Author Topic: Unicomp EnduraPro full disassembly pics?  (Read 3110 times)

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Offline sleepysheep

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Unicomp EnduraPro full disassembly pics?
« on: Mon, 31 October 2016, 15:46:03 »
So I'm wondering if anyone has pictures of a fully disassembled EnduraPro. In particular I'm wondering if there'll be any issue just folding back and/or cutting out the circuit to make an 87-key mod of the EnduraPro. The goal is to essentially make a modern day SSK with TrackPoint, and I'd like to see if anyone's gone down that path before...
Lexmark M13
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Offline y11971alex

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Re: Unicomp EnduraPro full disassembly pics?
« Reply #1 on: Mon, 31 October 2016, 16:02:18 »
I'm of the opinion this forum has a lack of Unicomp-related information.  Fully supporting a request for a Unicomp Model M disassembly.

Good heavens, there's more information about beamsprings than Unicomp.
Keyboards owned: IBM Selectric | 3278 | 3101 | 5251 | Model F XT | AT | 122 (6110344) | Model M 1390120 | 1390131 | 1391472 | 1392464 (DisplayWriter SSK) | 1395100 (SSK) | Honeywell RD IBM 09F4230 | Leading Edge DC-2014 (Blue Alps) | Chicony 5891 (Monterey Blue) | E&E-101 (KPT Blue) | BTC 5100 | 5100C | 5369 | DEC VT100 (Hi-tek Linear) | Burroughs TP109 (Hall) | Realforce 87 (55g)

Keyboards wanted: IBM Model F 104 (Unsaver) | Model M 1391401

Offline sleepysheep

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Re: Unicomp EnduraPro full disassembly pics?
« Reply #2 on: Mon, 31 October 2016, 16:24:21 »
Well I just feel like it would be a shame for me to source an M13 and hack it up, so an EnduraPro would probably be the reasonable alternative. Just wanted to know before I blow $100 on one to disassemble.
Lexmark M13
Lexmark M15 with detachable numpad

Offline fohat.digs

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Re: Unicomp EnduraPro full disassembly pics?
« Reply #3 on: Mon, 31 October 2016, 16:32:35 »

I'm of the opinion this forum has a lack of Unicomp-related information.


I think that most people who are looking to expend the time and energy for a modification project will want to start with a "classic"

Also, if you have a problem with a Unicomp, even out of warranty, they will completely refurbish it for only about $30.

But to answer the underlying question, folding under is a legitimate and easy thing to do, but unfortunately my experience was that the modern-style controller has a "difficult" connection methodology and a position that is hard to work around.

And also, my 2 attempts at case-cutting were both "fails" to be sure.
"However, even though I was born in the Mesozoic, I do know what anyone who wants to reach out to young people should say: Billionaires took your money. They took your chance to buy a home. They took your chance at a good education. They stole your opportunities. Billionaires took the things you want in life. If you really want those things, you have to take them back.
That's the message. That's the whole message. Say that every day, not just to reach America's frustrated young white men, but people of every age, race, and gender.
Late-stage capitalism is a wealth-concentration engine, focused on vacuuming up every dollar and putting it in as few hands as possible. Republicans are helping that vacuum suck.
How does a tiny fraction of the population get away with this? They do it by dividing the other 99% of Americans against themselves."
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Offline mike52787

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Re: Unicomp EnduraPro full disassembly pics?
« Reply #4 on: Mon, 31 October 2016, 16:36:52 »
I have a mid 90s m13 that I will be bolt modding soon, I can share pics then. Im sure theres not that much different between a late m13 and a endurapro.

Offline drevyek

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  • Location: Calgary, AB
Re: Unicomp EnduraPro full disassembly pics?
« Reply #5 on: Fri, 04 November 2016, 04:28:48 »
I've done just this recently with a 0131. I was thinking about doing it for the Endura, but the shipping prices put me off. I did a fold over for my board, and I can't imagine that the Unicomp boards are any different. You get a bit less head room up top, but that's about it. If you're really worried, at the same time pick up an extra membrane from them, so you can have one to screw around with.

Offline fohat.digs

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Re: Unicomp EnduraPro full disassembly pics?
« Reply #6 on: Fri, 04 November 2016, 07:55:26 »

and I can't imagine that the Unicomp boards are any different.


"Last generation" Model Ms have the controller at the far right with a stupid weak connection system.
"However, even though I was born in the Mesozoic, I do know what anyone who wants to reach out to young people should say: Billionaires took your money. They took your chance to buy a home. They took your chance at a good education. They stole your opportunities. Billionaires took the things you want in life. If you really want those things, you have to take them back.
That's the message. That's the whole message. Say that every day, not just to reach America's frustrated young white men, but people of every age, race, and gender.
Late-stage capitalism is a wealth-concentration engine, focused on vacuuming up every dollar and putting it in as few hands as possible. Republicans are helping that vacuum suck.
How does a tiny fraction of the population get away with this? They do it by dividing the other 99% of Americans against themselves."
- Marc Sumner 2025-05-30

Offline mike52787

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Re: Unicomp EnduraPro full disassembly pics?
« Reply #7 on: Fri, 04 November 2016, 09:45:03 »

and I can't imagine that the Unicomp boards are any different.


"Last generation" Model Ms have the controller at the far right with a stupid weak connection system.
Do you think a 96 m13 would have the new style controller?

Offline sleepysheep

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Re: Unicomp EnduraPro full disassembly pics?
« Reply #8 on: Fri, 04 November 2016, 12:05:07 »
How well do the fold overs do over time? are the traces going to break at the fold over point?

Also what do people do about cases for mods like these? custom wood cabinet? Or grafting it onto something sacrificial of a similar size?
Lexmark M13
Lexmark M15 with detachable numpad

Offline drevyek

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Re: Unicomp EnduraPro full disassembly pics?
« Reply #9 on: Mon, 07 November 2016, 21:05:59 »
Mine is folded over, but I'm banking on it being a temporary solution. It puts pressure on the rest of the case, and doesn't let it all sit properly on its supports. A bad fold can result in random presses and all number of bad things.

The only good solution there is to do the copper-tape fix. I have no idea, however, how to expose the traces on a membrane without ripping them.


and I can't imagine that the Unicomp boards are any different.


"Last generation" Model Ms have the controller at the far right with a stupid weak connection system.

That's disappointing. However, if the membranes of the new style boards are poorly placed, you can always order an old membrane from Unicomp- I asked about the 1401 I was doing, and they said they still had stock. Then, all you'd need to do is reroute where the output hole is, right? If you're cutting, just make a hole at the seam of the cut for the cable.

Offline klennkellon

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Re: Unicomp EnduraPro full disassembly pics?
« Reply #10 on: Tue, 08 November 2016, 00:42:11 »
Hmm, don't the endurapros have no metal backplate?