Synth-DIY Yahoo! Groups Archives

Thread

Paul's new membrane switch panels

2009-11-15 by wasteking1

Paul, that is the best news that i have heard on this forum ever.

My first posts were about what to do about dead membrane switches. I have seen many people's repairs shown on the web,tried 3 techniques, but my personal attempts just have never worked and now i have 2 polaris carcasses. (yes, and one that does work too)
One additional related issue it that if your new membrane panels use the same terminals on the PC board (for flat ribbon) many repairs have removed those terminals to allow for easy soldering of new wires. perhaps you could included a new set of terminals to be soldered in to accomodate the new ribbon wires. it would be a nice option. especially if the new material was a bit diffrent than the old stuff.

would the new switch panels just glue on the top of the case exactly like the old ones? would normal contact cement work?

RE: [chromapolaris] Paul's new membrane switch panels

2009-11-15 by Paul D. DeRocco

> From: wasteking1
>
> Paul, that is the best news that i have heard on this forum ever.
>
> My first posts were about what to do about dead membrane
> switches. I have seen many people's repairs shown on the
> web,tried 3 techniques, but my personal attempts just have never
> worked and now i have 2 polaris carcasses. (yes, and one that
> does work too)
> One additional related issue it that if your new membrane panels
> use the same terminals on the PC board (for flat ribbon) many
> repairs have removed those terminals to allow for easy soldering
> of new wires. perhaps you could included a new set of terminals
> to be soldered in to accomodate the new ribbon wires. it would be
> a nice option. especially if the new material was a bit diffrent
> than the old stuff.
>
> would the new switch panels just glue on the top of the case
> exactly like the old ones? would normal contact cement work?

The panels will have a peel-off backing that will expose built-in adhesive,
just like the originals. And the tails will fit into the existing
connectors.

As to including extra connectors in case people have removed theirs, I doubt
I can find the same connectors, but there are probably some cheap non-ZIF
connectors out there, so I'd be more inclined to provide a part number and
let people order their own. Digikey or Mouser may have something that works,
and they're easy to deal with.

However, I'm not sure what the point is. If people have removed the
connectors to solder wires in their place, doesn't that also mean that
they've drilled the panel to install mechanical switches? If they've done
that, then I doubt the new panels will work unless they can find a way to
plug the holes. You can't have holes behind membrane switches where you
press on them, and expect them to last very long.

--

Ciao, Paul D. DeRocco
Paul mailto:pderocco@...

Re: [chromapolaris] Paul's new membrane switch panels

2009-11-15 by steven pistrich

i would be happy to be informed about availability of the replacement connectors , regardless if they were included. it seems that i remember at least 3-4 diffrent sizes . I have seen and tried out a couple diffrent ribbon repair techniques (and just heard a bout another this morning) that didnt involve drilling for switches, but just using wires to extend the ribbons. its not a big deal compared to getting the membrane panels themselves., but to even identify the parrts would be helpful. especially if they are not common anymore and you cant just pick them up at Radio Shak.

From: Paul D. DeRocco <pderocco@...>
To: chromapolaris@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, November 15, 2009 12:10:08 PM
Subject: RE: [chromapolaris] Paul's new membrane switch panels

> From: wasteking1
>
> Paul, that is the best news that i have heard on this forum ever.
>
> My first posts were about what to do about dead membrane
> switches. I have seen many people's repairs shown on the
> web,tried 3 techniques, but my personal attempts just have never
> worked and now i have 2 polaris carcasses. (yes, and one that
> does work too)
> One additional related issue it that if your new membrane panels
> use the same terminals on the PC board (for flat ribbon) many
> repairs have removed those terminals to allow for easy soldering
> of new wires. perhaps you could included a new set of terminals
> to be soldered in to accomodate the new ribbon wires. it would be
> a nice option. especially if the new material was a bit diffrent
> than the old stuff.
>
> would the new switch panels just glue on the top of the case
> exactly

like the old ones? would normal contact cement work?

The panels will have a peel-off backing that will expose built-in adhesive,
just like the originals. And the tails will fit into the existing
connectors.

As to including extra connectors in case people have removed theirs, I doubt
I can find the same connectors, but there are probably some cheap non-ZIF
connectors out there, so I'd be more inclined to provide a part number and
let people order their own. Digikey or Mouser may have something that works,
and they're easy to deal with.

However, I'm not sure what the point is. If people have removed the
connectors to solder wires in their place, doesn't that also mean that
they've drilled the panel to install mechanical switches? If they've done
that, then I doubt the new panels will work unless they can find a way to
plug the holes. You can't have holes behind membrane switches where you
press on them, and expect them to last very long.

--

Ciao, Paul D. DeRocco
Paul mailto:pderocco@ix. netcom.com