# Half working keyboard

**URL:** https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/half-working-keyboard/16735
**Category:** PicoCalc
**Tags:** hardware
**Created:** [April 13, 2025, 5:27pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/half-working-keyboard/16735 "2025-04-13T17:27:55Z")
**Posts on this page:** 8
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![YvoW](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/yvow/32/11686_2.png) [@YvoW](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/YvoW)
#### Post date: [April 13, 2025, 5:27pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/half-working-keyboard/16735/1 "2025-04-13T17:27:55Z")

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I just received my picocalc. When I screw on the back cover the keyboard doesn’t work at all, but when it’s off… it works almost. Top row is working, bottom row of keys won’t work.

Seems like a broken solder joint or not completely flowed solder. Before I break out the old reflow heat gun, did someone experience the same thing?

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### Author: ![white-round-square](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/white-round-square/32/10385_2.png) [@white-round-square](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/white-round-square)
#### Post date: [April 13, 2025, 5:46pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/half-working-keyboard/16735/2 "2025-04-13T17:46:28Z")

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[help@clockworkpi.com](mailto:help@clockworkpi.com)

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### Author: ![YvoW](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/yvow/32/11686_2.png) [@YvoW](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/YvoW)
#### Post date: [April 13, 2025, 6:09pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/half-working-keyboard/16735/3 "2025-04-13T18:09:33Z")

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I sent an email already, just wanted to know if others may have had the same problem and if there was maybe a temporary fix.

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### Author: ![DigitalDreams](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/digitaldreams/32/16007_2.png) [@DigitalDreams](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/DigitalDreams)
#### Post date: [April 13, 2025, 6:18pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/half-working-keyboard/16735/4 "2025-04-13T18:18:33Z")

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The keyboard connects directly to the onboard STM32 (U201) microcontroller on the other side. Are there any cracks in the circuit board ?. Examining the STM32 with a good magnifying glass might reveal unsoldered joints…

Dare I ask the first 3 digits of your order number snd when you placed the order ?.

 ![20250413_191651](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/uploads/clockworkpi/original/2X/0/02f9436d9f07384e4abe0997e88f546f935855bb.jpeg)

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<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![YvoW](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/yvow/32/11686_2.png) [@YvoW](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/YvoW)
#### Post date: [April 13, 2025, 6:32pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/half-working-keyboard/16735/5 "2025-04-13T18:32:15Z")

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My Ordernr is 343xx. Let me know if you need more.  
I examined it with a microscope. I’ll make some screenshots tomorrow, since I’m not in my lab attm.

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### Author: ![DigitalDreams](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/digitaldreams/32/16007_2.png) [@DigitalDreams](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/DigitalDreams)
#### Post date: [April 13, 2025, 7:07pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/half-working-keyboard/16735/6 "2025-04-13T19:07:38Z")

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Thanks… 3450x here so not looking good for delivery soon.

The top row of buttons are wired differently to the main keyboard. The fact the top row works when not under pressure shows the STM32 is alive as such yet loses all function under case pressure which is a little odd yet still probably bad solder joints if you have no cracks. Makes you wonder if the main board was tested before dispatch…

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### Author: ![YvoW](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/yvow/32/11686_2.png) [@YvoW](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/YvoW)
#### Post date: [April 13, 2025, 10:03pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/half-working-keyboard/16735/7 "2025-04-13T22:03:46Z")

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Just checked again, no visible cracks or irregular solder joints. It gets weirder though. It looks like the i2c communication from the keyboard could be bad. Sometimes it does not allow me to put in a key, but when I hold it, all of a sudden garbage appears with that letter on the keyboard.

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### Author: ![DigitalDreams](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/digitaldreams/32/16007_2.png) [@DigitalDreams](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/DigitalDreams)
#### Post date: [April 13, 2025, 10:33pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/half-working-keyboard/16735/8 "2025-04-13T22:33:45Z")

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Strange… If communication from the STM32 to your core was affected you wouldnt have the top row of buttons working fine yet the main keyboard not. Hopefully Alex and Co send you a new main board.
