Epoxy for CF-72 hinge repair

I am going to fix a broken hinge on a CF-72 that I got about a week ago. I have glued and repaired, even made parts out of different materials over the years, and have used different glues and epoxies for the repairs. I have never done a test to figure out which is the better epoxy for the job, and was wondering if someone had an opinion on the subject. This is going to be a metal to metal weld and since the frame is metal too, some reinforcement will be possible. Was wondering which epoxy would be the strongest, Loctite, Devcon, Araldite, Super Glue, 3M, Atomic Bond, Gorilla, Evercoat, Flex Coat.............…… or good old JB weld?

 

Is this the speaker/hinge cover or the actual LCD hinge itself? Either way, I think It might be more reliable to replace the part. There is a bunch of hinges on ebay for 8USD.

 

Thanks h3lpmedic, But the only hinge (right side) I found, is this one - item # 220501402049, and it's $35.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Panasonic-Tough...emQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item3356e861c1

 

If that's the hinge you are trying to glue, I think you are in for some problems. There is a lot of stress on that little hinge. Maybe some silver solder if you have the skill and technology available.
CAP

 

just a word of advice, the hinge is not cracked, or atleast not the common issue. it strips out on the inside so it in turn acts like a busted hinge,

 

Common issue for the cf-72's
A real weak point
Even worse on the touchscreen models as the lid is heaver
As tbtech states its the inside that strips out



Alex

 

Yeah capt.dogfish, That would be quite a MOMENT (if I remember my statics right) acting on the hinge. Fortunately, the way it sits in the metal frame, I might be able to reinforce it with some epoxy. I could try that, or make a new piece of metal to replace the broken one and repair the hinge completely. Maybe spend more time on it than it is worth!

 

hmmm... Looking at your pictures $35 USD might not be too bad of a deal. Have you tried heartland? I just think that unless you actualy weld the broken pieces together, the hinge would eventually break again regardless of what type of epoxy you choose...

 

h3lpmedic, You won't believe this but, I removed the other hinge from the lcd section and center cover to see how much torque it needed to turn and the damn thing was so brittle, it broke in my very fingers! LOL
Now I have two broken hinges instead of one! That will be $70 if I was to buy them on ebay. I am gonna try and glue them, or get a set from another laptop, check with heartland, or just make them out of aluminium or brass/zinc.

 

If its a soft metal like aluminum, I have access to a CNC machine, but you would have to provide me with the CAD files to make it.

 

h3lpmedic, Thanks bud! I appreciate the offer but that is all way too much work even for us guys who like to tinker and fix stuff. I will contact Heartland during working hours tomorrow and see what they have to offer. I also have another source in FL that could come through with the hinges.

 

There is no glue or epoxy that will fix that... I can guarantee you that. The moment arm of the folding LCD puts so much pressure on that hinge... You would basically have to weld it to make it work.... Pay the duckets and get a new hinge.

With that said... I have taken apart well hacked up CF-28s where the prior owners had filled the whole hinge cavity with JB Kwik Weld (Your only hope) and then sealed the whole thing up and let it cure. Of course taking this apart was a total surprise and I wondered the entire time why I had to fight the one corner... I just shook my head. This isn't rocket science.

It all comes down to.... Do you want to do it right... Or do you just want it done?

 

TB, I would definitely not want to butcher it like that, and now that both hinges are broken, I will look into getting a set from somewhere. This is my first CF-72, I had never even seen one b4 either. Not too bad, but I think I would prefer a 28 or 29 any day. This stuff is good for me, though time consuming, it's making me use my eyes and hands/tools again. I have an elect/electronic and automotive tech background but have spent the last several years staring at a monitor or TV screen and have ruined my eyes (I think). It could just be age too, but I think my eyes have gotten used to staring at a bright object and a somewhat fixed focal length. So when I bring something up close, I can't focus. Well, went for my first ever physical last week, guess the eyes are next. BTW, if I do decide to make the hinges, I will post pictures of them when complete.

 

I didn't realize the hinge was Aluminum, I'm used to the fully rugged models which have hinges made of real metal. Cancel the weld/solder suggestion, that thing is pooched! Get some whole ones somewhere.
That hinge design is right up there with the CF-27-28 keyboard cable socket for stupid in industrial design.
CAP

 

Spoke to someone in Heartland Services today, their system is down for an upgrade or something and will be up in a day or two. I got the part #s though, and the price is $10.43 each. I am so relieved they don't cost a bundle. I was actually looking forward to making the hinges myself, the male part that goes into the aluminum piece that breaks, has splines on it which adhere to the softer metal. Funny how both my hinges just broke and did not strip like some folks have experienced with this model.

 

I dont know why they use two different types of metals for the hinge component... When you have one metal that is harder than another, you get catastopic failure in the moving part.

 

Maybe it's designed to give, so that it does not break the metal LCD case or rip through the plastic center piece that houses the speakers etc. I think the LCD case would be the first to go in this case since under the plastic center piece is the thicker magnesium alloy metal. Anyway, since I have stupid pansy toughbook half disassembled! (Am I beginning to sound like gunny? LOL) I might as well take it apart and see if I can make it wifi, maybe even BT capable. Boy! Had I known this thing was so old, and difficult to work with - drivers and all, I would never have purchased it! Thank you everyone for you help.