Step 18: Adjust the fit

Adjust each part of the Svalboard to fit your hands. You’ll keep making small adjustments over the first days or weeks of use. This is normal. Shaping the palm rests can also make typing much more comfortable.

Don’t overtighten. The screws go into metal nuts, but there’s plastic between them. Too much force can crack or break it.

Palm rest

Loosen both carrier screws slightly.
The palm rest carrier moves in X, Y and yaw. Snug the screws lightly to test and tweak.
With a relaxed hand, your fingers should rest comfortably on the center keys. Slide and rotate the palm rest to get a good starting position. You can always tweak it later.
The base knuckles of each hand usually rest just in front of the front edge of the palm rest.
Tighten both screws gently snug to fix the position.

The palm rest carrier on the base plate, with its two screws in the carrier slots.

Finger clusters

Each cluster moves in X, Y and yaw.

Loosen the tower base screw slightly with a 2.5 mm hex wrench.
Tighten it gently to test and fine-tune.
After you set the palm rest, adjust how far forward or back each cluster sits, so each finger feels equally relaxed. Fingers should rest only on the center keys, and on the South keys if you prefer.
Tighten snug, without overdoing it, to fix the position.

To move one finger farther away than its slot allows, move the other fingers closer instead, and move the palm rest farther from the clusters to make room.

The finger clusters on a base plate. Lines point to the tower base screws, and red arrows show the X, Y and yaw movement of a cluster.

Height and roll

Loosen the cluster height screws slightly. The washer may bind a little. Don’t unscrew too far. Wiggle it gently, or lift the edge of the washer to break it free of the plastic.
Roll: set it so each finger presses the East and West keys equally easily. If you have to favor one side, make the inboard key slightly higher, so it’s easier to press: West on the right hand, East on the left hand.
Height: set it so each finger rests with the same light pressure on its center key, without touching any other key.

A Svalboard half from the side. Red arrows show the Z (height) and roll movement of a cluster on its tower.

Palm rest shaping (PLA only)

Watch the palm rest shaping video.

Only shape the palm rest while it’s attached to the carrier, so the alignment pegs stay in the right places.
Dip the area you want to shape in water at about 90 °C. Swish it gently for 5 to 10 seconds until it’s pliable.
Quickly shake off the hot water and form it to your hand. It cools and hardens quickly.
Work a little at a time. Don’t rush, and don’t force a bend, or the layers may split.
Keep a bowl of cool water nearby. If the plastic gets too soft, dip it to set the shape quickly.