Keyboard Builders' Digest / Projects
Tern
A 30-key Hummingbird variant: Tern by Ryan Schenk.
Published July 21, 2023
Would you like to contribute to this year's MK Advent Calendar? Here are the guidelines for authors, along with last year's edition for reference.
Terns are small white seabirds that can hover, but it's also a 30-key keyboard! Ryan Schenk aka @crankin/rschenk has published the files of his Tern, based on the Hummingbird.
I much prefer reachy thumbs vs tucky thumbs. Years of wiping out on skateboards means my right thumb doesn’t really make that tucking motion anymore – rschenk.
Specs
Differences from the Hummingbird:- Hotswap sockets
- CFX spacing (tighter than normal Choc spacing)
- Pinky keys are dropped down
- Thumbs are more reachy
All the necessary files are available in the repo: Laser cutting files for a case, switch plate (1/16" acrylic), 0.6mm silicone gasket sitting between it and the PCB. There is even a file for cutting a sheet of self-adhesive foam for the back which in the author's opinion really helps to dampen the sound. Ryan used 1 mm sticky backed EVA for this purpose.
Resources
Published on Fri 21st Jul 2023. Featured in KBD #128 (source).
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