Author Archives: Jim

First 6 latch boards for scrolling LED display

Jim Harvey and I got together at the space 2/16 to test and install the first 6 columns’ worth of latch boards.  First step was to test them.  That was a very good idea, since there were some bad traces … Continue reading

Posted in Scrolling LED, Workshop 88 Stuff | 11 Comments

Reflowing LEDs/resistors on heated build platform

The heated build platform being built for the Makerbot at W88 should help avoid problems with prints warping.  It didn’t ship with the optional LEDs (and resistors) to make it look cool, but I had some and offered to install … Continue reading

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(Re-)Rooting my Nook Color

I got a Nook Color from some deal site (maybe 10/11?) partly as a nice portable book reader for Lauren and partly to be rooted into a general purpose Android tablet for both of us.  I rooted it and it … Continue reading

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Reflow hot plate calibration

While the first few reflow attempts using the “turn it on, wait ’til the solder is shiny, take the board off” approach have more or less worked, it would be nice to see if we can come closer to a  … Continue reading

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Thermocouple interface

I’d like to get a little more familiar with the time/temperature behavior of the hot plate reflow setup before I try any more real boards, so I need a recording thermometer to do some testing.  I have some shiny new … Continue reading

Posted in Reflow soldering | 3 Comments

Making more cupric chloride etchant

The CuCl2 etchant is working great, but I lose a very small bit with liquid that clings to the board and holder each time I take one out.  Between that, wanting a little deeper bath in case I need a … Continue reading

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First hot plate reflow attempts

Dan, Jim (from FSI) and I did a first round of surface mount reflow soldering tests on my new hot plate at the space Tuesday evening.  Results were excellent – even better than I’d expected. I chose a hot plate … Continue reading

Posted in Reflow soldering, Workshop 88 Stuff | 5 Comments

Personal journal

I’d like a journal-type tool to keep track of life stuff.  I kept a daily journal at work for the last several years, expanding it toward the end to include a closing one-liner each day just for me with a … Continue reading

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PCB etch fail

Wow – I just had an etch fail dramatically.  I don’t think this has ever happened before – certainly not since my process stabilized with presensitized board (long before I started with cupric chloride).  I suspect it was just left … Continue reading

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3.3 V adapter – oops

With more and more stuff running on 3 V, I decided to make a quickie adapter for the very nice SparkFun 5V-from-an-AA supply that lives on my bench.  Then I’d have which ever voltage I needed right at hand. Just … Continue reading

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