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Re: General Stuff(tm)
Posted: 28 Mar 2024 14:51
by stephen_usher
Apparently the post-person failed to deliver any post today as no-one was on our reception at five past two this afternoon. *sigh*
P.S. Well, well. The receptionist says that she was at her desk at 2:05pm and was there without a break since 1:40pm. she's going to have stern words with the postie on Tuesday.
Re: General Stuff(tm)
Posted: 29 Mar 2024 12:49
by stephen_usher
When I got the Apricot Xi out on the bench on Wednesday evening in anticipation of the arrival of the TexElec pads I found that the hard drive was finding it difficult to start spinning up.
This morning, after getting back from work, I opened the machine up again and took a look.
Knowing that previously the problem had been the brake pad sticking to the brake disc on the drive that was my first port of call. This time I looked more closely at the pad. Oh dear... it was a horrid sticky mess. The "sponge" had degraded and become had but also gooey.
So, with a penknife I removed its remains and dug out the felt I use for re-felting Microdrive cartridges and cut a 4mmx5mm piece and stuck it to the brake actuator arm.
After reassembly, success. The drive is no-longer reticent to start up but spins down just as quickly as it had before.
Another thing fixed.
Re: General Stuff(tm)
Posted: 29 Mar 2024 13:08
by rubber_jonnie
stephen_usher wrote: 28 Mar 2024 14:51
Apparently the post-person failed to deliver any post today as no-one was on our reception at five past two this afternoon. *sigh*
P.S. Well, well. The receptionist says that she was at her desk at 2:05pm and was there without a break since 1:40pm. she's going to have stern words with the postie on Tuesday.
Yes, postal operations are not quite what they once were...
Re: General Stuff(tm)
Posted: 29 Mar 2024 13:08
by rubber_jonnie
stephen_usher wrote: 29 Mar 2024 12:49
When I got the Apricot Xi out on the bench on Wednesday evening in anticipation of the arrival of the TexElec pads I found that the hard drive was finding it difficult to start spinning up.
This morning, after getting back from work, I opened the machine up again and took a look.
Knowing that previously the problem had been the brake pad sticking to the brake disc on the drive that was my first port of call. This time I looked more closely at the pad. Oh dear... it was a horrid sticky mess. The "sponge" had degraded and become had but also gooey.
So, with a penknife I removed its remains and dug out the felt I use for re-felting Microdrive cartridges and cut a 4mmx5mm piece and stuck it to the brake actuator arm.
After reassembly, success. The drive is no-longer reticent to start up but spins down just as quickly as it had before.
Another thing fixed.
We like fixed stuff here :)
Re: General Stuff(tm)
Posted: 30 Mar 2024 21:20
by stephen_usher
I like the new strip LED desk lamp I've just bought.
IMG_3659.jpeg
IMG_3660.jpeg
I can make moody computer pictures with it. :D
IMG_3664.jpeg
What I've actually bought it for is to light the LCD displays on the Apricot Portable and Macintosh Portable at the portables event in Cambridge in May as they don't have backlights and the diffuse ambient light makes the displays almost impossible to see.
Re: General Stuff(tm)
Posted: 31 Mar 2024 14:25
by stephen_usher
Apricot RAM board re-designed to be purely a RAM board for the Xi/PC and submitted to PCBWay.
Re: General Stuff(tm)
Posted: 01 Apr 2024 10:52
by stephen_usher
I've got fed up with the game of "hunt the chip" so I've decided to put up some storage.
Bought four of the "Really Useful Boxes" 16 x 0.3L wall storage packs and glued them to the wall with "No More Nails".
IMG_3665.jpeg
So, that's 64 boxes for all those nice TTL chips and capacitors.
I've conductive spray paint on order so that I can spray the insides of the boxes to make them anti-static. Then I've "just" got to move the chips over and label the boxes. :-)
Re: General Stuff(tm)
Posted: 01 Apr 2024 11:31
by exxos
I have some huge racks and I still cannot find anything :lol: I still have my huge rock I purchased a few years ago in order to help me organise stuff better. But my workshop just becomes a dumping ground for various stuff and there is just simply never any room to start doing anything :roll:
Re: General Stuff(tm)
Posted: 01 Apr 2024 13:55
by PhilC
The boxes and racks are such a good idea. Although the more I buy, the more I need. And I still have foam pads full of chips that need boxes of their own.
Re: General Stuff(tm)
Posted: 01 Apr 2024 16:48
by rubber_jonnie
stephen_usher wrote: 01 Apr 2024 10:52
I've got fed up with the game of "hunt the chip" so I've decided to put up some storage.
Bought four of the "Really Useful Boxes" 16 x 0.3L wall storage packs and glued them to the wall with "No More Nails".
IMG_3665.jpeg
So, that's 64 boxes for all those nice TTL chips and capacitors.
I've conductive spray paint on order so that I can spray the insides of the boxes to make them anti-static. Then I've "just" got to move the chips over and label the boxes. :-)
I'm approaching this stage now, I just have so many parts it's ridiculous, and finding stuff is becoming a trial.
Trouble is, I'm not sure I have a wall big enough for all the little drawers I'd need!!!