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diff --git a/html/blog/2025-03-05+Fixing_Dell's_Track_Pad_Disaster_With_Hot_Glue+diy+computers.tmpl.html b/html/blog/2025-03-05+Fixing_Dell's_Track_Pad_Disaster_With_Hot_Glue+diy+computers.tmpl.html new file mode 100644 index 0000000..3a7eda6 --- /dev/null +++ b/html/blog/2025-03-05+Fixing_Dell's_Track_Pad_Disaster_With_Hot_Glue+diy+computers.tmpl.html @@ -0,0 +1,25 @@ +{{ define "article" }}
+<article>
+ <h2>{{ .Title }}</h2>
+ <p>The Dell Precision 5540 has a special place in my heart. I drooled over the old XPS 9550 models the design was based on when I was in middle school. I watched and read tons of reviews, configured models on the Dell website for fun, and tried to justify some reason to get one. I finally got the final form of the chassis, the Dell Precision 5540. Not a top spec, but a 9th gen i7 and Quadro T1000 is enough for the modeling and 2D creative work I do. Unfortunately, it's also a terrible machine. Windows sleep issues that try and melt the computer, weird pointer lockup after resuming, and a finicky trackpad click mechanism.</p>
+ <p>The latter is what I'm tackling today. My device is to the point that I cannot make the trackpad click even when fully depressing the pad. Clicking on one side or holding the device with more force on one corner allows for a click. This has been a known design flaw talked about during reviews in the period with no real fix from Dell other than, "trust me bro." I tried to fix it with a shim, and this worked at first, but the squishy and broad nature of the shim made clicks become more and more difficult until I've arrived to my current situation. With the failure of my MacBook Pro, this couldn't continue.</p>
+ <figure>
+ <img src="/static/media/Precision_5540/trackpad_1000.jpg" alt="Back of Dell Precision 5540 trackpad." width="1000" height="750" />
+ <figcaption>Trackpad pulled from machine.</figcaption>
+ </figure>
+ <p>With the trackpad out of the machine, I was able to see the button that is depressed to make the click. There is a little rubber nub attached on the click bubble that provides a pressure point for the click action. This is the source of all my issues. Poor tolerance from the factory leaves a millimeter gap between it and the chassis, making a deep depression required to produce a click. In my case, the trackpad runs out of travel, hitting the battery beneath and making a muddy click.</p>
+ <figure>
+ <img src="/static/media/Precision_5540/button_1000.jpg" alt="Up close shot of click bubble on track pad." width="750" height="1000" />
+ <figcaption>Click bubble with stock nub.</figcaption>
+ </figure>
+ <p>From there, I carefully created a narrow cylinder of hot glue on the bubble and trimmed it down once cooled.</p>
+ <figure>
+ <img src="/static/media/Precision_5540/hot-glue-tower_1000.jpg" alt="Narrow cylindrical hot glue tower over the original nub." width="750" height="1000" />
+ <img src="/static/media/Precision_5540/hot-glue-trimmed_1000.jpg" alt="Cylinder trimmed to be a millimeter or so taller than the original nub." width="750" height="1000" />
+ <figcaption>Hot glue application.</figcaption>
+ </figure>
+ <p>On installation, the nub was a bit tall, but it folded over and seated nicely. I did a quick boot into the OS to verify the trackpad still functioned and then reassembled the computer to give it a real test.</p>
+ <p>It works great. There is no more pre-travel, and clicks are crisp no matter where it's clicked or how the device is held. It's exactly the way it should have been from the factory. The only thing to keep an eye on is if it starts to degrade or melt over time with clicks and temperature fluctuations. The result is exactly what I hoped for, though, so I'll be able to use this computer and swear just a bit less.</p>
+ <p><b>Created:</b> {{ .Date }}</p>
+</article>
+{{ end }}
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