James against the machine

Happy PCB delivery day, friends!!

#RetroComputers #VintageComputing

Sep 26, 2023 at 1:54amWeb
Show threadJames against the machineSep 27, 2023
They fit!!
Show threadJames against the machineSep 27, 2023

I went to assemble them and realised Past Me forgot to order the caps

#BOOOOOOOO

Show threadJames against the machineSep 29, 2023
Laser-cut cardboard stencil jig. Hmm… hmm. So close.
Show threadJames against the machineSep 29, 2023
NEVER MIND THAT. Cardboard bits instead!!
Show threadJames against the machineSep 29, 2023
It went… okaaaaay. I had to redo most of them a bunch of times. The cardboard was a lot thicker than the PCB, so way too much paste got through! I’m also using scavenged vintage capacitors because I still haven’t ordered any new ones 🤣
Show threadJames against the machineSep 29, 2023
Getting there… I hope this works #vintageComputing
Show threadJames against the machineSep 29, 2023
This didn’t melt the solder at ALL. I had to manually set the oven to 240°C to get it to work. Package says 180°C but… Aliexpress. Also, maybe the oven needs recalibrating! (Vevor *and* hacked firmware 🤣)
Show threadJames against the machineSep 29, 2023

My bébés ❤️

#vintageComputing #maker

Show threadJames against the machineSep 29, 2023
Let’s test them!! In a IIci of course!!
#vintageComputing #macintosh #iici
Show threadJames against the machineSep 29, 2023
Honestly shocked… all four simms worked, first go! 64MB!!
Show threadJames against the machineSep 30, 2023
I’m not sure the most-thorough memory test was designed with 64MB in mind. This has been running for about 13 hours 🤣
Show threadrag. Gustavino BevilacquaSep 29, 2023

@j

🥳 🥳 🥳 🥳

Show threadI love this, so ISep 29, 2023
@j twisty boi capacitors
Show threadJames against the machineSep 29, 2023
@jpm yeah they’re way too big 🤣 most worked ok!!
Show threadI love this, so ISep 29, 2023
@j I usually use spare circuit boards from finished projects or superseded designs. I did try 3D printing one which worked pretty well too
Show threadJames against the machineSep 29, 2023

@jpm I designed it to print but then was in a lAsEr MoOd

I usually use old boards too but these are a weird thickness and I have no others ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Show threadI love this, so ISep 29, 2023
@j ah that’s fair, not the normal 1.6mm?
Show threadJames against the machineSep 29, 2023
@jpm 1.2mm to fit the ol’ sockets. They *should* be Thicker, I think, but no one makes imperial boards any more ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Show threadI love this, so ISep 29, 2023
@j aha gotcha
Show threadFugue State Machine MotoSep 27, 2023
@j Whoa. Haven’t seen a SIMM in … decades
Show threadJames against the machineSep 27, 2023
@cmdrmoto WHAT?! How?? Have you been living a full life or something?!?
Show threadFugue State Machine MotoSep 27, 2023

@j Became an Apple-head when I got my first Ti PowerBook, in 2000. Missed most of the next twenty years of PC hardware evolution.

So, I guess, yeah?

Show threadJames against the machineSep 27, 2023
@cmdrmoto Well, the good news is that this is a Macintosh IIsi 😀