Lenovo Thinkpad USB Keyboard with Trackpoint (aka SK-8855)

[davkol]

There has been some interest in rebuilding the external thinkpad keyboards or something like that, thus I'm posting requested pictures.

I have two SK-8855 keyboards: one is R00 with Czech ISO layout, the other one R01 with US ANSI layout. The difference between the two revisions is probably firmware; the older one apparently fails to register double tapping at times, and releasing modifiers (Shift in particular) isn't always registered on time, which may cause DOuble CAps, if you type "fast" (over 50 wpm, according to some reviews on Amazon).

Lenovo SK-8855 R00 (Czech ISO)

keyboard_front.jpg (152.51 KiB) Viewed 14391 times

If you want to open it, unscrew all eight screws; two of them are under stickers—it's possible to remove the left one without damaging anything; the right one… not so much. Luckily, it doesn't void the warranty in EU AFAIK.

8 screws (2 are hidden under the stickers)

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Top and bottom parts of the case are snapped together on the remaining three edges. Use some thin, wide object to open the keyboard; unsnapping the rear is optional.

the top and bottom parts are snapped together on the sides and in the rear; use a wide thin object to open the sides, the rear is optional

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the top and bottom parts are snapped together on the sides and in the rear; use a wide thin object to open the sides, the rear is optional

chassis_top.jpg (145.06 KiB) Viewed 14391 times

case

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Here go all the electronics:

Czech ISO keyboard removed from the SK-8855 R00

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Now the USB converter from the R01…

connected USB converter PCB @ Lenovo SK-8855 R01

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USB converter PCB @ Lenovo SK-8855 R01

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backside of the USB converter PCB @ Lenovo SK-8855 R01

pcb_rear.jpg (579.93 KiB) Viewed 14391 times

…and the R00:

USB converter PCB @ Lenovo SK-8855 R00

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backside of the USB converter PCB @ Lenovo SK-8855 R00

pcb_rear.jpg (638.21 KiB) Viewed 14391 times

I've tried to replace the keyboard module (supposedly identical with the T410's one) by a random one I found at home (from X200, i.e. one generation older). It worked fine except the Fn layer and suprisingly the (left) Win/Super key.

For the reference, stickers from the stock keyboards in my SK-8855 follow; R00 first…

Czech ISO keyboard @ SK-8855 R00

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…and now the R01:

US ANSI keyboard @ SK-8855 R01

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US ANSI keyboard @ SK-8855 R01

kb_sticker_1.jpg (177.53 KiB) Viewed 14391 times

That's all, I guess. I hope it helps.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

[DerpyDash_xAD]

Nice I love me a lenovo thinkpad keyboard

[crashnburn]

Nice I love me a lenovo thinkpad keyboard

This breakdown brought me back after I gave up with the registration process late one night. Then the fruit hit me