Keyboard Builders' Digest / Projects

Aurora40

A low-profile, minimalistic 40-key split keyboard designed for simplicity by Lucas Merritt: Aurora40.

KBD.news
Published August 31, 2025

Lucas Merritt (aka merrittlj) shared this little wireless ortho split named Aurora40. (Not associated with splitkb's Aurora series of course.)

The design itself was not too interesting or different from essentially every other keyboard, although for a clean and finished look (as well as reducing space and complexity), I opted to put the microcontroller on the bottom side of the keyboard, allowing it to be hidden, as well as allowing me to use an identical PCB for both halves with no alterations between them – Lucas.

The Aurora40 uses nice!nanos for wireless connection, and tenting feet similar to what we've seen on the recently reviewed (and praised) Cornix:

Specs

• 40 keys (5x4)
• Choc switches (Pink Choc V1), soldered
• nice!nano v2 controller
• reversible PCB
• reset and power switch
• tenting feet
• ZMK

Resources

• https://github.com/merrittlj/aurora40
• https://github.com/merrittlj/aurora40-case
• https://github.com/merrittlj/zmk-config-aurora40

Published on Sun 31st Aug 2025. Featured in KBD #198.

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