Are you interested in DIY hardware or would you rather buy ready-made solutions? - Page 4

leytond · 25 March 2009, 14:29

i one of those that would rather just plug it in and it work and do what i want it to, all that other stuff should be left to the hardware designer and software people , thats why i pay for the stuff, ya wouldnt buy a brnd new car and be told that you had to get the engine running now would you,

Sensi · 25 March 2009, 14:39

I dont do anything in DIY style. Its boring, waste of time,glue, tools, NO ! I can do some repairs, it it was necessary there would be no other way. But its never necessary (talking about computers now

).

Charlie · 25 March 2009, 14:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zetr0

@Charlie

I donno m8, that Kinetic RISC over clocking thread is pretty damn epic m8!

Hi Zetr0
Somehow I missed your kind comment, hence the slow reply - I'm learning, I hope.

Not done with the RPC Overclocking or the A3000-modding BTW.

Firthy2002 · 03 August 2009, 15:17

I would tinker, but I need to learn soldering skills first.

Jope · 03 August 2009, 15:21

1) warm up whatever you want to solder
2) dab a little bit of solder on there to make the joint
3) remove your iron

If you fail at 1, the solder won't stick or will go to the wrong place. Too much of 1 and you will ruin the component you're soldering.

Use resin core solder. Select the solder and your iron's tip appropriately, 0,5-1,5mm is fine for electronics work.

Off you go. :-)

Firthy2002 · 03 August 2009, 15:27

I have had a go, but it seems I am a master of the dry joint.

demusse · 03 August 2009, 16:40

check this out...

http://hackedgadgets.com/2008/01/14/...ring-tutorial/

Zetr0 · 04 August 2009, 03:30

some damn fine solder skills I must say

I can however say, if you want to move from amateur-burn-a-board soldering, get FLUX PASTE..... it will improve your soldering by a factor of 10!!!!

no more dry joints.... no more frustration that its not taking solder.....

just £2.50 a tub of copperlux from Wilkinsons or Wicks, and it will last you a year of good use / abuse!!!

remember to get some IPA or other cleaning solution flux is nasty stuff if left and copperlux is designed for copper pipes in plumbing.... it just also happens to be FANTASTIC for soldering

.... and cheap...

for cleaning PCB's, I two differing processes

Process 1. Small boards / Parts

Use pre-diluted car screen wash (£1 for 2 litres at poundland)
6-9 minutes in the Ultra Sonic cleaner (a solution of water and Fairy liquid)

Process 2. Large Items like motherboards

Using electric toothbrush (£1 from poundland) and Pre-Diluted Car Screen Wash over area
Use the Dishwasher on 50, no drying cycle. Item is allowed to dry over 48 hours in airing cupard rotating every 12 hours.

Other usefull (£1) things....

Pack of 9 steel Scourers
(great for cleaning your Soldering Iron tip without loosing heat)
Large Pack of Steel Wool
(usefull for removing Laqure / Carbon compund from PCB boards so you can solder to the copper)
Industrial Rubber Gloves
(when playing with Ferric Chloride, this is Very Safe and Cheap!)
Dental Kit, with both metal hook * Point,
(great for positioning soldering components and helping to leaver them free when de-soldering)
Cable ties
everyone needs these, and for 500 of them for a squiddy, what can you say.

will post more later.

Merlin · 04 August 2009, 10:18

Toaster oven soldering links, for those who thought I was smoking the tea bags again....this is for Zetr0 as well, who I reckon will rush out and buy one....

http://www.seattlerobotics.org/encod...6/oven_art.htm

http://www.instructables.com/id/Toas...Soldering-BGA/

Cool, eh?

Shadowfire · 18 August 2009, 16:37

The pre-balled BGA's really aren't that bad if you have a hot air rework station and some high temperature tape such as http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3...raturepcbtapes (we were actually using Kapton tape at my last job, which is $0.33/foot)

Position the BGA, tape it into place, flux it up with liquid no-clean flux, then hit it with a heat gun. I was applying 44-pin BGA's no problem. Preheat part & board to 200C for 30 seconds, then apply 250C for 10 seconds, done.

Of course, you should check the datasheet for your particular part to see the soldering temperature recommendations.

If the part isn't pre-balled, goodluckwiththat, the quantity of solder is *critical* on a BGA since you cannot rework it, and without a machine, your odds of a good job (i.e. no shorts or opens) are... poor.

tonyyeb · 18 August 2009, 21:20

Great tips Zetr0.

I chose the middle option but really I don't trust my soldering skills. For important stuff I buy... for messing about I like to make my own stuff. I wish I knew how to design PCB's etc... I did a little bit of playing with PIC programming (and with it learning some C) with the help of Dimlow but that has dried up since I formatted my PC and can't be bothered installing the software again!

