retrotechtiveHad this for a while, but I've finally gotten around to ordering the parts.
The BFG 9060 will soon be built!
I haven't ordered a 68060 as yet, I really want to get a "full fat" one but I'm wary of the prices...
I do have an LC version in my TF1260 which I might borrow for testing...
If any of you have a good source for the full thing that won't cost me the earth, I'd be interested to know! 😎
And so it begins...
Freshly arrived parts. I think this is everything, bar the 060 (which is also on its way 😎 )
Nothing too exciting to show for the BFG9060 yet, but these tiny 0603 caps represent my first attempt ever at using solder paste.
I need to use it later for the CPLDs, so I thought I'd try it for the 24 of these caps.
Fun when it melts and automatically lines everything up 😎
Not so fun when the parts decide to go skating across the PCB 😬
First time I've done SMD resistor packs. Resorted to solder paste again because it made it easier, but my paste-fu is still a bit weak so it wasn't the sweeping victory I'd hoped for. Not the best joints I've ever done but they seem solid, if not pretty. Glad I've done all of those!
So, my attempt at doing the first CPLD with solder paste was an unmitigated disaster. Bridges everywhere and right up against the package too.
I tried to repair it with the iron, but it was just too awful to keep as it was - so I removed the chip with hot air and will do it again from scratch.
This time, I will do the usual drag soldering... so I decided to get a *proper* microscope to do that with.
I went with the Andonstar ADSM302. Hope it's good for the task.
Incidentally, my eyesight seems to be getting noticeably worse these last few years. I'm sure it's nothing to do with all this close up soldering work... 🤔
Holy someone or something!! It only frikkin worked first time!! 😱😱😱
Both CPLDs, updated and verified correctly on the first go for the #BFG9060 !!
This is all the more amazing because I was *convinced* I'd burnt the larger one during removal after the solder paste disaster.
Time will tell if it stays this way of course but... Wow.
Btw, new microscope is so much better than the cheap one I had before. I don't think I could have remotely managed to drag solder those things without it.
It does have an annoying habit of changing brightness depending on what's in view (so cleaning with a pure white cotton bud for example lowers the light level around it on the board, making it harder to see). I don't know if there's a setting for that yet, but it's the only mar on its operation so far.
Memory and memory buffers left to add, then just the sockets (ROM came pre-written too). I think I'll take a break for a bit though, don't want to get carried away and break it all 😁
Memory buffers added. I'm taking this slowly, can't test the memory until the 060 arrives anyway. But the new microscope plus improving drag soldering technique seems to be working out well so far.
So, RAM is now on. Looks good under the microscope but can't really tell until I can test it.
That's all the surface mount stuff done. It's literally just the two sockets, a bunch of jumpers and that massive connector to the Amiga. That'll be it for the soldering. Then push the ROM in and we should be done!
Well, aside from the small detail of the 060 😉 (it's on its way!)
Added everything except the main connector at the back 😎
I'll do that last long one some point this week.
Well looky here! 🥳😎
I didn't realize it would respect the existing 16MB as well! Also this is just my 060 lite from the TF1260 right now, still waiting on the full fat version to arrive.
Much as I'd love to pretend this worked first time, it turned out I had a dodgy solder joint on a single pin of the bigger CPLD. But once I found and fixed that, *then* it worked! 🤣
Won't assume it's reliable just yet though. Also not put the 060 stuff on the 4000 yet so benchmarks later.
Only thing left to do with the board is clean the remaining flux off. I'll do that immediately of course, and not simply play with my 060 powered A4000 all day instead... 😉
Rich D May@retrotechtive Very impressive. I can hear the Frontier music. 😂
@richdmay so would I if I connected the speakers 🤣
Ian Scott 
🐙@retrotechtive beautiful!
10 Minute Amiga Retro Cast@retrotechtive You will love your BFG9060. These are really nice cards!
@10MARC I'm looking forward to it! (Currently hoping it will work first time... 😂 )
@retrotechtive I just scored another 68060 - a full one! Not a horrible price, either, all things considered.
@10MARC So, the BFG 9060 *didn't* work first time... but after I found the one single pin of the bigger CPLD that wasn't soldered properly, everything worked!
It's a really nice card! Seems more compatible than the TF1260 and a few things seem to run a lot faster too. Also, love the fact it still lets me keep my 16MB in the 4000 already 😎
Using the CPU from the 1260 until my full fat 060 arrives.
Oli W 🌱@retrotechtive very nice. That's a lot of very fine pitch soldering there!
@evolutional cheers, it's the smallest I've done so far. Now let's see if it actually works! 😁
Studio 8502 
@retrotechtive nice work. Better than I do at drag soldering.
@mos_8502 Thanks! That really means a lot given all the great stuff you do! (Most of which I don't come close to being able to do!) 😊
48kRAM@retrotechtive @mos_8502 Agreed - that looks quite nice
@retrotechtive Hey, man, we're all good at some stuff, not so good at other stuff. For example, I'm the world's least competent keyboardist, despite my love of music, years of practice, and understanding of music theory.
Inken Paper 🇵🇸060 as is... Motorola 68060? is that a thing?
@crashglasshouses It is! 😎 I've actually got a non-FPU version in my A1200 (on the Terrible Fire 1260 accelerator), but the one I'm getting for this is the full version. They're not all that easy to obtain for a reasonable price these days though.
@retrotechtive i would imagine not, since the 040 and 050 are pretty rare as well afaik. never heard of the 060 till today.
@crashglasshouses was there an 050? I thought they skipped that number 🤔 I do have an 040 in my A2000, which I was lucky to get quite cheaply (I don't think the seller knew what they had!) - it's a speedy chip, but not entirely compatible with many Amiga programs unfortunately.
there is no 050, i'm mixing up numbers cause i couldn't remember if such a thing existed or not. the last time i saw any m86k stuff in person was with the Atari Falcon and TT, at the time they came out, at a computer show.
lopta@retrotechtive t'is witchcraft. ;-)
@retrotechtive That looks like a pretty nice scope. Curious to get your take on it
@48kRAM I'll definitely aim to do that - I'm also hoping I can record properly using it (my current cheap one just crashes when I try) so I can actually show something of what I do - good or bad! 😂
@retrotechtive have you tried flux and the drag soldering technique? I've not had much luck with solder paste in the past but seem to get on with the drag solder method
@evolutional yeah that's what I normally do. First time using paste, and it was actually bought for some reballing I need to do, but because these pins are so small I thought it would help here too. It didn't 😬
@evolutional it was handy for the 0603 caps on the underside of the board, having said that.
@retrotechtive one good sneeze and it’s all fucked.
Bread80@retrotechtive when I’ve used solder paste the hard part has been getting it to let go of the thing I’m applying it with and stick to the board.
@bread80 I had to repeatedly clean the tweezers to assist with this, but tbh it wasn't any worse than when I use flux before placing components (this time anyway!)
@retrotechtive I’m using a brush on flux these days. I find it a lot easier to work with.
Ryan BrooksThere's a guy from Kazakhstan on amibay selling full 060s for not terrible prices.
@hacknet wow, thanks - that does look good!