PCMCIA Port Cover Source?

I am looking for a source of a PCMCIA port cover - it is the only port that is not covered on my
CF-28.

Does the cover have the same dimensions on any other Toughbooks?

Has anyone created their own?

Has anyone installed a PCMCIA card, e.g. a USB 2.0 adapter, then sealed around it and sealed
inside the connectors to create the equivalent of a PCMCIA port cover??

 

I once sold a media pocket cover to a guy that said he was going to cut it down and (try to) use it for a PCMCIA port cover. At the time, the media pocket covers were selling a little cheaper than the PCMCIA ones. If you're a good machinist with time on your hands, I'm sure you could fab something up.

 

There are some on Ebay now...
Item number: 130145400589
They want $30.00 for them.. kinda steep I think......

 

Why rig you own when you can spend $30 to buy one that works?

 

Well $30 is a bit steep, although given the scarcity and demand of these covers that seems to be the going rate.

As far as making one, I know if it were me, it would take several hours of my time and what I would be left with would be less than if I had just bought one. For someone with a well-equipped machine shop and the talent to go with it however, it might be a different story.

 

Perhaps if we ask around we'd find someone on these lists, or in others of our networks, who has time.
talent, and tools to make these.

Then we could agree to buy a certain number of them to justify their setup time.

Instead of $35. shipped perhaps he/she could create and sell them for $20. shipped because of the
efficiency of scale - then perhaps he/she could put some of them on ebay for $30. or $35. for non-
Forum CF-28 owners and make a larger profit.

WDYT?

 

What you really need to find is someone that does the systems integration of these. All of them came from Panasonic with covers on them. Some customer specs call for the removal of these for special applications. My guess is the parts that are removed are just thrown away.

I have first-hand knowledge of this, as I was involved in just such a project back in the late 90s. We stripped the handles and all the port covers off of about 800 CF-71s and CF-25s. The reason for this is we were permanently mounting them in hard plastic carrying cases. Not knowing any better, we eventually threw all the extra parts away. Although ebay existed back then, we never thought to list them. My guess is this still goes on today.

 

I guess since I put $400 - $500 in each of my Toughbooks... I don't see what the big deal is about spending $30 to get the correct port cover. I've bought a lot of the Toughbooks. I start worrying (usually with reason) when I see one come through all patched together. If I see pictures of them like that beforehand I'll either stay away or pay way less money for it.

I guess if you are testing your talent, skill or machinery then it might make sense... But then you'd have to respray the whole thing to make it match. I just don't think its worth it to skimp on the port cover.

Just my two cents...

 

Just FYI, the part number for the PC Card Door on the CF-28 is DFWV82A0126.

 

Heartlandsi.com has the PCMCIA doors (DFWV82A0126) for $21.90... A better price even than ebay! The media bay cover(DFWV82A0124) is $33.72 and the back cover (DFWV82A0125) is $43.16. (None in stock at this time) It seems that I've seen the media and back covers for a better price than that on ebay... But the PC Card door is a steal. These are all brand new too!

 

Good job following up on that. I wonder if their pricing is good for other parts, as well! Do you need to know the "magic stock number" to order stuff from them?

 

To make things easier... Yes. Look them up in the sevice manual PDF... They are all listed there.

Like I said... Some parts are a real deal... Some are not and you can find a better deal on ebay. It's hit or miss. The big deal though is A/C port covers.... Only $1.98! It sure beats paying $25 on ebay! Alas... They are on backorder! RATS! I put in an order for 25 of them! They are always missing or torn when I get my 28s.

 

wow that is a good deal! I'll have to track down some part munbers and see what the stuff sells for. Can you check online or do you have to call them?

 

Do You have any for sale? I need 3 for CF28 and 1 for CF27

 

They have them in now. Look in the service manual to get the part number then call or email them. They have all the port covers.

