crwdns2933423:0crwdne2933423:0

crwdns2942213:0crwdne2942213:0

crwdns2935311:0crwdnd2935311:0crwdne2935311:0 crwdns2935313:0Texas Instruments TI-30Xacrwdnd2935313:0crwdnd2935313:0crwdne2935313:0

  1. Texas Instruments TI-30Xa Teardown, Flip the calculator over to the back and remove the screws.: crwdns2935265:01crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0 Texas Instruments TI-30Xa Teardown, Flip the calculator over to the back and remove the screws.: crwdns2935265:01crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0
    • You'll need to take out the 6 Philips 00 screws on the back to pop this puppy open. So, do just that!.

    • This isn't like an iPhone where putting one in wrong will brick it, they're all the same size.

  2. Texas Instruments TI-30Xa Teardown, Pry the notches on the back to separate the rear cover.: crwdns2935265:02crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:01crwdne2935265:0
    • See those notches? We'll have to pry on those to get the calc open. Use a plastic spudger to avoid cosmetic damage.

  3. Texas Instruments TI-30Xa Teardown, Remove the batteries and their connectors from their place on the front panel.: crwdns2935265:03crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0 Texas Instruments TI-30Xa Teardown, Remove the batteries and their connectors from their place on the front panel.: crwdns2935265:03crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0
    • Pop goes the weasel! The back cover is off! Now, you'll have to remove those batteries and connectors. The batteries are easy to get out, while for the connectors, you might have to do some prying with a flathead to get them out.

    • See that water and orange? That means that this calc has been exposed to water and has to be dried off. On to step 4!

  4. Texas Instruments TI-30Xa Teardown, Pry the board from its pegs!: crwdns2935265:04crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 Texas Instruments TI-30Xa Teardown, Pry the board from its pegs!: crwdns2935265:04crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 Texas Instruments TI-30Xa Teardown, Pry the board from its pegs!: crwdns2935265:04crwdnd2935265:03crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0
    • See those little plastic pegs? Those prevent the logic board from being freed! (I think it's to maintain key rigidity and proper function. My keys worked fine after this, but they were pretty mushy.)

    • You're not going to like this step, as it involves prying with a screwdriver and breaking these awful pegs off! So pry until the pegs in that area break, then move down the board!

    • The board is free!

    • Also, this little epoxy blob appears to be the processor. I could probably melt it off if I desperately wanted to, but the calculator works fine. If someone does, send me pics! I'm assuming the processor is ancient Texas secret. Or just some propietary chip.

    • Don't pry too far in, as you risk damaging the traces connecting the keys!

  5. Texas Instruments TI-30Xa Teardown, The keycaps and gray layer! You've reached the end, so keep going for more pics!: crwdns2935265:05crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0 Texas Instruments TI-30Xa Teardown, The keycaps and gray layer! You've reached the end, so keep going for more pics!: crwdns2935265:05crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0
    • Here we have it. A free board. Clean off those connectors if they're dirty or wet!

    • See that little gray layer? It's what transfers the button push from the plastic to the board. You can remove it to clean it. You're pretty much done! Look at step 6 for an exploded view.

  6. Texas Instruments TI-30Xa Teardown, The exploded view!: crwdns2935265:06crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 Texas Instruments TI-30Xa Teardown, The exploded view!: crwdns2935265:06crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 Texas Instruments TI-30Xa Teardown, The exploded view!: crwdns2935265:06crwdnd2935265:03crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0
    • Boom! That was cool. Those little keycaps are individual and so cute! There's nothing really user replaceable except for the batteries, but you can still dry it off if it got wet. Simply snap everything back together to reassemble! I’d give this a 9/10 for repairability. There’s only screws but you can’t replace the screen.

Liam Powell

crwdns2935283:012/29/15crwdne2935283:0

186 crwdns2915208:0crwdne2915208:0

crwdns2935295:0crwdne2935295:0

crwdns2944067:09crwdne2944067:0

how easy was this from 0 to 10 remember 10 is easiest

storm builder - crwdns2934203:0crwdne2934203:0

storm builder, that’s not a needed addition to all guides. But nice catch!

Aiden - crwdns2934203:0crwdne2934203:0

Any tips on how to best get the key caps back in the right spot? Also, could you use super glue to fix the board back on its mounting pins?

Ralph Peteranderl - crwdns2934203:0crwdne2934203:0

You’re going to have to realign them all manually. Also, I’m pretty sure you could, but use it sparingly.

Liam Powell -

Any idea how to get a spare LCD display?

Count Omega - crwdns2934203:0crwdne2934203:0

Hey, the display is somehow soldered to a flexible PCB which is soldered to the motherboard. They’re permanently adhered together. You should just buy a new calculator since these are so cheap.

Liam Powell -

Does anyone know where to order the screws for this?

Steve LeBlanc-Brown - crwdns2934203:0crwdne2934203:0

I’d honestly just buy a new calculator or a broken one that you can get the screws from. This teardown was just for fun.

Liam Powell -

Honestly I wasn't expecting the batteries to be replaceable, but they are! Thank you!

Colby W - crwdns2934203:0crwdne2934203:0

crwdns2917038:0crwdne2917038:0

crwdns2936625:0crwdne2936625:0:

crwdns2936751:024crwdne2936751:0 2

crwdns2936753:07crwdne2936753:0 11

crwdns2936753:030crwdne2936753:0 52

crwdns2942667:0crwdne2942667:0 4,800