Need help disassembling POS computer.

June 14, 2008 9:12 AM

I need to replace a power supply on a FlexPOS 150 (a touchscreen-based point-of-sale computer). However, one ever-looming obstacle towers over me like some malevolent god-beast (with a lot of screws): how the hell do I take this machine apart?

So, I'm a bench tech in a computer repair sort-of business. I've tried searching online for service manuals or disassembly instructions, but I've only been able to find the owner's manual, which is decidedly unhelpful for my purposes. If anyone has any experience replacing parts on either the FlexPOS 150 or 120 (I don't know how similar the other models are to the 150), disassembly tips/instructions would be greatly appreciated.

posted by The Great Big Mulp to computers & internet (6 comments total)

Oh, right, I suppose I should include a link which gives some idea as to what the machine looks like.
posted by The Great Big Mulp at 9:16 AM on June 14, 2008

If there is a lot to keep track of, typically I would get a piece of paper and draw sections on it with labels for each pile of screws. Additionally you can draw a map of where the screws came from, videotape your disassembly, etc. Is there anything more complicated than this?
posted by rhizome at 10:35 AM on June 14, 2008

It's not so much that there is a lot to keep track of, but there are a few areas (like the giant hinge) I'm having trouble getting around, so it's more that I'm trying to find out if there is an easier beyond removing every single screw I see.
posted by The Great Big Mulp at 11:09 AM on June 14, 2008

This may border on the realm of trivially obvious, but many manufacturers label the 'remove the shell' screws with a hollow arrow stamped into the casing.

Personally, I'd invert the thing display down on a towel, and start with the screws in the feet (Guessing from illustrations) to see if I could get the bottom panel to come off. - Since all the I/O ports are mounted upside down in the back, I'm assuming the motherboard is screwed either into a top RF cage or directly into the plastic upper housing. It looks like the power supply in the thing should be directly accessable once the bottom tray is off.
posted by Orb2069 at 1:44 PM on June 14, 2008

Just to mention that I've dealt with Goodson by phone a couple of years ago (repairing a couple of faulty cash drawers when the local system vendor wanted us to buy whole new kit), and their service people were remarkably helpful. I see you're not in Aus, so maybe drop them an email?
posted by Pinback at 8:17 PM on June 14, 2008

Oh, thanks, Pinback! I'll drop them a line tomorrow, as, on top of further disassembly, I still need to find a replacement power supply for this thing.
posted by The Great Big Mulp at 5:21 PM on June 15, 2008