 

I've send them email. The trouble is that I'm form Poland.... and don't know if they ship internationaly ;]

 

Email them and find out... You may find someone in Europe to buy from. Heartlandsi.com is the only authorized Panasonic repairt facility in the USA... I'm sure there MUST be someone in Europe!

 

I can try to coordinate a group buy of heartland stuff if it turns out that they don't ship to europe. I wish I would get sent back to the Ford plant over by there, then I could (probably) just do a willcall and avoid the shipping altogether!

 

Try this link, just folloe the instructions CAREFULLY.... I have had great luck in the past...
http://www.pstc.panasonic.com/EpartR/PartsListChoice.asp
just type in the first part of the model number, and it will return "NO MATCH FOUND" and it will give a complete dropdown of models starting with CF25..... and there you go..

 

I ordered a PCMCIA door from Heartland. It was 19.91 + 20.00 shipping. I asked for the cheapest shipping and the lady told me that was it.

Also, it did not come with screws to attach it to the computer. If anyone has spare screws that I could get, I would greatly appreciate it.

 

Did it have the hinges attached?

 

Man oh man I wish I would get sent back to the ford plant thats over by heartland but if they'll charge $20 shipping for something that weighs a couple ounces, they'll refuse to do a will-call too.

 

Did anybody ever find out if you can get those GPS plastic lumps from those guys?

I'd like to relocate the antenna down there, and those would be a good start.

 

tough-2-go,
The hingesare attached, but no screws to attach hinges to frame.

 

A few possible solutions here:

1) The screws holding down the silver plate that covers the keyboard & lcd cables uses the same size screw. You could take a couple from there and cover the empty holes with rubber cement or something.

2) Another possible source is the rubber DC jack cover. If you don't care about it, the 2 screws holding it in (though longer) will still work as long as they're the ones going into the cabinet.

3) The serial port rubber flap is the same as the DC cover.

 

Look to an old electronic stuff maybe you will get match or the old cd rom drive(slim one for laptop) I think the cover screws are a match too.

 

is it possible to find out the part number of the plastic piece? unfortunately it's not in the molding itself.

 

I've searched in the exploded view, but couldn't find it.
It's as if they didn't want us to know

But I've got one damaged one that I intend to try out and see if I can get signal with the antenna set inside of it (Using the embedding sleeves instead of the black rubber).

If it functions half decent, I'm thinking if we can score more of them then I would include a surface mount area for it on the GPS board.

I wonder if ZeroFlight can chime in on that...

 

Pappy

You need a 2mm thin head screw that will be hard to find outside of the computer industry. A 2-56 screw measures 2.09 MM and is very common, I would buy a 2-56 Plug tap and run it through the holes first but you can just force them in if you where in a pinch. These will also work for striped holes as they are slightly larger in diameter.



These would be my first choice for the hinge screws with the undercut head
McMaster Carr # 91771A074
18-8 SS Flat Head Phillips Machine Screw 2-56 Thread, 1/8" Length, Undercut Head
In stock at $4.66 per Pack
http://www.mcmaster.com/


Got to keep my pappy happy

Jim

 

Thanks Jim, very good advice.

 

When will You order something from heartland ?? I need 2 power port covers for cf28. That's all ;]

There's a Toughbook service in UK, but they didn't reply for my emails....

 

As soon as I can figure out the part number for the stock GPS antenna enclosure (we all want those) OR.. whenever I get sent back to the Ford plant that's driving distance from heartlands. Unfortunately I only get a day or two notice when one of these road trips come up!

On a side note, I just got back from a job at the Ford plant in Chicago.. The day after I got back, I got called into an "urgent" meeting at the company I did the work for.. The meeting was to announce that the company was out of business! And no, I didn't get paid! I'm really pissed

 

They didn't pay you for the week in Chicago?????

 

nope. still getting the runaround. and it was 2 weeks

the sad thing is, i'm used to it. it's hard getting paid around here. happens at the corporate level (business-to-business), right down to the lowest employee. That is just how the US auto industry is run, i guess.