Post

Love this. This is some post-production rework on the CPU board of my Agilent 16702A mainframe. The wires are TINY.

@breakintoprogram.co.uk

I like tiny repairs like that. Have done the same for a few PCBs that have come my way. Need extra magnification these days though lol.

Binary Dinosaurs

@binarydinosaurs.co.uk

21 Aug

Heh, oh yes. Getting old sucks in that respect.

Tynemouth Software

@tynemouthsoftware.co.uk

21 Aug

The big magnifier is essential these days. Ten years ago @futurewas8bit.bsky.social and I were running through all sorts of mods like these whilst working on the divMMC future. Don't think either of us would be doing things like that now. From - blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2018/01/desi...

Binary Dinosaurs

@binarydinosaurs.co.uk

The first and third of those are epic. Some proper steady hand work. Ironically I have much steadier hands now than I had back when my eyes still worked.

21/8/26, 8:23 pm0 reposts4 likes

L Break Into Program

@breakintoprogram.co.uk

21 Aug

Same here! And my soldering technique (and equipment) is much better. I now use a magnifying headset over my reading glasses.

Binary Dinosaurs

@binarydinosaurs.co.uk

21 Aug

Thanks to the very excellent @morefunmakingit.bsky.social I have a microscope, and getting used to the separation necessary between brain, eyes and hands when they're all in separate places was a lot of learning :D

L Break Into Program

@breakintoprogram.co.uk

21 Aug

That’ll probably be the next step for me. Hoping to be soldering till the end.

L Break Into Program

@breakintoprogram.co.uk

21 Aug

Actual footage

Binary Dinosaurs

@binarydinosaurs.co.uk

21 Aug

Are those comfy? They don't look comfy. But they must be otherwise you wouldn't wear them.

L Break Into Program

@breakintoprogram.co.uk

21 Aug

Yeah. I find them so. They come with interchangeable headband or glasses style arms. I use the headband because hearing aids and glasses means my ears are already full. The LED light is very useful. Actual mileage may vary.

Ryan

@radicalbyte.bsky.social

22 Aug

The components are also way smaller. Didn't need magnification in 1995 for my school project. Still don't when using large push through components. Working with modern surface mounts or ICs? Impossible without magnification.