Atlas Ocap cracking open

Post by **vickyg2003** » Sat Aug 26, 2017 12:18 pm

I picked up 25 "dirty" backlit Atlas OCAPS for $25 and found that half of them are 1056B03. If I had been paying more attention I would have known to make sure to ask for all 1056B01s.

I'd like to crack some of these babies open and harvest the pristine buttons for use with 1056B01s with discolored buttons.

Does anybody know what size torx screwdriver I need to do this? Or can't they be done at all?

3FG · Post by **3FG** » Sat Aug 26, 2017 3:46 pm

Vicky,
I have both a 1056B01 and a B03. Neither has any screws. I opened both and the button sheets appear to be identical. In fact, the dimensions of the case, PCB, and the clear plastic LED light spreader plate seem to be the same for both versions. My B01 is dated October 2007, and the B03 is October 2010.

The cases have the typical UEI latches with the keypad part of the case fitting inside the bottom part.

Post by **vickyg2003** » Sat Aug 26, 2017 5:03 pm

Its been a long time since I cracked open a case, but I distinctly remember removing a screw in the battery compartment. So when I saw this little hole with the star shape in the middle, I assumed it was a tiny torx screw.

3FG · Post by **3FG** » Sat Aug 26, 2017 6:14 pm

I believe that is a mold mark made when forming the case. It's true that lots of remotes have a screw to hold the two halves together securely, but the not-so-attractive shape of the Atlas makes it pretty stable without any screws.

Post by **vickyg2003** » Sat Aug 26, 2017 8:30 pm

3FG wrote:I believe that is a mold mark made when forming the case. It's true that lots of remotes have a screw to hold the two halves together securely, but the not-so-attractive shape of the Atlas makes it pretty stable without any screws.

Right you are. It wasn't tight because of a screw, its just plain difficult to crack. Difficult to snap together too.

digital_silence · Post by **digital_silence** » Fri Sep 29, 2017 12:27 am

I am a bit late in the topic, but will through in my 2cw anyway:
The nylon guitar pick works well for opening the snap-in cases.
You have to shove it into the gap between the halves and then run it sideways along that gap . Also, a good idea is to sharpen it first with the scalpel or fine sandpaper, so it goes in easily.
If you don't have a pick you can use the plastic ruler instead, but as those are made of PC not nylon, they can easily break... remember to sharpen to accute angle first.
Sorry if I come across as "Captain Obvious".

Post by **The Robman** » Fri Sep 29, 2017 6:28 am

I always saved old credit cards and library cards for that purpose.

Post by **vickyg2003** » Fri Sep 29, 2017 2:05 pm

I always liked a 2" plastic putty knife but the new ones are too flexible. The old ones were more rigid.

Post by **The Robman** » Fri Sep 29, 2017 3:29 pm

Yup, I have a couple of them too for just that reason, but they're a little thicker, so sometimes a credit card or AAA insurance card is better.

Barf · Post by **Barf** » Sat Sep 30, 2017 2:08 am

Finger nails! I keep my finger nails around 1.5mm (1/16 inch) long, and they make very good tools for opening plastic cases like remotes. For some reason, men often cut their nails much shorter than that, rendering then with a useful tool less. (Women in general have their nails too long, but for different reasons...)

Other than that, I'll second nylon guitar picks. I have used one that I picked up (sorry for the pun...) on an Alice Cooper concert several years ago.

Post by **The Robman** » Sat Sep 30, 2017 7:39 am

Now I'm picturing Barf getting out the digital calipers every time he cuts his nails, lol. But yeah, I have pretty strong thumb nails that often get used for this sort of thing too.

xnappo · Post by **xnappo** » Sat Sep 30, 2017 10:12 am

Ouch! Guitar picks and old insurance cards for me.