buttons that don't register well

If you're having problems with the hardware of a DM41X or DM42, post about them here.
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akaTB
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Location: Milan, Italy

Re: buttons that don't register well

Post by akaTB »

keithdalby wrote:
Thu Feb 15, 2018 12:38 pm
Nigel (UK) wrote:
Thu Feb 15, 2018 12:15 pm
My personal preference is for Casio-style keyboards - no "click" feedback, but 100% reliable in use.
And to think folk mocked my preference for landscape form factor!
C'mon Keith, that'd be like shooting fish in a barrel. ;)
Greetings,
    Massimo
ajcaton
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toml_12953
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Re: buttons that don't register well

Post by toml_12953 »

akaTB wrote:
Thu Feb 15, 2018 2:00 pm
keithdalby wrote:
Thu Feb 15, 2018 12:38 pm
Nigel (UK) wrote:
Thu Feb 15, 2018 12:15 pm
My personal preference is for Casio-style keyboards - no "click" feedback, but 100% reliable in use.
And to think folk mocked my preference for landscape form factor!
C'mon Keith, that'd be like shooting fish in a barrel. ;)
Just to add to the Sturm und Drang, I'd like to see a buckling spring keyboard as in the original IBM PCs ! :lol:
Tom L

Some people call me inept but I'm as ept as anybody!
DM10L SN: 059/100
DM41X SN: 00023 (Beta)
DM41X SN: 00506 (Shipping)
DM42 SN: 00025 (Beta)
DM42 SN: 00221 (Shipping)
WP43 SN: 00025 (Prototype)
mcc
Posts: 277
Joined: Fri Jun 23, 2017 5:10 am

Re: buttons that don't register well

Post by mcc »

Hi,

due to some sticky stuff between the keys (presumably from little droplets thrown out from a sparkling coke nearby) I had to open my
DM42 remove the PCB, clean the keys and assemble the parts together again.

After that, the "0" only registers when the key was pressed hard.

I clould fix this by doing this procedure:
Open the back and remove it.
Loosen the PCB screws a little bit, so the PCB is not pressed against the keyboard
anymore. Dont loosen them to much! Keep an eye (or better: two eyes) on the
LCD-ribbon cable!
Now press down the PCB against the keyboard a little and the pull the PCB either
left or right using the beeper as handle. If the right spot is found (key works again)
tighten the PCB screws.
DONE!

HTH!
Cheers
Meino
DM 42 - SN: 00373, Firmware release v.:3.22. / DMCP 3.24. as compiled by SwissMicros
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ijabbott
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Location: GB-MAN

Re: buttons that don't register well

Post by ijabbott »

If you unclamp the LCD connector too often, the clamping mechanism will fall out completely rather than being partially held in place by the main body of the connector. That happened to mine today. You can still put it back in, but make sure you don't lose it!
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ijabbott
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Re: buttons that don't register well

Post by ijabbott »

mcc wrote:
Sun Feb 25, 2018 4:25 pm
due to some sticky stuff between the keys (presumably from little droplets thrown out from a sparkling coke nearby) I had to open my
DM42 remove the PCB, clean the keys and assemble the parts together again.
If that happens again, you could probably clean it from the front by using an aerosol can of IPA (sold for general electronics use, not for drinking!). These come with a plastic pipe that attaches to the nozzle (like a can of WD40) that you can aim down the gaps between the keys and the keyboard bezel.
mcc
Posts: 277
Joined: Fri Jun 23, 2017 5:10 am

Re: buttons that don't register well

Post by mcc »

Hi,

sugar is not solveable in IPA...
It needs hand-warm destilled water, which helps very well in my case.

Thanks for the hint about the LCD clamp!!!
I will keep both eyes on it!

By the way:
I fixed the "0-problem" by applying a little pressure from left to right (backside of the DM42 facing towards me, LCD top) to the PCB
while carefully tightening the PCB screws.

The "0" is working again...now the left side of the ENTER key is very swampy...

This keyboard is little ...hrrrrmmmmm... tricky it seems...

Cheers
Meino
DM 42 - SN: 00373, Firmware release v.:3.22. / DMCP 3.24. as compiled by SwissMicros
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ijabbott
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Re: buttons that don't register well

Post by ijabbott »

mcc wrote:
Mon Feb 26, 2018 8:00 pm
sugar is not solveable in IPA...
I think it does, but slowly, and not as well as ...
It needs hand-warm destilled water, which helps very well in my case.
I also failed to consider the fact that dissolving something doesn't make it magically disappear. It will reappear once the solvent has evaporated, though will probably be distributed over a wider area. It's better to wipe it away while it is still dissolved, which means dismantling the calculator after all!
By the way:
I fixed the "0-problem" by applying a little pressure from left to right (backside of the DM42 facing towards me, LCD top) to the PCB
while carefully tightening the PCB screws.

The "0" is working again...now the left side of the ENTER key is very swampy...
I haven't managed to get a solid click all over the ENTER key either, but I've decided to stop fiddling with it. :)
mcc
Posts: 277
Joined: Fri Jun 23, 2017 5:10 am

Re: buttons that don't register well

Post by mcc »

Hi,
ijabbott wrote:
I also failed to consider the fact that dissolving something doesn't make it magically disappear. It will reappear once the solvent has evaporated, though will probably be distributed over a wider area. It's better to wipe it away while it is still dissolved, which means dismantling the calculator after all!
With water you can spill (word?) much more over the place in question until all not wanted stuff get washed out ("washed out"? like jeans? looks funny...again my English...sorry). Then I blowed the water out of the keyboard and for the tiny rest put a plastic bag with rice over the lower
non-lcd-end and wait...
Rice will suck the rest out of it...or try fresh sillica gel bags...
But normally people only have used sillica gel bags... ;)

Cheers!
Meino
DM 42 - SN: 00373, Firmware release v.:3.22. / DMCP 3.24. as compiled by SwissMicros
althor
Posts: 3
Joined: Fri Feb 16, 2018 9:35 pm

Re: buttons that don't register well

Post by althor »

My keyboard has very poor feedback. I have the same issues with the enter key that many other have, and other keys are worse, the "0" key being the worst of all. It is almost unusable unless I watch the screen for each press.
Michael
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Re: buttons that don't register well

Post by Michael »

althor wrote:
Fri Mar 02, 2018 7:44 am
My keyboard has very poor feedback. I have the same issues with the enter key that many other have, and other keys are worse, the "0" key being the worst of all. It is almost unusable unless I watch the screen for each press.
This is the same unit as here viewtopic.php?f=15&t=420&p=7344#p7344
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