Texas Instruments TI-Nspire CX Defective Button Repair

Written By: trogfield

Comments: 17

Texas Instruments TI-Nspire CX Defective Button Repair

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

40 minutes

Introduction

Sometimes corrosion can form inside the buttons of a TI-Nspire CX calculator, causing them to stop working correctly. This guide will show you how to disassemble the calculator and clean the problematic buttons, which should help solve the problem.

Tools

64 Bit Driver Kit

Step 1

Power down the calculator with the OFF function.

Step 2

Remove the feet from the top of the calculator to reveal the top clutch screws.
Unscrew the clutch screws, the torx bottom screws, and the battery drawer screws.
Use a 1mm flathead screwdriver for the clutch screws.
You will need to switch your screwdriver bit for the torx screws. Be careful not to strip the screws.

If you don’t have a thin enough screwdriver, you can make one by snapping or grinding the tip off an X-Acto blade.

nahkoots - 28/04/18

Step 3

Disconnect the power cable in the battery case.
Pulling the cable out by hand is best. The plastic is delicate, so use pliers only if the adapter is stuck.
Unscrew the two clutch screws above the battery case, using the 1mm flathead screwdriver.

The models since 2016 have a smaller battery cover. The two screws in the middle are attached under the plastic backside! I loosened the screws with a lot of force and saw that the screws are attached to the front under the display! Does anyone know how to loosen the screws correctly?

Backtronic - 11/07/20

I had no problem loosening the screws on my 2016 model. The calculator opened up without issues.

m0r -

Step 4

Remove the front panel by loosening all around the edges, then carefully pulling the panel loose.
While removing the panel, several buttons may come loose. Be sure to have a clear work surface to catch them.
You do not need much force to remove the panel. Your fingers are usually enough, but if you have trouble use the spudger.

Step 5

Unscrew the sixteen screws circled in the pictures.
Four of these screws are around the connector, while the other twelve are on the circuit board itself.

Step 6

The internal spacers may fall out while you are working. Make sure to put them somewhere safe.

Spacers go on the two silver screw posts (before you put the screen and screen board back on)

wonkaba - 15/11/19

Step 7

Pull the top circuit board and the screen off. You should not need much force to undo the connector between them.
Although your calculator is in several pieces now, do not worry. There is little chance of causing damage.

Step 8

Take the keyboard off. The buttons will fall out now, so take care to put them somewhere safe.
Be careful not to lose any of the buttons.
Take the mouse flex cable off, otherwise it will dangle. Flip up the tab.

Step 9

On the circuit board, cut around the failing button with a safety knife. Once it is loose, peel it off delicately with a screwdriver or tweezers.
Clean the button with rubbing alcohol.
Be careful not to dig into the circuit board with the knife. This could seriously damage your calculator!
Place the button back on the circuit board, then use a small amount of adhesive tape to reattach it.

Step 10

[Optional] Clean the screen with compressed air.
This does not help with the button problem, but is good maintenance practice while the calculator is disassembled.
Rubbing alcohol may be used instead.

Step 11

Put the circuit board and the screen back together. Then press the connector into place.
You may need to gently move the circuit board with your finger until the docks match.
BEFORE PROCEEDING, power on the calculator and check that the problem button works.
Set the four screws that were near the connector back in their holes.

Step 12

Drop the other twelve circuit board screws in their holes. Once all sixteen are in place, tighten them carefully.
Reassemble the remaining components.

Conclusion

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

Author

trogfield

Member since: 02/11/14

459 Reputation

13 comments

How does this fix the buttons, I do't want to damage my calculator

Daniel Doutch - 19/10/16

Watch for the little clear plastic piece when you put it back together. I think it goes to the inside of the hole for the power connector.

Casey I - 29/08/17

Thanks for this.

The black circular spacers shown at step 6 go on the mounting brackets for the two outermost screws holding the screen onto the mainboard. On the first picture for step 5, if you numbered the circled screws from left to right, those would be screws 1 and 4.

I didn’t have a screwdriver for the clutch screws of the back cover, but a thin, pointed knife tip did the job.

Paul Gouin - 29/10/17

Thanks a lot! Spilled coffee in mine, had to wash all the buttons individually to solve the sticky button issue, worked like a treat.

Søren - 28/11/17

I have the problem that my TI Nspire CX CAS uses the buttons “Enter, E, K, Q and W” on its own, although i can´t use these. These buttons line up, and i tried cleaning them using the guide here. But I still have the same problem. Does somebody have a clue? Or even a way to fix this?

Andi - 21/01/18

Hello there Andi, i seem to have the same problem i was wondering if you by chance had found a solution?

Rene - 19/12/18

Hey! I have a TI-Nspire Cx version. Which screw driver is needed to loosen the screws in step 3?

vikassharma247 - 09/10/18

How do you get the back cover off on the CAS. The screws in step 3 are not there and I cannot find how to undo the last few screws. PLS help.

matthew schorr - 17/03/19

I wonder how many people ruined their calc after following these instructions?

ortegatrail - 25/05/19

How are we supposed to reconnect the metal button cap after it is removed and cleaned?

Nicholas Kaprielian - 11/12/19

Just use some thin, preferrably transparent scotch tape. The metal peice just needs to be held in place by the tape.

m0r -

Hello, I have the TI-Nspire CX II-T version. Does this guide work with it too?

Roland F. - 10/01/24

There are numerous device revisions even within the CX and CX CAS devices. From all I've seen they are very similar. So as long as you feel comfortable with some screw positions being different you should be fine.

m0r -