Graphite membrane trace fix
Posted: 03 May 2021, 16:44
Hello All,
I couldn't search up anyone finding this weird fix method I just pulled off, so I figured I'd share it.
I had an engineering 87-key keyboard with a damaged trace near the TRIO-MATE connector. The membrane traces near the connectors are covered with a greenish mask of some kind, so I carefully scraped off the mask until I got the white silver-solder (I think) membrane traces exposed on both sides of the cut.
I tried copper tape, but couldn't get it to work. I figured the adhesive was getting in the way. so I put on my thinking cap and figured that graphite was probably a good enough conductor to work. So I sticky-noted off the areas around the trace, and scraped a small pile of graphite into another sticky note with my pocket knife, then very VERY carefully jostled a line of graphite from one trace to the other, and scotch taped it down.
Worked like a charm. Sometimes you just need a particulate conductor.
Hope this helps someone,
Troy Fletcher
I couldn't search up anyone finding this weird fix method I just pulled off, so I figured I'd share it.
I had an engineering 87-key keyboard with a damaged trace near the TRIO-MATE connector. The membrane traces near the connectors are covered with a greenish mask of some kind, so I carefully scraped off the mask until I got the white silver-solder (I think) membrane traces exposed on both sides of the cut.
I tried copper tape, but couldn't get it to work. I figured the adhesive was getting in the way. so I put on my thinking cap and figured that graphite was probably a good enough conductor to work. So I sticky-noted off the areas around the trace, and scraped a small pile of graphite into another sticky note with my pocket knife, then very VERY carefully jostled a line of graphite from one trace to the other, and scotch taped it down.
Worked like a charm. Sometimes you just need a particulate conductor.
Hope this helps someone,
Troy Fletcher