ACORN A5000 inbound

[rubber_jonnie]

Last (?) repair done...


Resistor.JPG


That one was quite tough, but it spared me from de-soldering the whole connector.

I just hope there are no other broken traces under it.

Interesting, I didn't get trace damage that far over IIRC, the battery bombs are very indiscriminate.

[HigashiJun]

Interesting, I didn't get trace damage that far over IIRC, the battery bombs are very indiscriminate.

Yes, like for the 2 traces at the back of the motherboard...

[HigashiJun]

I have an M-PF7 from Logitech which I use with the A5000 and the ball is too big for the Acorn mouse, and I've tried a number of period mice. from generic types to branded, including period Apple mice, and all are too big.

The Acorn mouse is oddly made in Switzerland, so I call it the 'Swiss Cheese' mouse as it is a wedge shape :)

The M-PF7 I have is made in Taiwan...

What is the model of the other Acorn mouse you have ?

[rubber_jonnie]

I have an M-PF7 from Logitech which I use with the A5000 and the ball is too big for the Acorn mouse, and I've tried a number of period mice. from generic types to branded, including period Apple mice, and all are too big.

The Acorn mouse is oddly made in Switzerland, so I call it the 'Swiss Cheese' mouse as it is a wedge shape :)

The M-PF7 I have is made in Taiwan...

What is the model of the other Acorn mouse you have ?

As is my M-PF7.

The other mouse is as follows:

PXL_20231204_100721097.jpg

PXL_20231204_100655037.jpg

PXL_20231204_100703882.jpg

PXL_20231204_100737977.jpg

In the last image the Swiss Acorn mouse is at the top, Logitech on the bottom. They are very similar. As you can see, the Acorn mouse isn't well marked, other than 'ACORN 0176,003'.

There seems to be very little info on it.

[HigashiJun]

@rubber_jonnie

The other mouse you have is a "Type 1" according to Chris's Acorns:

http://chrisacorns.computinghistory.org ... mouse.html

This one has a really weird ball, which seems prone to disintegration...

Just check below:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/124225258266?h ... R6DnkMaGYw

I really don't think there's a ball compatible with it, apart one from the AMX mouse.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/175852711887?h ... R7qgtsaGYw

[rubber_jonnie]

@rubber_jonnie

The other mouse you have is a "Type 1" according to Chris's Acorns:

http://chrisacorns.computinghistory.org ... mouse.html

This one has a really weird ball, which seems prone to disintegration...

Just check below:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/124225258266?h ... R6DnkMaGYw

I really don't think there's a ball compatible with it, apart one from the AMX mouse.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/175852711887?h ... R7qgtsaGYw

Yes that first one is the same as mine with the same disintegrating ball as mine sadly. I much prefer the shape over the Logitech, but what can you do?

As for the AMX mouse, that is interesting, it looks much the same shape/size etc, but the ball looks more normal, like a rubberised steel ball.

I feel that if I can get more weight into the resin it could work really well as the ball I made did fit, it just wasn't heavy enough.

[HigashiJun]

@rubber_jonnie

Seems the AMX ball is the same crap when looking at Chris's Acorn website, but a bit darker.

I wonder if a steel ball would work in your mouse, like in the BBC stuff:

https://chrisacorns.computinghistory.or ... Mouse.html

The only problem is to find the right diameter...

[rubber_jonnie]

@rubber_jonnie

Seems the AMX ball is the same crap when looking at Chris's Acorn website, but a bit darker.

I wonder if a steel ball would work in your mouse, like in the BBC stuff:

https://chrisacorns.computinghistory.or ... Mouse.html

The only problem is to find the right diameter...

I have a steel ball, but it doesn't grip the surface or the rollers very well. I did put silicone tubing on the rollers and it helped, but it won't grip the desk surface, even after roughing it up.

I have also tried a delrin ball, but that was too light as well. Diameter is 20mm, much smaller than any other mice I have.

[HigashiJun]

@rubber_jonnie

Hmm, not so easy indeed...

[HigashiJun]

Was quite disappointed with the previous result, so I have decided to remove the insulated "traces" and connect them instead at the back of the motherboard:

Tracesfinal.JPG

Tracesback.JPG

The final result is neater than my previous job...

And yes, overcoat epoxy is starting to cover the repaired traces.

The repair should be over soon.

:D