Short update: I clipped off about 1mm of height from the tactile switch stalks and it seems to have worked out pretty well. The X (top) button did start binding, though. I think my drill-hole was slightly off to the left and down and with the button cap in a lower vertical position, it was forcing the stalk into a pressed state sideways. I had to remove more material from the sides of the A and B button housing as well as widening the hold to the up and right. So I've got a bit of an annular ring opening and I can get the button into a bad position by forcibly pressing down and left, but it's not too bad and wouldn't happen in gameplay most of the time.
More importantly, the height is now much more comfortable.
![[Image: 0MGEV8L.jpg]](https://i.imgur.com/0MGEV8L.jpg)
I made the mistake of using short screws on the clamshell exterior and was having trouble getting them to bite. I mistakenly grabbed threadlocker fluid intended for metals and nearly screwed up the shell (I believe the ABS reacts a bit to the fluid). Cleaned up and fixed after I used the correct screws.
One mod that has my brain tingly is seeing the power light illuminate the right shoulder button. I wonder if I can route some SMD LEDs to the power rail with a strong enough resistor that they illuminate both shoulder buttons and the side guards. Probably not ambitious enough to try hooking into IO ports from the CM3 and programming patterns, but gentle illumination might be pretty cool.
I vaguely recall that there are illumination strips that railroad hobbyists use for neon signage. I'll have to try and track that down.
More importantly, the height is now much more comfortable.
I made the mistake of using short screws on the clamshell exterior and was having trouble getting them to bite. I mistakenly grabbed threadlocker fluid intended for metals and nearly screwed up the shell (I believe the ABS reacts a bit to the fluid). Cleaned up and fixed after I used the correct screws.
One mod that has my brain tingly is seeing the power light illuminate the right shoulder button. I wonder if I can route some SMD LEDs to the power rail with a strong enough resistor that they illuminate both shoulder buttons and the side guards. Probably not ambitious enough to try hooking into IO ports from the CM3 and programming patterns, but gentle illumination might be pretty cool.
I vaguely recall that there are illumination strips that railroad hobbyists use for neon signage. I'll have to try and track that down.