Color Munki - Disassembly Instructions

I have a 5 year old Color Munki that works intermittently due to a loose USB connector. X-rite does not offer repair services. It is likely that I will be able to resolder a new connector or at least epoxy the current connector. However I am not sure how to disassemble the unit. Can anyone offer advice on how to do this?

The Color Munki body appears to be heat sealed. In mine, the USB cable is permanently attached.

ok, I was hoping it was snapped together. Ok, you must have a newer model, I have a connector. thanks.

Even if it snaps together, it is often necessary to destroy the case to open it. I was involved in manufacturing glucose test meters designed in this fashion. Each half of the shell had locking tabs, and was closed under pressure. To open units for quality control testing, sharp blades were inserted through the sides to sever the tabs. In retrospect, this makes more sense in the Color Munki, since any heat would be generated using ultrasonic sound, which might affect the other components.

I decided not so pursue this.

There's a tool used in the disassembly of things like cell-phones called a spudger that's meant for pulling apart things like this. As long as you know the direction of the clips you can often sort of slowly "unzip" a casing, prying it open clip by clip. You're still very likely to break at least one of the clips but usually enough survive to put the item back together. That's assuming it's not ultrasonically welded, in which case super glue is about the closest replacement for that joint once broken.

There's a tool used in the disassembly of things like cell-phones called a spudger that's meant for pulling apart things like this. As long as you know the direction of the clips you can often sort of slowly "unzip" a casing, prying it open clip by clip. You're still very likely to break at least one of the clips but usually enough survive to put the item back together. That's assuming it's not ultrasonically welded, in which case super glue is about the closest replacement for that joint once broken.

 

 

I have disassembled literally hundreds of plastic housed items over the years--a requisite of being in the electronic repair business. Things must every so often be purposefully broken. Things are every so often inadvertantly broken. Glue and sealant fix this sort of problem.

 

Sometimes when things are 'permanently' sealed--cutting them apart with a Dremel tool or saw is a valid course. If it's yours, and it does not work--what exactly do you have to lose? Tape can but housings that are cut in half back together quite handily... :)