This is my first Pi-based project and I really dislike the complexity and the bulky wiring, but I'm starting to get it under control. I will compactify the layout if it works but for now it's nice to have access to everything. 2/n

Anyway this slow-moving project is a little photolithography setup for making PCBs at home. No need to remind me that it's probably not worth the trouble … the journey is the destination and I'm leaning a lot. For example I learned that I need to be more gentle when removing the LCD panel's backlight because I cracked this one and broke all the traces from the flex cable. 3/n

I made an iPhone adapter for my microscope so I could take a photo of the damage (the narrow traces are about 20µ across, it's nuts). 4/n

@tpolecat
What do you think would be faster? Create a schematic and PCB layout and order new flex from China or repair the broken traces?

@maker_tom Oh, repairing them is hopeless, they’re microscopic and bonded to glass. I ordered a new one. It’s a $25 part so not the end of the world. I’ll be more careful next time.