Lighted emissive keyboard from CF-31 that does work in the CF-30

I purchased a keyboard (CF-WKB313VM) that was intended for use in the CF-31 as a replacement for my rubberized (condom-coated) keyboard (N860-1435-T201/20).

While the supported versions list does not show the CF-30 it will work with a minor modification to the keypad. Two of the alignment tabs along the space-bar edge of the keypad exist on the new(er) keypad yet there are not slots in the chassis for those tabs. I just bent those two tabs to point downwards (if thinking of the keyboard as flat down) so they are like legs.

An advantage of the bending of those two little unused tabs, it makes the keypad more secure in the case. They act a little bit like landing legs and when the keyboard is slotted in there is no "bounce" when typing fast. That was one of the annoying things about the old keyboards that I have experienced on the toughbook, there seemed to be flex when thumbing the spacebar.

It seems that the CF-31 keyboard sits a fraction lower on the laptop; this is kind of nice.

In conclusion, do not be scared off by this model of keyboard as a replacement for the CF-30 keyboard, works just fine (using it to type this up). No driver updates even though I did check for driver changes.

 

Most Toughbook keyboards have double faced tape on the underside to help secure them.
Pretty sure they use VHB tape.
I type as fast as I can using BOTH fingers.

 

I have never heard anyone describe the rubber keyboard like that but it fits

 

What did you do with the keyboard bezel? True RKB bezels overlay onto the keyboard.
With the older style BLKB the raised F12 key is a pretty tight fit. DFHR6513.(bezel)
I bought a DFHR6512ZA-0 from Rugged Depot this morning.
Back amongst the CF-29 days I have ground the front of the bezel to ease the fit. Drill mounted drum sander.

 

Jeff,
She put a CF31 keyboard into a CF30. You are working on that CF31 aren't you?

 

The keyboard bezel for rubberized keyboard is different from standard/emissive. Either CF-30 or CF31 or even on CF-29.

ohlip

 

Thanks Shawn, I had 31 on the brain.

 

"I have never heard anyone describe the rubber keyboard like that but it fits"

ohhhh , urge to comment ...
however , i shall digress .

 

There was a snug fit around the raised border of the F11 key where the plastic trim piece screws down along the top edge to hold the keyboard down. I used my hotel room key card to act as a lever to force the keyboard away from the display, otherwise the raised key edge makes the trim piece sit unevenly.

 

slightly asides ...
i can't figure out why panasonic didn't stay with the "sliding dolly pin key" design for the 29/30/31 keyboards .
it sure is a lot easier to remove them as opposed to the VHB tape .
i wonder how many keyboards have been warped , broken or otherwise rendered non-functional because of *someone's* (seemingly saki induced) brilliant idea .
a couple of pieces of high density sticky backed foam would have provided enough upward tension to keep the keyboard from rattling around .

@ tish ...
glad you found an alternative use for the room card .
i've used mine in a room that the bathroom exhaust fan louvers had gotten *sticky* and refused to raise when the fan was turned on .
all i can say is that the GC we contracted to for the STL tower/dish/alignment builds was a cheap ba**ard .
the only cafe that our contract for meals was good in was was a greasy spoon that the coffee could serve as pc board etchant .

 

My CF is a former police-car deployed unit (pretty typical) that was assembled from the best parts out of a dozen or so units. The condom coated keyboard was originally held down with VHB but it had long ago been peeled off and reapplied. Cleaning out the space under the keyboard was an experience. When I received the laptop I tore it down to screws, trim pieces and modules for a thorough cleaning. There was plenty of dried coffee residue and doughnut-dust (cop joke) that had adhered to the back of the keyboard.

I will keep the rubberized keyboard as a spare or wait until the rarity drives the price up to historical gold levels or when I will (inevitably) need to replace the chicklet keyboard because I spill a Pepsi or doughnut dust makes it inoperable for me as well.

You mention STL tower/dish so I gather you are (also) an RF engineer or maybe a tech. I used the really wide "33646", 2" tape that we use for weatherproofing coax connections as a protective layer on top of the plate that covers the wireless adapters and where the keyboard flat cables enter the case. Just because things get spilled and things get wet in the rain. I am using the toughbook in an RF field environment when I do not want to mess up the pretty and fragile Lenovo T440p that is my main work lappy. I can balance this thing on top of a transmitter cabinet or even hang it in a bucket truck when doing an alignment on a dish or sitting on the passenger seat while chasing down interference with a EMC antenna sticking out of the sun roof of my rental car.