Lynx I D-pad PCB trace damaged. Repair tips anyone?

[Megantonneke]

Hi there everybody,

 

I have the following Issue with a Lynx I. Left on the D-pad is not working.

After closer examination of the PCB it is clear what happened: The trace of the left D-pad button runs through the center of the 4 D-pad, exactly where the central tilting axis of the D-pad rests on the PCB. Due to heavy use, the part of PCB directly underneath the D-pad axis has started deteriorating, severing the trace of the D-pad left button.

 

I tried repairing it using conducting ink, but it was for me impossible to only expose the copper of the trace and the trace is very fine. The result was no connection or a shortcut with the surrounding ground, resulting in continues left-input.

So I cleaned it up again. I attached a foto of how it looks now.

 

Has anyone experience with repairing this issue or similar PCB damage?

I have already been looking into repair using copper or silver wire and using insulating arcylic or silicon based conformal coatings, but I am still a novice at this. Any tips on good PCB repair tools products for hobbyists are welcome.

 

Is it me, or is running this trace directly underneath the area, where the tilt-axis touches the PCB a design fault or not?

 

Thanks advance!

 

 

[cowdog360]

Probably the best way to repair this would be to scrape away the damaged area. Take some copper foil and cut it in the shape of the trace. Attach to the board using a hi temp PCB expoxy, let dry. Run some solder over the new trace to the existing trace to connect.

 

Here's a decent guide: http://www.circuitrework.com/guides/4-7-1.shtml