geekhack
geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: retsteel on Sun, 01 April 2012, 15:42:11
-
I have a model m gray label, it does not work, I would like to make it work. Some of the keys do work, but most do not. I do not know what else to post so I will shut up now.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]46811[/ATTACH]
-
Unicomp will refurbish any Model M for a $30 flat fee.
-
Depends on how comfortable you are with soldering, how much electronic/mechanical knowledge and experience do you have?
-
If you've got the right tool to open it up, I'd crack it open and give it a good clean.
I'd take the keys off and everything, spend a few hours giving the thing a really thorough, deep clean.
I just did that to mine and it works like a dream.
I did notice that when I put it all back together a lot of the keys either wouldn't work at all, or I had to stab really hard in the centre of the key to get it to register. I took all of those keys off and re-attached them a few times and eventually they all work. I think the springs might not have located properly under the keycap, but I'm not sure. I have no idea if this is a normal problem, or not. At any rate, it works fine now, so you should definitely try this to yours.
Failing that, do this:
Unicomp will refurbish any Model M for a $30 flat fee.
-
It often takes re-seating the key stem over the spring a few times to get it right.
Rock the board back and forth to see how the springs flop around.
Sometimes I stand the board up on the front (spacebar) side when slipping the stem over the spring, and that works pretty well.
-
okay, I have taken it apart and cleaned it to a point, but I have not reseated the springs and stuff, there does appear to be some corrosion though, as for the soldering I am regrettably ignorant of your soldering ways, however my father has said many times that he will teach me, and he has all sorts of electronic experience, so maybe I could convince him to sacrifice a Saturday....
-
okay, I have taken it apart and cleaned it to a point, but I have not reseated the springs and stuff, there does appear to be some corrosion though, as for the soldering I am regrettably ignorant of your soldering ways, however my father has said many times that he will teach me, and he has all sorts of electronic experience, so maybe I could convince him to sacrifice a Saturday....
You shouldn't need to solder anything. Just get a dremel and some nuts and bolts.
http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Island:6615
-
You shouldn't need to solder anything. Just get a dremel and some nuts and bolts.
http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Island:6615
But that would fix my problem...?
-
It would allow you to take it apart and look at it. Then you could work out what is wrong with it.
-
Even if you don't need to do any soldering learn how to, you won't regret it.
-
Even if you don't need to do any soldering learn how to, you won't regret it.
True, it never hurts to learn to solder.
-
I do want to learn to solder, what I was thinking about doing this this one actually was making this into the happy hacking buckling spring keyboard.
-
That is a lot of work for someone that doesn't even know how to solder. You will need to re-do traces, mod the case and get a new programable controller and wire it up.
-
I know it would be a lot of work, but I think it would be insanely worth it, is there a guide or something to that or would I have to figure it all out?
-
I know it would be a lot of work, but I think it would be insanely worth it, is there a guide or something to that or would I have to figure it all out?
The extant mod guides will contain the know-how for different parts of your project. Did you get your idea from here: http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Island:29483 ? Check out other mod's like wcass's modification log, open source Teensy keyboard controller, etc.
-
you sir are a god, thank you.
-
Remove caps from affected keys and press the hammers directly with some thin stick. If a key registers this way the problem is mechanical, otherwise electrical.
If the working keys are arranged in (almost) even rows or columns, you are probably dealing with membrane or connector failure. Disconnect membranes from the PCB and make sure that all contacts are clean.
There are three connectors on the PCB - one for row lines, one for column lines and one for leds. Plug the keyboard and bridge random row lines with random column lines - this should produce keypresses (if it doesn't, either you have hit a meaningless column/row combo or something on the PCB is broken). Find a combination which produces one of nonfunctional keys and check with a multimeter if pressing this key bridges corresponding lines on the membranes.
-
you sir are a god, thank you.
Good luck man, it won't be easy, but you'll learn a lot!
-
If you've got the right tool to open it up, I'd crack it open and give it a good clean.
I'd take the keys off and everything, spend a few hours giving the thing a really thorough, deep clean.
I just did that to mine and it works like a dream.
I did notice that when I put it all back together a lot of the keys either wouldn't work at all, or I had to stab really hard in the centre of the key to get it to register. I took all of those keys off and re-attached them a few times and eventually they all work. I think the springs might not have located properly under the keycap, but I'm not sure. I have no idea if this is a normal problem, or not. At any rate, it works fine now, so you should definitely try this to yours.
Failing that, do this:
Drop the 30 bucks man,, the trouble,, the other men's semen,,, oh god,, the semen...
-
Good luck man, it won't be easy, but you'll learn a lot!
you forgot about the semen
-
I am going to try all of the methods to get it working again, maybe with rubber gloves
you forgot about the semen
but I will be doing it myself, however I really do want to slice and dice it.