K3 Board Flex

[Don Rasmussen]

Hi All,

I moved the issue here:

http://www.zerobeat.net/mediawiki/index.php/Hardware_Issues_that_are_documented%2C_not_yet_acknowledged_by_Elecraft

or

http://tinyurl.com/285394

Just until we hear from the guys.

My K3 has no flex at all, and considering equal
construction it's hard to imagine that some of the
boards are more flexible than others. ???

It's a bit too early to categorize this issue as
"accepted as normal" by Elecraft but documented for
comparison
with the K3 user base.
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[AC7AC]

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[Julian, G4ILO]

Ron D'Eau Claire wrote

That amount of movement wasn't enough to concern me at all. I'm not aware of
the button movement when operating the rig. I've seen boards in aircraft
systems that flexed at least that much with the vibration inherent in
flight, hour after hour, year after year, with no deleterious effects.

Still, Doug noticed it in his K3 and came up with a solution in true Ham
style that works for him. But, like many things, it's more like a matter of
personal preference than anything else.

I certainly don't consider it a defect in the K3.

I noticed it too, and didn't consider it significant.

I am more concerned about the amount you can wiggle the mic connector. It is not locked to the metal front panel so the whole rigidity comes from the PCB it is attached to. If you accidentally bashed the mic plug while moving something on the desktop it seems to me you could possibly damage the front panel board.

[David Cutter]

I too have that problem.  The thick washer on the inside doesn't fit tightly
to the front panel, so it's a loose fit.  The connector flange protrudes
through too far to put a lock nut on the front.

David
G3UNA
K3 547

> I am more concerned about the amount you can wiggle the mic connector. It
> is
> not locked to the metal front panel so the whole rigidity comes from the
> PCB
> it is attached to. If you accidentally bashed the mic plug while moving
> something on the desktop it seems to me you could possibly damage the
> front
> panel board.
>
> -----
> Julian, G4ILO  K3 s/n: 222 K2 s/n: 392

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[M0XDF]

sounds like that's not fitted correctly - the flange on the connector  
should be a very snug fit in the front panel hole.
Mine was so tight, I had to remove some of the paint from the rim of  
the hole at the back
--
Power is no substitute for Skill.

On 26 Mar 2008, at 18:32, G4ILO wrote:

>
>
> Ron D'Eau Claire wrote:
>>
>> That amount of movement wasn't enough to concern me at all. I'm not  
>> aware
>> of
>> the button movement when operating the rig. I've seen boards in  
>> aircraft
>> systems that flexed at least that much with the vibration inherent in
>> flight, hour after hour, year after year, with no deleterious  
>> effects.
>>
>> Still, Doug noticed it in his K3 and came up with a solution in  
>> true Ham
>> style that works for him. But, like many things, it's more like a  
>> matter
>> of
>> personal preference than anything else.
>>
>> I certainly don't consider it a defect in the K3.
>>
> I noticed it too, and didn't consider it significant.
>
> I am more concerned about the amount you can wiggle the mic  
> connector. It is
> not locked to the metal front panel so the whole rigidity comes from  
> the PCB
> it is attached to. If you accidentally bashed the mic plug while  
> moving
> something on the desktop it seems to me you could possibly damage  
> the front
> panel board.

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[Rob May-2]

1/32" = .08mm
3 mm = 1/8" approximately

I hope the flex is 1/32" and not 3mm, that's a lot!
Rob
NV5E
/waiting for my K3 and reading all the posts

> From: [hidden email]
> To: [hidden email]; [hidden email]
> Subject: RE: [Elecraft] K3 Board Flex
> Date: Wed, 26 Mar 2008 09:50:41 -0700
> CC:
>
> Actually it has been both acknowledged Wayne and documented. Doug reported
> it on the support reflector and several others immediately investigated,
> including myself.
>
> Many, including myself, couldn't see the flex Doug found at first, looking
> at the front panel almost straight on as when the K3 is being operated.
>
> When I got up close, looking at the buttons obliquely from the top like Don
> did, I can see some movement when pressing the top row of buttons on the
> panel.
>
> I measured the amount of flex. At the point of maximum flex, the board moves
> about 1/32" of an inch (roughly 3 mm). The board is securely held in place,
> but the nearest supports are points about 2.5 inches below and almost 3
> inches to the side of the A/B button.
>
> That amount of movement wasn't enough to concern me at all. I'm not aware of
> the button movement when operating the rig. I've seen boards in aircraft
> systems that flexed at least that much with the vibration inherent in
> flight, hour after hour, year after year, with no deleterious effects.
>
> Still, Doug noticed it in his K3 and came up with a solution in true Ham
> style that works for him. But, like many things, it's more like a matter of
> personal preference than anything else.
>
> I certainly don't consider it a defect in the K3.
>
> Ron AC7AC
>

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[Julian, G4ILO]

M0XDF wrote

sounds like that's not fitted correctly - the flange on the connector  
should be a very snug fit in the front panel hole.
Mine was so tight, I had to remove some of the paint from the rim of  
the hole at the back

I don't recall there was much scope for fitting it incorrectly. It was already installed on the PCB, and the front panel just slips over the top.

Like you I removed paint from the inside of the hole so the front panel would fit on easily. If it is relying on being a tight fit in that hole to get its rigidity then I probably removed a bit too much.

[M0XDF]

Yes, I meant fitted correctly to the FP, sounds like you have it  
seated correctly.
--
Life is an eternal challenge, a variant on Maeterlinck's theme that  
the Bluebird of happiness is by the side of each and everyone of us,  
always within reach, yet, if pursued to catch and possess is beyond  
our grasp. - Donald Campbell, CBE. (1921-1967)

On 26 Mar 2008, at 20:38, G4ILO wrote:

>
>
> M0XDF wrote:
>>
>> sounds like that's not fitted correctly - the flange on the connector
>> should be a very snug fit in the front panel hole.
>> Mine was so tight, I had to remove some of the paint from the rim of
>> the hole at the back
>>
> I don't recall there was much scope for fitting it incorrectly. It was
> already installed on the PCB, and the front panel just slips over  
> the top.
>
> Like you I removed paint from the inside of the hole so the front  
> panel
> would fit on easily. If it is relying on being a tight fit in that  
> hole to
> get its rigidity then I probably removed a bit too much.

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