Reddit user posts detailed analysis of butterfly keyboard issue: it’s probably not dust

[Fishrrman]

I didn't read it.
But a long time ago, I speculated that it wasn't "just dirt and dust", but perhaps heat as well, or a combination of both.

And of course -- at the core is a poor design to begin with.

How to "fix it"?
EASY:
Go back to the previous (2015 design) keyboard.
Even if it makes the MBP a couple of millimeters -thicker-.

And... once again... buying the 2015 design (in Dec. 2016 after the 2016 design was introduced) remains THE BEST computer-buying decision I ever made...!

 

[afir93]

I didn't read it.
But a long time ago, I speculated that it wasn't "just dirt and dust", but perhaps heat as well, or a combination of both.

And of course -- at the core is a poor design to begin with.

The analysis actually concludes that it is (for the very most part) neither heat nor dirt and dust – his main argument against the former being that the most failure-prone keys don't at all correspond to the areas that are the most exposed to heat (namely the ones above the motherboard), and that the parts below the key can withstand multiple hundred °C without being deformed (whereas the chipset at the very most reaches 100°C). He also makes many compelling arguments that dirt and dust don't cause double-typing keys or failing-to-register keys, they at the very most cause keys that are completely jammed, which has been a lot less common than the other two (and almost never seems to happen on the 2018 MBPs anymore).

Point being: the two by far most commonly suspected causes of the failures (heat and dirt) are both not responsible for a vast majority of butterfly failures. That's what I found so interesting about the analysis because it's so contrary to common belief, yet very convincing. What is it instead? I don't know, and the article is very inconclusive about that. But the issue seems to be much more ingrained in the design than "just" outside forces like dirt or heat "tampering" with the mechanics of the keys, which is also why the membrane in the 2018 MBPs didn't seem to make as big of a difference as we initially were lead to believe.

 

[oneMadRssn]

Hey @spidertnt Although the information and data so far is vague and limited, what are your thoughts on the new domes per ifixit? https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/MacBook+Pro+15-Inch+Touch+Bar+2019+Teardown/123653