I wish I had the chance to go back to school to learn these things with a specialist teacher there to ask questions to... plus having set lessons with targets suits my learning style... I can't do self taught stuff... well not properly!

EvilCensor · 05 May 2010, 00:06

Really depends on how complex the project is.

slk486 · 05 May 2010, 10:05

Only thing I've done is solder some wires for a 50/60 switch in a Megadrive recently, and that took 3 tries

I was better at it when I was in my teens, but I'd rather buy good quality stuff, leaving the soldering to the experts

orange · 14 May 2010, 23:13

i mostly made SCART and FDD cables, mouse+kbd adapters, ATX PSU, repaired leaking batt, and other similar small problems.
still, I prefer ready, commercial, factory made solutions. esp. the ones that are almost as old as Amiga. it 'preserves the authenticity'..

Franko · 28 July 2010, 22:18

If it Aint Broke, Fix It !!!!

Thats my motto...

LuMan · 13 December 2010, 21:23

HAHA! I knew my electronics diploma would be useful for something. Built a 6502-controlled robotic arm, decimal counter (for no other reason that it was there), a motion-detect water squirter and an A1200 tower!!!

Obviously the A1200T is an ongoing project.....!

prowler · 13 December 2010, 22:02

HAHA! My brother (who doesn't have an electronics diploma) bought a Xtal radio kit and proceeded to assemble it...

When he'd finished, it didn't function as a radio, but it sure made a good metal detector!

(Don't ask!

)

ceedy · 05 February 2011, 11:44

Diy all the way...

no real fun in just plugging in !

I'm old school...

Nothing is chucked out until I've mended it to death!!

telbee · 09 February 2011, 00:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by ceedy

Diy all the way...

no real fun in just plugging in !

I'm old school...

Nothing is chucked out until I've mended it to death!!

Mended to death.. I've an attic full of junk computers that probably worked perfectly until I 'fixed' them - or 'temporarily' nicked a RAM chip from them!

XDelusion · 06 August 2011, 12:22

I'd love to see someone start building these:

http://aminet.net/package/mus/play/MAS-Player

View Poll Results: Are you a
DIY person - your soldering iron never gets packed away	97	28.28%
Occasional tinkerer - you can make HW mods but would rather pay for a ready solution	159	46.36%
User - you'd much rather buy a ready made solution instead of wasting your time	87	25.36%
Voters: 343. You may not vote on this poll

04 August 2009, 03:30	#68
Zetr0 Ya' like it Retr0? Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: United Kingdom Age: 49 Posts: 9,768	some damn fine solder skills I must say I can however say, if you want to move from amateur-burn-a-board soldering, get FLUX PASTE..... it will improve your soldering by a factor of 10!!!! no more dry joints.... no more frustration that its not taking solder..... just £2.50 a tub of copperlux from Wilkinsons or Wicks, and it will last you a year of good use / abuse!!! remember to get some IPA or other cleaning solution flux is nasty stuff if left and copperlux is designed for copper pipes in plumbing.... it just also happens to be FANTASTIC for soldering .... and cheap... for cleaning PCB's, I two differing processes Process 1. Small boards / Parts Use pre-diluted car screen wash (£1 for 2 litres at poundland) 6-9 minutes in the Ultra Sonic cleaner (a solution of water and Fairy liquid) Process 2. Large Items like motherboards Using electric toothbrush (£1 from poundland) and Pre-Diluted Car Screen Wash over area Use the Dishwasher on 50, no drying cycle. Item is allowed to dry over 48 hours in airing cupard rotating every 12 hours. Other usefull (£1) things.... Pack of 9 steel Scourers (great for cleaning your Soldering Iron tip without loosing heat) Large Pack of Steel Wool (usefull for removing Laqure / Carbon compund from PCB boards so you can solder to the copper) Industrial Rubber Gloves (when playing with Ferric Chloride, this is Very Safe and Cheap!) Dental Kit, with both metal hook * Point, (great for positioning soldering components and helping to leaver them free when de-soldering) Cable ties everyone needs these, and for 500 of them for a squiddy, what can you say. will post more later.

18 August 2009, 16:37	#70
Shadowfire Registered User Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Connecticut USA Posts: 617	The pre-balled BGA's really aren't that bad if you have a hot air rework station and some high temperature tape such as http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3...raturepcbtapes (we were actually using Kapton tape at my last job, which is $0.33/foot) Position the BGA, tape it into place, flux it up with liquid no-clean flux, then hit it with a heat gun. I was applying 44-pin BGA's no problem. Preheat part & board to 200C for 30 seconds, then apply 250C for 10 seconds, done. Of course, you should check the datasheet for your particular part to see the soldering temperature recommendations. If the part isn't pre-balled, goodluckwiththat, the quantity of solder is critical on a BGA since you cannot rework it, and without a machine, your odds of a good job (i.e. no shorts or opens) are... poor. Last edited by Shadowfire; 18 August 2009 at 16:48.

