After my earlier post where the ultra thin Apple Keyboard was taken apart (Apple model number MB110LL/A), Ben FrantzDale wrote to ask if the “bump” where the USB connectors are found can be removed.
In other words, instead of this standard issue keyboard:
Ben would like:
I have an idea on how to accomplish this, though it’s non trivial. But first, here are more tear down photos. I’ll start by highlighting one of the two ribbon connectors that link the keyboard matrix with the printed circuit board, or PCB:
See how the PCB is housed (click on photo for larger version):
The PCB sits right in that bump that Ben would like to remove. Further, it is held in place by four screws, shown circled in red. They span the entire width of the keyboard, so one would need to take apart the entire keyboard. Lots of bending metal is involved — no way to put this thing back together.
This next photo was taken for the sake of completeness. It shows the PCB unscrewed and removed from its housing:
To Flatten or Not to Flatten
That is the question.
If it is possible to completely flatten the Apple Keyboard, the only way I can think of it is to use two keyboards: you get the PCB from the first one as illustrated in these photos, and you get the keys from the second one, and connect the two parts with the ribbon connectors. With the second one, you will need to grind the PCB housing part, but be very careful to leave the ribbon connectors completely untouched or else it’s a complete loss.
I’m not sure that it’s worth it. If anyone attempts to do this, please let me know!
Thanks! That’s a great set of pictures. Just to clarify, is that the top of the keyboard, looking down, in both of those pictures?
I am inclined to go for it. I’ll mill off the plastic from the bottom. It looks like I should be able to pull that control board out the bottom. Since there’s no room for the controller card, I would try moving it into a separate box and running those 32 pins of ribbon cable out to that, either in a ribbon or in a bundle of some kind.
Thanks again.
Yes, it’s the top of the keyboard looking down in both pictures.
If you know what “mill” means, you can pull it off! Just two things: 1. be very careful not to mill the ribbon connectors. And 2. if it works, I want to see pictures!
Good luck with the project.
Well, thank you so very, very much good sir. I just bought one of these keyboard with the intention of converting it into a controller for some music software. My thoughts were to: 1. pull it apart 2. paint the pieces 3. put it back together.
You saved me from destroying this poor helpless machine and so I am in a state of gratitude. This is the first time I’ve seen your blog and I would agree that it is hard to find pictures of this keyboard disassembled. The internet owes you a huge debt. As its creator, you should probably take that up with Mr. Gore. Thank you once again for this lovely post and for saving me from impetuous ruin (or at least for saving my keyboard from that).