Fixing a Broken LEXON MINA – Full Repair of Internal FFC Cable, Contacts, etc.

Weekend evening.

I was doing the dishes when my second child suddenly came over going “da, da” while holding something in both hands.

It was the LEXON MINA I had barely managed to fix last time, broken again.

Fixing a Broken LEXON MINA – Full Repair of Internal FFC Cable, Contacts, etc.-1

부러진 렉슨 미나(LEXON MINA) 수리하기 - 하판 3D 모델링

지난번에 목이 부러진 렉슨미나를 수리하는 글을 썼다.그렇게 튼튼하게 영원히 쓰는줄 알았건만...또 아이들이 작살을 내놨다.이젠 하판이 부러져서 스위치도 제대로 눌러지지 않는다.일단 제대로 상태를 보기 위해 분해하고, 그리고 플라스틱 용접기로 어떻게 인공호흡을 해보려 했...

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What on earth did the LEXON MINA ever do to deserve this?

Why does my second child obsessively break only the LEXON MINA?

Fixing a Broken LEXON MINA – Full Repair of Internal FFC Cable, Contacts, etc.-2

This time, the flexible cable snapped, so simply replacing the bottom plate wasn’t enough to fix it.

I had no choice but to take it apart right away.

Fixing a Broken LEXON MINA – Full Repair of Internal FFC Cable, Contacts, etc.-3

1. LEXON MINA flexible flat cable

Fixing a Broken LEXON MINA – Full Repair of Internal FFC Cable, Contacts, etc.-4

By searching the text printed on the flexible flat cable, I found out it was a same-side 8‑pin, 0.5 mm pitch cable.

I ordered it right away from AliExpress.

Fixing a Broken LEXON MINA – Full Repair of Internal FFC Cable, Contacts, etc.-5

The problem is, I should have bought 15 cm, but by mistake I ordered the 10 cm one.

If you ever buy a flexible cable after reading this, make sure you get the 15 cm one.

Fixing a Broken LEXON MINA – Full Repair of Internal FFC Cable, Contacts, etc.-6

2. Printing the bottom plate

As before, I printed the bottom plate.

This time I also printed a cap to attach over the LED and a mounting plate to lift the LED up.

Fixing a Broken LEXON MINA – Full Repair of Internal FFC Cable, Contacts, etc.-7

3. Assembly

During slicing, it seems the lid portion ended up hanging in mid-air, so it didn’t print correctly.

I just slapped it on as-is, even though it was a bit disappointing.

Fixing a Broken LEXON MINA – Full Repair of Internal FFC Cable, Contacts, etc.-8

I also made an L‑shaped part to secure the bottom plate.

The plan was to fix the LED onto this piece.

But a plan is just a plan.

Fixing a Broken LEXON MINA – Full Repair of Internal FFC Cable, Contacts, etc.-9

Fixing a Broken LEXON MINA – Full Repair of Internal FFC Cable, Contacts, etc.-10

I checked that it worked when connected by cable and then assembled everything.

However, the 10 cm flexible flat cable was far too short.

As it was, assembly was impossible, so I ended up removing the L‑shaped part.

And when one of the wires came off the board, I had to resolder it as well.

Fixing a Broken LEXON MINA – Full Repair of Internal FFC Cable, Contacts, etc.-11

So much for extra parts…

Just taping it down to the base is the best.

My second child will probably break it again anyway, so I’ll just change the cable length next time I fix it.

Fixing a Broken LEXON MINA – Full Repair of Internal FFC Cable, Contacts, etc.-12

All that’s left is to pop the lid back on, and it’s done.

Fixing a Broken LEXON MINA – Full Repair of Internal FFC Cable, Contacts, etc.-13

4. Thoughts

Fixing a Broken LEXON MINA – Full Repair of Internal FFC Cable, Contacts, etc.-14

The LEXON MINA used to be my wife’s favorite lamp, but now it has become the lamp I love the most.

After fiddling with it and repairing it more than three times, I’ve come to think that even if it breaks, I can just replace the parts and keep using it.

Isn’t this the true Ship of Theseus—the Theseus LEXON MINA?

I only hope it survives intact, safe from my second child’s hands.