iPad Pro 12.9 (2020) Magic Keyboard Portrait Mode DIY Smart Connector Cable · GitHub

I would like to be able to use the Magic Keyboard in portrait mode with my iPad Pro, but the current Smart Connector configuration doesn’t allow that. Since I had too much time, I made a short jumper wire using a length of USB cable, a 5-pin POGO connector (for 5-pin use pins 1, 3, and 5, and remove pins 2 and 4), a small electrical project box, and a 3mm N52 magnet As well as some epoxy and Sugru to wrap everything in place. My cable and connection orientation had more to do with the box I found housing the connector (with holes on the small end) than anything else. Obviously, there are many ways to do this.

See how it works here: https://youtu.be/oCA5d8SNOYs

I sanded the connector down a bit to expose more of the POGO pin tips to pierce my case. You can simply cut a matching hole in the bottom of the case and set the connector flush and skip those steps.

• Use needle nose pliers to gently pull the spring-loaded POGO pins from the connector. Don’t lose them. i.e. throw them on the carpet, they are hard to see and can hurt when stepped on.
• Use the tips of pliers to push the magnet out of the connector.
• Remove everything from the plastic connector and remove some material; not quite 1/16 inch (1.5 mm) should be fine.
• Carefully push the pins back into the #1, #3, and #5 pin cuts.

• Cut off the end of the cable and trim it to approximately 8.25 inches (21 cm).
• Cut back the outer insulation of the cable to just over 0.75 inches (2 cm).
• At both ends, trim the inner insulation, plastic dividers, and other wires back to the outer insulation, leaving 3 wires: red, white, and black
• On cable end “A”:
  • Remove the insulation from the red wire to expose approximately 3/16 inch (5 mm) of copper wire for soldering connections.
  • Trim black section to 3/16 inch (5 mm) and White wire.
  • Remove the insulation from the black wire, exposing approximately 3/16 inch (5 mm) of copper wire for soldering.
  • Cut off another 3/16 inch (5 mm) of the white thread.
  • Remove the insulation from the white wire, exposing approximately 3/16 inch (5 mm) of copper wire for soldering.
• The “B” end of the cable must be opposite the “A” end for proper layout.
  • Remove the insulation from the white wire, exposing approximately 3/16 inch (5 mm) of copper wire for soldering.
  • Trim black section to 3/16 inch (5 mm) and red line.
  • Remove the insulation from the black wire, exposing approximately 3/16 inch (5 mm) of copper wire for soldering.
  • Cut off another 3/16 inch (5 mm) of red thread.
  • Remove the insulation from the red wire, exposing about 3/16 inch (5 mm) of copper wire for soldering.
• Cables should reflect:

 Side A)                                                           (Side B
      R --- B --- W -- =========================== -- R --- B --- W     

• Mark the pin layout on the outside of the box based on your measurements.
  
• Use a 1/16-inch (1.8) mm drill bit to drill 3 pin holes.
• Test the alignment of the protective case with the holes on the POGO pins on the iPad Magic Keyboard to ensure correct/tight alignment.
• Test installing the POGO pin connector (with #2 and #4 pins removed) into the housing to ensure the POGO pins extend enough to make contact.
• Use 3 3mm x 1mm N52 magnets and test the polarity of the magnet layout on the iPad (not the Magic Keyboard). Unfortunately, I don’t remember the polarity layout.
  
• I removed one magnet at a time, put a little epoxy in the box where the magnet was, then put it back in place and used non-magnetic pliers to press it into the hole.
• Repeat for the other magnet locations.
• Stack additional magnets (3 high??) inside the case and apply a small amount of epoxy to help hold them in place.
• Let it sit with the magnets holding the unit in place while the epoxy hardens.
• After the epoxy hardened, I added more to make sure all the magnets stayed in place. Make sure to leave room for the POGO pins.
• I thought the magnets might scratch the iPad and the magnets were strong enough so I left them inside the case instead of drilling holes for them like the next step. They are not strong enough. Drill the hole and press it into place as follows.
• You should be able to add additional magnets to the layout, as shown in this iFixit Magic Keyboard scan photo iFixt | iPad Pro Magic Keyboard looks cool under X-ray.
  • I will definitely add more magnets next time; not drilled and press fit, but inside the case.
    
    

• Mark the pin layout on the outside of the box based on your measurements.
  
• Use a 1/16-inch (1.8) mm drill bit to drill the 3 contact points and 2 magnet holes.
  
  • Next time I will add additional magnets (undrilled and press fit) to the outside area as shown in the picture.
• Use progressively larger drill bits to drill holes up to 3.0 mm.
• Press the 3mm N52 magnet into the two magnet holes.
• I used 3 (weaker) 3mm magnets from the POGO connector as contact points and used non-magnetic pliers to press them into the 3 flat contact point holes.
• Carefully epoxy the pressure-fitted magnets and contacts in place and allow the epoxy to harden completely.
  • Do not apply epoxy on top of the contact points of a soldered connection.
  • I completely epoxyed the non-contact, working magnet to the box wall.
  • I completely covered the seam between the shell and the contact points to hold them in place.
  • Make sure the housing, magnet, and contacts are all pressed down and flat on the work surface. They should not be dented at all.

• Solder the white, black and red wires to the POGO connector pins according to the following configuration. Do not solder flat contacts.

 A - POGO Pins)                                                       (B - Flat Contact Points
  +--------------------+                         +--------------------+
  |   R     B     W    |=========================|   R     B     W    | 
  +--------------------+                         +--------------------+

• Lay the POGO needle box (box piece A) flat on a work surface with the 2 magnets opposite you and the single magnet close to you. (The cable will go to the right)

  +--------------------+
  |  ◯   .  .  .   ◯ |
  |                    |===
  |◯                  |
  +--------------------+

• Carefully apply the POGO connector into the housing without applying epoxy on the POGO needle and allow the epoxy to harden.

• With the POGO connector pin side up, place the flat contact housing (housing piece B) on the work surface with the contacts side down, with the two magnets towards you and the single magnet side facing you. The POGO pin end and flat contact end need to be in opposite directions for the cable to work properly and there is no need to twist the cable.

                                                 +--------------------+
                                                 |◯                  |
                                              ===|                    |
                                                 |   ◯  *  *  *  ◯  |
                                                 +--------------------+

• Solder the wires to the contacts. These must be in the same order from left to right as the POGO pin side

 A - POGO Pins)                                                       (B - Flat Contact Points
  +--------------------+                         +--------------------+
  |   R     B     W    |=========================|   R     B     W    | 
  +--------------------+                         +--------------------+

• The cable should now work and the Magic Keyboard can be used with the iPad in portrait mode.

• I used Sugru to fill the dead spaces in the box to prevent things from moving around. Leave a little Sugru aside to close off unused cable gaps in the enclosure.
• Close the box.
• Fill unused cable gaps in the enclosure with remaining Sugru.