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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: mind_funeral on Thu, 18 August 2016, 23:52:32

Title: Tex Yoda trackpoint HELP!
Post by: mind_funeral on Thu, 18 August 2016, 23:52:32
I just put together my tex yoda and everything worked perfectly.  I shut down my computer to go meet a friend and when I got back the keyboard works but the mouse buttons and trackpoint don't!  Literally nothing has moved in the 2 hours I was gone.  I took the thing apart and everything looks fine except one of the blue wires to the 3 mouse buttons got pinched between the case and PCB.  It's flattened but no bare wire is showing through.  I also tried it on 2 different computers and the trackpoint and its buttons don't work.  This kit is brand new please help!
Title: Re: Tex Yoda trackpoint HELP!
Post by: suicidal_orange on Fri, 19 August 2016, 01:57:39
That's not fun!

In the absence of anything else that could have caused it to die assume the wire snapped inside the insulation where it got crushed and replace/splice it, can't do any harm.
Title: Re: Tex Yoda trackpoint HELP!
Post by: mind_funeral on Fri, 19 August 2016, 11:21:07
That's not fun!

In the absence of anything else that could have caused it to die assume the wire snapped inside the insulation where it got crushed and replace/splice it, can't do any harm.

That wire was only to the buttons though.  The trackpoint doesn't work either.  I guess I'll try to splice it but its weird that it worked at first and now it doesnt...
Title: Re: Tex Yoda trackpoint HELP!
Post by: mind_funeral on Fri, 19 August 2016, 11:22:33
Ok so I just plugged it back in and now it works...  Hopefully it stays working...
Title: Re: Tex Yoda trackpoint HELP!
Post by: mind_funeral on Fri, 19 August 2016, 11:26:00
Nevermind... It just stopped again...
Title: Re: Tex Yoda trackpoint HELP!
Post by: justin.wu on Sun, 21 August 2016, 23:29:37
Nevermind... It just stopped again...

Hello !!

I'm sorry hear that !!

Do u know how to solder connector ??? you can try solder connector on the trackpoint module

or you can mail to me ( justin@tex-design.com.tw)
Title: Re: Tex Yoda trackpoint HELP!
Post by: mind_funeral on Tue, 23 August 2016, 07:34:25
Nevermind... It just stopped again...

Hello !!

I'm sorry hear that !!

Do u know how to solder connector ??? you can try solder connector on the trackpoint module

or you can mail to me ( justin@tex-design.com.tw)

Thank you for the reply. 

Basically the trackpoint and 3 buttons work for about 10 minutes after the keyboard has been unplugged for a long time, then all the sudden trackpoint and the 3 buttons stop working.  When it stops working, I can unplug the keyboard and plug it back in but the trackpoint and 3 buttons still won't work (even on another computer).  If I let the keyboard sit unplugged for a long period of time (like overnight), the trackpoint and 3 buttons will work for around 10 minutes.

Is it possibly a shorting issue?  Possibly an issue with the controller PCB (the PCB with the USB hub)?
I will fix the flattened cable and post pictures of the inside of the keyboard as soon as I can. 

PS. This keyboard was NEW without switches when I bought it.  It has never been used or soldered on before I owed it.
Title: Re: Tex Yoda trackpoint HELP!
Post by: mind_funeral on Thu, 25 August 2016, 08:26:54
Good news!

I'm not exactly sure how, but I somehow fixed the Yoda.  I took the keyboard back apart yesterday and started taking a closer look at things.

I initially thought the the soldered connection on the plug for the red wires on the trackpoint PCB was bad, but in the end it was fine.
(http://i.imgur.com/25jLbe0.jpg?1)
Below is the wire I pinched. Which, also ended up being fine.
(http://i.imgur.com/ZtbuyLg.jpg)

I had some issues with the trackpoint module and the 3 button module intermittently cutting out after about 10 minutes of use. 

I have disassembled and reassembled this board about 5 times scanning for issues. I noticed a few cold-soldered connections on the RMB and LMB so I desoldered 2 pins and resoldered them -- 1 on the LMB and 1 on the RMB. 

Note:  I'm not sure why, but getting solder to flow well on the 3 button PCB was damn near impossible (even with loads of flux).  I noticed the pads and PCB material looked different on the 3 button PCB compared to the main 61 key PCB.  The main keys soldered in like a dream.  I only used flux on the first half of the keys before I realized it soldered fine without it. 

The only other thing I did was roll the pinched wire around in my fingertips and got it back to looking semi-round. 

I'm not sure what exactly led to the trackpoint to start working again (or stop in the first place).  I don't know how having bad soldering on the 3 button PCB would affect the function of the track point itself as it functions 100% with the 3 button PCB disconnected.  Ultimately, I'm just glad it works again. I love this keyboard!

Here it is complete!  62g Zealios for the keyboard and 62g Zealiostotles for the "mouse" buttons. (taken on the Potato S6)
(http://i.imgur.com/z7781aE.jpg)

Lastly, big shoutout and thanks to justin.wu at Tex.  It's awesome that Tex is not only part of the community, but backs their products "no-questions-asked" (even though my problem didn't escalate that far).