Today I learned about Embedded Systems with ARM Cortex-M Microcontrollers in Assembly Language and C (Fourth Edition) by Yifeng Zhu while watching Lecture 9: Interrupts on YouTube. The full list of associated lectures are here: Short Lectures.
Today on 0084 A battery powered 486DX2/66 setup and a 386 motherboard with a fancy BIOS I learned about PicoRC: PicoPSU on Retro Computers and also ATX4VC: ATX Power on Retro Computers.
Just wanted to say thank you publicly to Corsair. The case for my computer ‘charisma‘ is a Corsair Carbide 100R Silent Edition Mid-Tower ATX Case. I really love this case and in fact I have two of them.
Anyway I had a problem where one of the feet snapped off and I couldn’t find spares for sale anywhere on the internet. I applied for a replacement of the feet through the Corsair warranty process, which was comprehensive but relatively painless, and I am pleased to report that my new replacement feet arrived today.
I am a happy customer!
Today I discovered Undocumented LTspice while reading Introduction to LTspice – MIT (PDF).
Today I happened upon this ATTiny85 Quick Reference.
Just wanted to take a happy snap of the lab today. All is flux. All is temporary.
On an EEVblog video I learned about ChipQuik Alloy which has a low melting point for removing difficult SMT components with a soldering iron.
Today I stumbled upon: https://www.jbctools.com/. They have some nice looking kit! JBC was mentioned by Dave Jones in EEVblog #596 – World’s Cheapest Soldering Station – Yihua 936 so I went looking.
Note to self: I was watching EEVblog #378 – Dumpster Diving Teardown Repair and EEVblog #763 – Dumpster Plasma TV Bad Cap Repair and Dave Jones says Nichicon make high quality capacitors. Apparently Panasonic, Nippon Chemi-Con, Rubycon, and Cornell Dubilier are also good.
In his video EEVblog #186 – Soldering Tutorial Part 3 – Surface Mount Dave Jones says to use soldering iron temperature of 300°C to 350°C. He set his hot air gun at 350°C.
He also recommends 4x or 6x magnifications for 0402 SMD and recommends not to use them (or smaller) unless you have to because they can increase manufacturing costs due to being small and fiddly and requiring magnification during soldering. The smaller components can affect yield.
For solder he recommends 0.46mm solder (recommended Multicore brand). And flux. Always use flux.
Also he’s on the record as preferring a chisel tip. In this video he also demoed a thing called a “well tip“, which I have never seen or used before. Apparently good for drag soldering?
While I was researching this post I came across the Hakko Product Lineup, they have some nice looking kit!
p.s. in EEVblog #180 – Soldering Tutorial Part 1 – Tools Dave suggests solder in this order:
The first one with silver in it can be good for some SMT devices. The second one has a more stable melting point. The third is tried and tested but has variable range of melting points.
Note: sn = tin; pb = lead; ag = silver.