist strap. We can’t take responsibility for PCBAs damaged during assembly.
Take extra care in dry climates or on carpet.

Tools you need

Required:

A Prusa MK3S or better 3D printer with a 0.4 mm nozzle, or access to one (for example, at a library or makerspace).
At least one full spool of filament. Black PLA is the basic choice. Any filament that isn’t opaque to infrared light at 940 nm needs silver Sharpie on the key flags (Step 5). Only Sharpie-brand silver works reliably. Sharpie gold, bronze and copper are less reliable.
Medium CA glue, with fine applicator tips.
Adjustable parallel pliers. We recommend the Knipex Pliers Wrench, 180 mm.
A small flat-blade screwdriver, about 4 mm wide and 1 mm thick.
A heat set insert kit or a soldering iron, for example this one.
3D printing experience. This is an advanced build. Depending on your filament and your printer, you may need to tune your slicer settings to get working parts.

Recommended:

Diamond files for cleanup (200 and 400 grit).
A #2 X-Acto knife.