[blog] SIDSt4ti0n Photoblog

[FLD]

I have started building my MidiBoX SID and i decided to make one of these PhotoBlogs, because everyone else has one. So i´m making a MBSID with 4x SID:s 2x8580 and 2x6581. The SID:s i got from friends with 2-5€ each.

I have already received my parts from Reichelt.de and they cost me about 240€ with all expenses. I also spent 200€ in my local electronics store, because i needed some better equipment, and good tools are always investments ;)

Also i decided to make the PCB:s myself, because i happen to have equipment and knowhow for that :)

And i should probably also mention that i´m videotaping all that i´m doing, so if someone wants i can release it somewhere somehow sometime :p

So heres some pictures!

Heres what reichelt gave me:

I started by spraying POSITIV 20 Photosensitive spray to blank PCB:s:

While the boards were drying i made the Optimized C64 Powerthingy on stripboard:

Next step is to expose the boards with this:

Then develop them in Caustic Soda...

And etch them in my tank:

[FLD]

I just exposed and developed all the PCB:s and they look pretty good.

Well its not Perfect but it will do just fine. For perfect results you should spray the lacquer in dust free place and leave about 1cm empty space to each side.

Now i have some etching to do!

[FLD]

Etched the boards.. Results were not perfect because i didn't develop the boards long enough, but its nothing that a sharp knife couldn't handle ;)

Here are some pictures:

Next face is to Drill them :)

[Sasha]

Nice aquarium!  ;)

[FLD]

Its a bit overkill to be honest :P

[SLP]

DIY etching tank?

I've always wondered how to realize the heating  ::)

[Rio]

Do you sleep beside this place :o

[SLP]

Do you sleep beside this place :o

thats what I call a passionated DIYer  :D

now, serious:

That's not too healthy  :-\

[Sasha]

DIY etching tank?

I've always wondered how to realize the heating  ::)

Some commercial desktop etching tanks are also heated with aquarium heating. Temperature needed for etching is more less the same as needed for tropical fishes. Also air compressor is the same as used in fish tank. So, it it obvious all components are easy available and probably cheaper to make, than buy etching tank.

[FLD]

The hotter it is the faster ;)

Thats why i start by heating the acid in my microwave. I heat it until it boils :)

Yea i know.. im not big fan of safety.. I don't even use safety gloves, and my hands are usually soaked with that acid :p

[stryd_one]

:o Don't try that at home kids!!!!

[Jaicen]

I second that, boiling etchant is a REALLY bad idea, not least because it releases nasty fumes.

As far as i'm aware, normal Ferric Chloride is designed to work best at 30 degrees, whereas Persulphate works best at 50. That's what I was told by a professional PCB manufacturer anyway!

[FLD]

Yea i agree, the fumes are really bad. Once got little of those in my eyes and it didn't feel so good. :)

[FLD]

Today i got some bad news and good news.

Good news first ofc...

So i got all the PCB:s drilled. 14 boards i think :o

It took me two days to drill them with my Dremel!

And while i was taking brakes i did little organizing:

Then i assembled the burner. And it looks like this:

But here comes the bad news... Because under the burner it looks like this:

Can't see whats wrong? Well apparently i forgot to do a "ratsnest" command before i printed the masks from Eagle!1!1!. Seriously how the heck should have i known that you have to perform a magical command before you can print the mask.... And this isn't even the worst part, because the same ratsnest command goes for every Core and SID module and i didn't use it in any of mine.. So.. lol? Maybe its time so start raging?

[Jaicen]

Yep, looks like you're missing your ground plane! It's not the end of the world, you can just connect up all the missing grounds, which would be less time consuming than re-doing all the PCB's.

For what it's worth, the Eagle layout for the MBHP PIC burner is missing a ground connection anyway, can't tell you how much hassle that's caused me!

[FLD]

I already ordered a new PIC Burner from Voti :)

[FLD]

Hopefully the SID and Core module won't use the ground too much, and i will be able to use the existing PCB's :-P

[stryd_one]

For what it's worth, the Eagle layout for the MBHP PIC burner is missing a ground connection anyway, can't tell you how much hassle that's caused me!

Maybe you could fix the file and upload it?

[Wilba]

For what it's worth, manually wiring the SID module ground will probably lead to less noise, if you separate digital ground from audio ground. The SID chip Vss pin should be connected to the audio ground.

[huck]

fld where are you ? we should hang out and drink beer, you are entertaining. :)

[FLD]

Today i received some goods from Voti :)

15 Rotary Encoders and a Wisp628 PIC programmer:

I also started to make my first core module. Until the tip of my soldering iron melted... Yes.. it was a cheap Non LongLife tip which lasted about 60minutes and then melted :p

So i ordered a new tip for 6€ and i´m waiting it to arrive so i can continue. But luckily while i´m waiting i can experiment with the Wisp PIC Programmer and maybe program my PIC'S :)

[SLP]

I've bought a Weller WHS 30 (or was it a 40? I don't know) 2 years ago.

It was the cheapest available from Weller. The temperature is controllable.

I'm using it for about 2 years now. It still works perfectly.

With a soldering iron it's like with every tool.

You should better put a bit more money into a good tool of a brand you can trust which then is working

for 10 or more years than buy a cheap made-in-china tool every 6 months as the old one stopped working.

When my dad was about 16 years old, he got a Bosch drill as a birthday-present.

Now I'm using it.

matthias

[FLD]

Yes, i also have the WHS-40 but i just didn't have the LongLife tip for it :)

[SLP]

But how can the tip melt???

[FLD]

Because its a crappy sample tip! Weller wants you to buy new one! People told me that this is a "known problem" and that the tip that comes with WHS-40 does not normally last more then couple hours :p