This is an update on a design I did decades ago where I made a PCB that fitted in a picture frame and allowed a matrix of LEDs to be installed for artistic or test reasons.
I thought it would be worth updating the design with surface mount resistors, partly as practice for soldering them. I also wanted to test a reflow plate and see if it was possible to use traditional solder to "ball" pads before placing the SMD resistors and reflowing them.
This PCB has many uses. I may get a batch made.
To find the flickering LEDs on eBay try this search link:-
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=100pcs+5mm+flicker+led&_sacat=0&_sop=15
Target price around $8 per 100.
If you enjoy these videos you can help support the channel with a dollar for coffee, cookies and random gadgets for disassembly at:-
http://www.bigclive.com/coffee.htm
This also keeps the channel independent of YouTube's advertising algorithms allowing it to be a bit more dangerous and naughty.
I thought it would be worth updating the design with surface mount resistors, partly as practice for soldering them. I also wanted to test a reflow plate and see if it was possible to use traditional solder to "ball" pads before placing the SMD resistors and reflowing them.
This PCB has many uses. I may get a batch made.
To find the flickering LEDs on eBay try this search link:-
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=100pcs+5mm+flicker+led&_sacat=0&_sop=15
Target price around $8 per 100.
If you enjoy these videos you can help support the channel with a dollar for coffee, cookies and random gadgets for disassembly at:-
http://www.bigclive.com/coffee.htm
This also keeps the channel independent of YouTube's advertising algorithms allowing it to be a bit more dangerous and naughty.
I can't find that exact photo etching film I keep only finding the negative stuff, not the positive resist, any keywords or links? thanks.
About that solder assembly frame/jig – they're still available. A quick image search for that phrase turned up quite a few sources. Looks like most of them are just 2020 extrusion and a few spring clips and fasteners though.
Would there be a way to 3D print a diffusion cover for this with regions "polarized" in different directions? Kinda like what they do on the lenses for infrared motion detectors?
Thanks mate, i have now 5 of the gallium pcb one of them already soldered
Clive, what company do you use to have pcbs made ?
Thanks for all the great videos, very entertaining 😀
A very good result.
That iron ball chip paste is supposed to "go bad." Not sure what could go bad, but that's what it says– which I suspect is a marketing ploy. (I knew I forgot to mention something– yes as you say in the next vid– refrigerate the stuff.) The chip goo dispenser I found had a large bore needle which allowed for a bit of positional accuracy. The carrier of the solder balls is flux– so no real need for more. And– the neat aspect I read of was that if the solder paste was placed evenly on the PC pad, the component would "self center," via surface tension. Now that's high technology! You might want to scrub the bare copper with an abrasive to give a little "tooth" and LESS is more. Almost no chip paste, so long as it's on the pad, will work. I used a food-type hot tray– a food serving device with a thermostat. I used it to raise the temperate. As it rose, the components began to move, then I turned it down. Alas, I forget what the temperature was.
SEXY CIRCUTS!!!!! YAAAS
Rosco makes a lot of different diffuser gel sheets, which I am sure Clive has come across before. I bet some of the frosted ones would make this look extra awesome.
is there an email-box where we can send nice items you might get glacy eyes about ?
When you say "maybe getting a batch made," where would you be getting them made???
great demonstration excellent thanks, good interesting project .