I recently purchased a Pentax LX from Japan and had already spent a considerable amount to fix the stuck mirror issue. However, upon receiving the camera, I discovered another problem: the light meter won't shut off. This is quite frustrating, as I have to remove the battery every time I'm not using the camera.

After some research, I found that this issue is quite common with the Pentax LX and that many repair technicians consider it unfixable due to the problem usually residing within the circuitry or main board.

Therefore, I came up with an idea: since the positive and negative terminals of the LX battery compartment are located within the camera body, and the battery door only serves to cover the battery, I was wondering if it would be possible to 3D print a battery door with a built-in switch. As shown in my rough sketch， pressing the button would push the battery up to contact the internal terminals, thus powering the camera. When not in use, pressing the button again would lower the battery, disconnecting it from the terminals.

My main challenges are that I lack experience in 3D modeling and cannot accurately measure the thread depth and diameter of the LX battery door. I believe the design of the switch's spring mechanism can be handled by professionals.

Therefore, I would greatly appreciate any suggestions or advice from the community. Has anyone attempted something similar or have any insights on how to proceed? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance

⟐ Answer edited January 31, 2025 at 17:04 MST

⟐ Commented October 18, 2025 at 2:08 MST