Are there any alternatives to the framework 13 touch pad? I’m very much not a fan of how loud the click is on the touchpad. I’ve seen posts that say it’s quieter if you click towards the bottom of the pad but it’s still obnoxiously loud. I don’t even really have a clue about how I might even start this process. Is it replaceable? is it standard size and shape? what kind of connector does it use?
it lists the part as PixArt PCT3854QR Windows Precision Touchpad 115 x 76.6 mm so that’s a start. I see it has rounded corners so I have to account for those.
Not sure what connector it uses. Does anyone know how I can even start educating myself on trackpads?
In order to attempt this, it would be entirely DIY.
A drop-in replacement touchpad isn’t so feasible. (click for: way too much on why)
Yes? Maybe? Depends on what you mean. The whole touchpad, not just the switch? Obviously, you can buy another touchpad from Framework. But I presume you mean other touchpads, sourced from someplace else. No, afraid not. You can see on the back of the touchpad that it’s text and design matches other Framework components. It was made for Framework by their contract manufacturer (even huge laptop brands contact out the actual manufacturing). The PixArt PCT3854QR is the chip it’s based around. And even if you could technically fit an entirely different touchpad, Framework uses their touchpad PCB as a gathering point for several connections. Keyboard and fingerprint connect there and are merged with the touchpad connection into a single cable to then connect to the mainboard. So you’d need to, at minimum, create a replacement PCB to do the same, if you wanted a whole different touchpad. Then there would be the matter of getting the laptop to understand it… They aren’t like usb devices, just plug-and-play. Usually i2c I think, and the mainboard EC (embebded controller) will only be programed to talk to / understand the Framework touchpad. The Framework EC is open source though, so changing it for a different touchpad should be possible theoretically.
All of the exact connector are listed on Framework’s github. Most are 0.5mm pitch FFC connectors. The end that plugs into the mainboard is different.
I believe all laptops use custom designed touchpads. You really have to. Same with keyboards, webcams, fingerprint readers, complete speaker modules. Sometimes big companies reuse a part for a couple model laptops, but that’s about it.
But! You really only care about the button.
I feel like I saw someone post a partial teardown of the touchpad, and the button was a tactile / “tact” snap disk on the PCB. I don’t recall the style, whether round, triangular, cross.
If you really wanted to try, maybe you could replace the tact disk with one that provides a softer click / snap. You’d have to disassemble a touchpad, measure the contact points under the tact disk, then experiment with a few alternatives that fit. Often, tact disks are just held in place with an adhesive sheet / tape over them & the PCB. This is all presuming my memory is correct of seeing a partial teardown of the touchpad somewhere, likely on the forum. If I’m wrong, it would be harder to replace, as an alternative switch that could be used would be surface mounted solder reflowed. Like these https://www.aliexpress.us/item/2251832637648048.html
