New2EV
Well-Known Member
- First Name
- Jeff
- Joined
- Mar 20, 2021
- Threads
- 14
- Messages
- 291
- Reaction score
- 388
- Location
- Palm Bay Florida
- Vehicles
- Charger, Explorer, Chevelle, Mach E
- Occupation
- Engineer
- Thread starter
- #1
I thought I'd start a new thread instead of continuing to take over someone else's.
https://www.macheforum.com/site/threads/card-fob.8994/page-2#post-235640
Since PAAK has issues and I rarely take the FOB out of my pocket, I attempted to make a smaller key fob out of an aftermarket FOB bought off our favorite auction site. This FOB was fairly cheap and was easily programmed to my car (using my 2 existing FOBs). https://www.ebay.com/itm/384165438234
I then disassembled it and started designing a smaller case without the metal key or buttons. After 2 or 3 designs, I think I ended up with something that works fairly well and is still strong enough not to break in my pocket. I really didn't want to alter the PCB, but ended up pulling the center part of the buttons off because they would randomly set off my car alarm. They come right off, but it's a one way deal. Pulling them means this FOB is forever dedicated to proximity only. It was a trade off vs making the case another mm thicker.
I posted the files on Thingiverse if anyone else wants to give it a shot.
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4958307
It ended up being about as wide as the OEM remote, shorter by the length of the metal key section and a little more than half as thick (12mm). It definitely feels smaller in the hand and pocket. There's a lot that could be done with this still...dual color, add designs or names to the outside, but at this point I'm tired of messing with it. I have a hobby 3D printer and had to print out the 2 halves separately and super glue them together. Someone with a high quality printer could possibly print it out in one piece.
Be careful inserting the board into the new housing. The board has several very small components on it and some are located near the edge. These are easily scraped off if you are not careful.
https://www.macheforum.com/site/threads/card-fob.8994/page-2#post-235640
Since PAAK has issues and I rarely take the FOB out of my pocket, I attempted to make a smaller key fob out of an aftermarket FOB bought off our favorite auction site. This FOB was fairly cheap and was easily programmed to my car (using my 2 existing FOBs). https://www.ebay.com/itm/384165438234
I then disassembled it and started designing a smaller case without the metal key or buttons. After 2 or 3 designs, I think I ended up with something that works fairly well and is still strong enough not to break in my pocket. I really didn't want to alter the PCB, but ended up pulling the center part of the buttons off because they would randomly set off my car alarm. They come right off, but it's a one way deal. Pulling them means this FOB is forever dedicated to proximity only. It was a trade off vs making the case another mm thicker.
I posted the files on Thingiverse if anyone else wants to give it a shot.
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4958307
It ended up being about as wide as the OEM remote, shorter by the length of the metal key section and a little more than half as thick (12mm). It definitely feels smaller in the hand and pocket. There's a lot that could be done with this still...dual color, add designs or names to the outside, but at this point I'm tired of messing with it. I have a hobby 3D printer and had to print out the 2 halves separately and super glue them together. Someone with a high quality printer could possibly print it out in one piece.
Be careful inserting the board into the new housing. The board has several very small components on it and some are located near the edge. These are easily scraped off if you are not careful.
