Magic Tablet

Step 3 Solder connections (optional)

I really wanted to make this so that the screen would clear itself when you pulled out the drawing screen to erase it. I decided to repurpose one of the buttons on the tablet (they can be mapped to key commands). I soldered wires to each side of one of the pushbutton switches and connected them to two conductive patches that only make contact when the screen is pulled out all the way.

You can certainly skip this step, it does involve a little more risk to the tablet.

I made the conductive patches out of conductive fabric (lessemf.com) because I happened to have some around and because it seemed the most likely to make a flat, smooth surface over which the two pieces could slide. Aluminum foil or copper tape would probably work well too.

First, cut out two small pieces of conductive fabric and solder a wire to each one. Move quickly, the fabric is relatively easy to solder to but it does burn through fast. Glue each of these patches, solder side down, to the cardboard frame and the writing surface (see pictures for location).

Next, use pliers to pry a button out of its little socket. Solder the ends of these two pieces of wire to each side to create a switch.

The wire that goes to the conductive patch on the backing should just be long enough to reach the button on the tablet (red wire in photo). The one on the drawing surface should be long enough to allow it to slide freely (black wire in photo).