My VIC-20 Final Expansion 3 Project

[SkydivinGirl]

Hey everyone!

My VIC-20 Final Expansion 3 Kit came in this weekend and gave me a great excuse to heat up the soldering iron again! This kit is a bit more complex than the EasyFlash kit I did before and I've really enjoyed putting it together.

This board actually has a couple surface mounted items: A Secure Digital slot and a 3.3V voltage regulator. Looking at the images of the SD slot, you can see my soldering was not perfect, but I don't think it's too bad for my first ever attempt at surface mount soldering. All the soldering on the actual board is complete but I still have external wires and switches to connect. The wires for these connections are soldered to the posts that I've already soldered to the board.

The assembly directions jump around a lot and are sometimes difficult to understand, but with a little patience I was able to figure it all out. I'll post more images as I finish up.

Heather

P.S. I've already pre-ordered my next project.

 

[TheCorfiot]

You really have got the hang of this soldering lark Heather

Atta Girl.............Go

TC

 

[Zetr0]

:shock:

AWESOME!


I will be honest and simply say that's pro enough job for me SdG!!!!


A well earned Solder Tech level 2!!!!


(I also note that you have a little OCD, your component placement is impecable!..... and some what strangely familiar lol!)

 

[TheCorfiot]

Yeah I noticed the OCD too, Worse than I am

Excellent Job I agree Zeets, Level 2 it is then

TC

 

[Zetr0]

... *sniff.... *sniff....

oh TC, .... its so emotional when they grow up.... *sniffle....

*sniff.

no longer needing our helps *sniffles....

its a good day...

... oh how apt.... i found the pefect image

 

[SkydivinGirl]

You really have got the hang of this soldering lark Heather

Atta Girl.............Go

Thanks Bas! I really appreciate the compliment. I'm having oodles of fun working on these projects and am always looking for what I want to solder next!

:shock:

AWESOME!


I will be honest and simply say that's pro enough job for me SdG!!!!


A well earned Solder Tech level 2!!!!


(I also note that you have a little OCD, your component placement is impecable!..... and some what strangely familiar lol!)

Again, thank you for the compliment.

I owe it all to everyone's wonderful advice on AmiBay. I really like the soldering station you suggested as well! It's amazing how much nicer it is using a variable heat iron.

So, how many Solder Tech levels are there? Do I get a t-shirt when I get all of them?!?! Actually, I'm just happy I'm getting better, little by little.

And yes, I'm sure there's a little (or lot of) OCD showing in my work. It actually bothers me a little that the 8MHz crystal is a little crooked. LOL! I do like it very much when all the little parts line up in a neat little row.

... *sniff.... *sniff....

oh TC, .... its so emotional when they grow up.... *sniffle....

*sniff.

no longer needing our helps *sniffles....

its a good day...

No no no... I'm still a baby taking little steps compared to both you and TC running full out. I'll always need you guys!

Heather

 

[Zetr0]

@SdG

Looking at your work, insofar as physical skill you are not that far behind, if at all!.

now, we need to implant some electronics theory, and we will have you designing your own boards in no time =D


when valmorphication is complete the governements next secret weapon - CyberSdG


I will honestly eat TC's hair if you manage to solder somthing while jumping outa plane though.... I have a portable soldering iron if ya wanna try.... remember - no pics.... it didn't happen...

 

[RedDaemonFox]

Good job SDG, much better than my OC solderng job, I blackened the PCB on it a bit from holding the iron too long there at 400ºC. Were you working with leaded or lead free, I find lead free a hassle, it needs almost 420º on my iron.

 

[quarkx]

Great job Heather,
I only wish my Solder skill were up to that level!
BTW, I just ordered it, so it will be here next week. You probably could guess that this is my next project, then once that is done, on to a wire wrap board of my design, then on to a final BCB board. I plan to put an RS232 port with my spare 6551 Chips , but I am still looking for the right (off the shelf) video chip for VGA. Once the 8 is done, then on to the 16.

 

[SkydivinGirl]

Looking at your work, insofar as physical skill you are not that far behind, if at all!.

Wow! That's very encouraging to hear. I'm still very slow and meticulous when I solder but I'm sure the speed will improve over time. I'll always be meticulous though. :wink:

now, we need to implant some electronics theory, and we will have you designing your own boards in no time =DI will honestly eat TC's hair if you manage to solder somthing while jumping outa plane though.... I have a portable soldering iron if ya wanna try.... remember - no pics.... it didn't happen...

Funny that you mention learning electronics theory. I just ordered a book that has had good reviews as a practical, hands-on introduction to the basics. As for soldering while skydiving, I think the wind would cool the soldering iron down too much to work well. :wink:

It's funny, because skydivers always say what you did... If it's not on film, it didn't happen!

Were you working with leaded or lead free, I find lead free a hassle, it needs almost 420º on my iron.

I'm actually using a .031 in. 60/40 lead solder for all the through hole stuff and the .022" Silver Bearing 62/36/2 (36 lead/2 silver) solder from Radio Shack that Zetr0 suggested for the surface mount stuff. It melts like butter.

Great job Heather,
I only wish my Solder skill were up to that level!
BTW, I just ordered it, so it will be here next week. You probably could guess that this is my next project, then once that is done, on to a wire wrap board of my design, then on to a final BCB board. I plan to put an RS232 port with my spare 6551 Chips , but I am still looking for the right (off the shelf) video chip for VGA. Once the 8 is done, then on to the 16.

I can't wait to see and hear more about your project! It looks like a lot of fun. Please be sure to start a Photo Booth thread to share your progress.

Thanks everyone,

Heather

 

[quarkx]

Here is the Details page. It's an expensive kit, but its the closest thing I could find to building a real CBM 8 bit system. It even comes with a small LCD screen. Yes, I will post progress photos. I am studying the plus /4 schematics as a guild to the least amount of chips for an 8bit. The actual TED Video Chip would not be practical for I want it to hook up to a modern monitor, but it shows what can be accomplished in as few IC's as possible.
I wanted to get this and/or this, but he hasn't updated his pages in a few years, and who knows what the prices would be. I am always suspicious of dealers who don't even bother to update their pages at least once a month.

 

[Merlin]

@ Heather

Hardware pr0n and l33t soldering skills; the Force is becoming strong in you...

 

[SkydivinGirl]

Thanks Merlin!

Well, I finished up this project today by adding the remaining components. Everything seems to be working well so far! I still need to put it through its paces but I'm able to load programs and I didn't let any of the magic smoke out of the components.

I may go back later and add the power and IEC activity LEDs, but I don't know yet if I even want them on there. Here's the final images.

Thanks!

Heather

 

[TheCorfiot]

Heather that is pure Class

Fancy building some A608's for the USA

Please update your sig to announce your promotion to Level II Solder Tech and Hackery Padawan.


TC

 

[SkydivinGirl]

Thanks Bas!

Signature updated. :wink:

I'd love to be able to help with the A608 but I just looked at mine and it looks like most of it is surface mount! I don't think I'm quite there yet. LOL!

Talk with you soon!

Heather