Subject:
|
How to fix a failing touch sensor on Spybotics
|
Newsgroups:
|
lugnet.robotics.spybotics
|
Date:
|
Thu, 10 Mar 2011 12:10:54 GMT
|
Viewed:
|
31963 times
|
| |
|
|
Hi all,
I recently got hold of a - previously ignored - Spybotics model (I never really
considered them to be of interest until I got one cheap and found the kids like
it).
Yes, they are fairly outdated, however they hook up to my Mac just fine over a
USB to serial adaptor and they do work with MacNQC.
Now there's two things I've found: One is the remote control is only of limited
use as it seems to go on strike after any program has been run on the Spybotics
brick (although apparently the remote can interfere with a running program, much
to the amusement of the kids). Lacking any kind of instructions for the set, I
am also unable to determine what the red button and the "other" setting of the
bottom lever on the remote are good for.
The other thing was worse: Apparently an old Spybotics can develop a faulty
touch sensor, and as that thing is completely integrated with the unit, it is
quite difficult to get at. I can offer a "hack", though:
When disassembling the Spybotics brick unscrewing the six bottom screws, you can
actually carefully lift up the front of the circuit board and the tongues of the
touch sensor become visible. When removing the plastic push button of the
sensor, you can see a small rubber part that acts as a spring between the button
and the contacts.
The easy fix I found (as I could not completely remove the circuit board without
using a solder iron) was to take out the rubber spring using a pair of tweezers,
and applying a thin stripe of 3M adhesive aluminum tape (the sort that has been
recommended to convert RC train track into 9V ;) ) on the back of that spring.
So far, the solution has proven fairly rugged (the kids _are_ tossing the
Spybotics model around in the kitchen). I may eventually disassemble the whole
thing for a permanent fix, but it seems like a quick and easy approach.
Regards,
Jerry
|
|
Message has 1 Reply:
2 Messages in This Thread:
  
- Entire Thread on One Page:
- Nested:
All | Brief | Compact | Dots
Linear:
All | Brief | Compact
|
|
|
|
