Just modded my old MS4000 into a 10keyless board. A good board made excellent. Not a difficult mod, either.
[size=+2]Disassembly[/size][*]Remove every keycap
[*]Clean your keyboard. Don't let it look like this:
[*]Unscrew all
21 (!) screws from the bottom
[*]Unscrew the two screws under the spacebar
[*]Remove the wrist rests (just pull
[*]There is one screw under each wrist rest, joining the silver plastic to the bottom. Unscrew.
[*]The center portion with the leds has a small clip joining the silver plastic to the bottom. Slip a screw driver in, give it a twist to unlatch the clip.
[*]The top plastic and bottom can now be removed.
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[size=+2]Inner workings[/size][*]As expected, the board is very simple inside: 2 sheets of plastic with printed traces, and a few sheets of membranes. Take off the membranes and the sheets. You should now have just the top and bottom plastic. Maybe the controller too, it doesn't matter.
[*]Mark out where you want to cut. I recommend the left edge of the numpad, since it is smooth plastic there.
[*]Match the top and bottom cover and the right hand wrist rest, maybe fasten a few screws to hold it together
[*]Cut where you marked it out. A band saw would work best, but a hand saw will as well.
[*]de-burr. Deburr the **** out of it.
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[size=+2]Reassembly[/size][*]Put the sheets of plastic back in, and the left hand membranes.
[*]On the right hand membrane, mark out where the numpad is, and use a pair of sharp scissors to cut
only the rubber sheet. Do not cut the plastic sheet.
[*]Use tape between the plastic sheets where the numpad would have been. You cannot let the two sheets touch where the traces are, or it will register.
[*]Fold the overhanging part over, and tape it to the bottom of the board.
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Result:
Disadvantages:
- Can't use the numpad led anymore
- The feet of the board will be cut off, and you will need to ghetto some feet. I used cardboard and tape.
- Cut edge can be a bit sharp
Idea from
http://tlb.org/keyboardchop.html
