geekhack
geekhack Projects => Making Stuff Together! => DIY Discussions ARCHIVE => Topic started by: Hak Foo on Sun, 24 May 2009, 23:08:00
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Well, I decided I just don't like green LEDs. So I took apart my Customizer 104.
The controller card is mounted somewhat like a SIMM on some old motherboards-- you stuff it in vertically, then angle it down to its final location.
Unlike a SIMM, however, it's secured with only one clip. (SIMMs had one on the left and right side) I find this leads to unreliable contact-- This is especially bad with the film-based connector underneath, which can tear and shift, causing keys to go dead in no clear pattern. I had to disassemble and re-assemble the keyboard several times due to poor or broken contact with the connector. I fear this will result in dramatically reduced keyboard life. (my set-aside 1391401 looks up like a neglected dog)
I've tried to limit this problem by adding a stabilization block of hot glue, shown in blue. This should hold the connector in place in spite of the holes being distorted (green lines)
(http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=2498&stc=1&d=1243231335)
Experience from a previous mod says "keep the LEDs to normal brightness" -- super-brights are distracting. I used 5mm LEDs, although the originals were 3mm-- the layout has openings large enough for 5mms, and I had them handy.
(http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=2496&d=1243224406)
However, even with the stock LEDs, the black sticker that defines the LED slots and the Unicomp logo is of surprisingly high transparency-- causing you to see an ugly halo around the main rectangle.
I painted over the LED cutouts entirely, from the inside, using cheap art-project paint, then scraped off a tiny spot next to each indicator. The overall effect was inspired by the tiny, understated red power-on LED on a PS2.
(http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=2497&d=1243224417)
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I didn't scrape off the label glue-- I just filled the "shine-through" holes with paint from behind.