41CL chips going EOL - how many 41CL boards are desired in the future ?

[Garth Wilson]

(06-16-2017 02:58 AM)mfleming Wrote:  The key would be pressing the flex PCB contacts at the other end of the flex against the module PCB. I can imagine some sort of U-shaped hard spring material that would fit in the module slot reserved for the stock connector, that would hold the two flex contacts against each side of the PCB, and would serve to align the flex contact in the module shell so that they are correctly aligned with the I/O block flex contacts. Alas, though I have passing experience with CAD, I know nothing about 3D printed part design. I do have this on my round-tuit list and wouldn't mind dropping a Benjamin on the flex part. It would have to be in a cause greater than dumb curiosity though.

If I'm following what you're talking about, how about putting some sort of compressible material behind them, like the foam that presses the battery contacts against the batteries in the HP-71B, at least the two I have. Instead of using springy metal, they use a closed-cell foam rubber. I don't like the idea of using rubber in things you want to last for a long time (it's a problem in tape recorders, VCRs, etc. where there are rubber belts and sometimes rubber wheels that rot over time), but I've been surprised that my 71s' battery rubber has lasted just fine so far.