Read the discussion pages for the entire process of how to do this mod. It's in blog form. Don't you just hate blogs?

I have an old Nostromo N52 that I used to use constantly (before the complete lack of interesting PC Games in 2009). Now that I have been spoiled by mechanical switches I can't stand the thing. It never did have good keys but now it's unbearable.

Here's the inside. As you can see it's pretty standard rubber dome innards. The D-pad is actually quite good so it's only the main cluster I need to change.


So here's my problem. I've got a pile of Black Cherry switches I can take out of the $15 dollar special Numpad (in the Ebay part of the forum). The trick is wiring them up into a matrix like the membrane.

Look at all dem Diodes. Stupid ABS, iOne, iRocks, Logitech and just about everybody else - Need Dem Diodes!

Options I'm thinking of:

1. Crazy Conductive Glue. I posted this once as a joke but ya never know. Solder wire to the switch pins and glue to the membrane contact points. Who knows, it may work.
2. Spaghetti wiring. Reproducing the matrix doesn't look hard but the PCB connector has 17 pins in about a 16mm span. Crush the PCB connector and solder switch wires to the pins. Ugh. I'm not a big fan of spaghetti wiring but may be the most direct and secure way.
3. Custom PCB. Do some kind of custom daughterboard key mount PCB and then replace the main board connector. It's a SMT connector just to add to the challenge. Seems like a lot of work.
   
   If anyone has done this kind of mod give a shout. I'm gonna order the Crazy Conductive Glue when it comes back in stock anyway just for fun.
   

Attached Images

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	FLA_6015.jpg (667.8 KB, 3387 views)
	FLA_9136.jpg (700.1 KB, 3172 views)

Contributors: ripster, microsoft windows

Created by ripster, 10 October 2009 at 19:30 Last edited by microsoft windows, 1 Week Ago at 19:15 Last comment by Lanx on 07 October 2010 at 22:10 201 Comments, 22,081 Views (protected)