N_Cook wrote:
On 10/01/2014 14:36, Gareth Magennis wrote:
Blimey, I have just had one of these in for repair:

http://www.native-instruments.com/en...or-kontrol-s4/


All the pots and data encoders are soldered to the PCB's as usual, and are
then fixed by the usual hex nuts to the top of the chassis.
BUT, the various top surface metal and plastic plates with all the legends
on are then GLUED over all these nuts.

The only way to remove the PCB's is to remove all these top plates, which
you can't do without severely damaging them as the glue bond is so strong.

These are obviously not designed to be repaired or serviced, unless you want
to buy a complete new set of top decal plates, which you almost certainly
can't cos these will be made in china and spares aren't available etc etc.

And these are not cheap either.


Cuh.



does warming with hot air gun weaken the glue bond?

sometimes drops of isopropyl alcohol will soften that weird fiber/glue
stuff they use to hold decal down with.

still seems like a ****y design, most likely just to be cheap than
anything else.

The entire of consumables for simply opening something up has always
annoyed me. At least with stuff like laptops real makers do offer the
replacement screws and screw cover kits which come with replacement parts
that require their removal.

Ending the use of lead-soft flat headed screws that will cam out after any
use would still be better.