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25 March 2009, 14:29	#61
leytond MY 1200 IS AWSOME Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: doncaster england Age: 55 Posts: 700	i one of those that would rather just plug it in and it work and do what i want it to, all that other stuff should be left to the hardware designer and software people , thats why i pay for the stuff, ya wouldnt buy a brnd new car and be told that you had to get the engine running now would you,

25 March 2009, 14:39	#62
Sensi Unregistered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: N/A Posts: 1,643	I dont do anything in DIY style. Its boring, waste of time,glue, tools, NO ! I can do some repairs, it it was necessary there would be no other way. But its never necessary (talking about computers now ).

03 August 2009, 15:17	#64
Firthy2002 2nd era... Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Leeds, England Age: 40 Posts: 288	I would tinker, but I need to learn soldering skills first.

03 August 2009, 15:21	#65
Jope - Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Helsinki / Finland Age: 43 Posts: 9,863	1) warm up whatever you want to solder 2) dab a little bit of solder on there to make the joint 3) remove your iron If you fail at 1, the solder won't stick or will go to the wrong place. Too much of 1 and you will ruin the component you're soldering. Use resin core solder. Select the solder and your iron's tip appropriately, 0,5-1,5mm is fine for electronics work. Off you go. :-)

03 August 2009, 15:27	#66
Firthy2002 2nd era... Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Leeds, England Age: 40 Posts: 288	I have had a go, but it seems I am a master of the dry joint.

03 August 2009, 16:40	#67
demusse Input Needed Join Date: May 2009 Location: Overpelt/Belgium Age: 56 Posts: 44	check this out... http://hackedgadgets.com/2008/01/14/...ring-tutorial/

04 August 2009, 10:18	#69
Merlin AmiBay MegaMod Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Manchester, UK Age: 62 Posts: 1,163	Toaster oven soldering links, for those who thought I was smoking the tea bags again....this is for Zetr0 as well, who I reckon will rush out and buy one.... http://www.seattlerobotics.org/encod...6/oven_art.htm http://www.instructables.com/id/Toas...Soldering-BGA/ Cool, eh?

18 August 2009, 21:20	#71
tonyyeb Has the Amiga bug again Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Hull, UK Age: 43 Posts: 791	Great tips Zetr0. I chose the middle option but really I don't trust my soldering skills. For important stuff I buy... for messing about I like to make my own stuff. I wish I knew how to design PCB's etc... I did a little bit of playing with PIC programming (and with it learning some C) with the help of Dimlow but that has dried up since I formatted my PC and can't be bothered installing the software again! I wish I had the chance to go back to school to learn these things with a specialist teacher there to ask questions to... plus having set lessons with targets suits my learning style... I can't do self taught stuff... well not properly!

05 May 2010, 00:06	#72
EvilCensor A1000 User Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Austin, US Posts: 51	Really depends on how complex the project is.

05 May 2010, 10:05	#73
slk486 Registered Looser Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Denmark Posts: 336	Only thing I've done is solder some wires for a 50/60 switch in a Megadrive recently, and that took 3 tries I was better at it when I was in my teens, but I'd rather buy good quality stuff, leaving the soldering to the experts

14 May 2010, 23:13	#74
orange Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Belgrade Posts: 567	i mostly made SCART and FDD cables, mouse+kbd adapters, ATX PSU, repaired leaking batt, and other similar small problems. still, I prefer ready, commercial, factory made solutions. esp. the ones that are almost as old as Amiga. it 'preserves the authenticity'..

28 July 2010, 22:18	#75
Franko Happily Retired... Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Livingston, Scotland Age: 59 Posts: 62	If it Aint Broke, Fix It !!!! Thats my motto...

13 December 2010, 21:23	#76
LuMan Amigan - an' lovin' it!! Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Nottingham, UK Age: 55 Posts: 557	HAHA! I knew my electronics diploma would be useful for something. Built a 6502-controlled robotic arm, decimal counter (for no other reason that it was there), a motion-detect water squirter and an A1200 tower!!! Obviously the A1200T is an ongoing project.....!

13 December 2010, 22:02	#77
prowler Global Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Sidcup, England Posts: 10,300	HAHA! My brother (who doesn't have an electronics diploma) bought a Xtal radio kit and proceeded to assemble it... When he'd finished, it didn't function as a radio, but it sure made a good metal detector! (Don't ask! )

05 February 2011, 11:44	#78
ceedy Old-Amiga-Git Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Somerset , in the UK Posts: 175	Diy all the way... no real fun in just plugging in ! I'm old school... Nothing is chucked out until I've mended it to death!!

06 August 2011, 12:22	#80
XDelusion Alien Breeder Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: NW Ohio Posts: 276	I'd love to see someone start building these: http://aminet.net/package/mus/play/MAS-Player

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