bigpete.net
Pete's Projects: V20-MBC - Printable Version

+- bigpete.net (https://test.bigpete.net)
+-- Forum: Main (https://test.bigpete.net/forumdisplay.php?fid=3)
+--- Forum: Projects (https://test.bigpete.net/forumdisplay.php?fid=7)
+--- Thread: Pete's Projects: V20-MBC (/showthread.php?tid=51)

Pages: 1 2

Pete's Projects: V20-MBC - BigPete - 03-26-2026

Jim Rockford, post: 2269949, member: 28508 Wrote:I find that a little more than scary. I don't even think I have an iron tip small enough for that sort of work.
I’ll probably just drench it in flux and try drag soldering with the knife tip. We’ll see how it goes!

Pete's Projects: V20-MBC - BigPete - 06-17-2026

BigPete, post: 2269947, member: 4840 Wrote:The STM32F030F4P6 chip is a SMD IC with a Pin Pitch of 0.65mm which is the smallest work I've ever had to do.

well that was a pain in the ass but I think we’re good:


.jpeg   IMG_4578.jpeg (Size: 2.28 MB / Downloads: 16)

Don’t mind the burnt flux, I gotta clean it up still.

going to grab the schematic and check continuity between all chip and appropriate points on the board. Without a microscope I can’t really tell how solid the solder points are.

Pete's Projects: V20-MBC - BigPete - 06-18-2026

All the solder points checked out. It's not pretty but it's solid, so that's a win.

Soldered in all the resistors and diodes. Didn't have a 20 MHz crystal on hand so had to place an order to Digikey. Throwing it back on the project pile for now.

Pete's Projects: V20-MBC - BigPete - 06-25-2026

BigPete, post: 2270050, member: 4840 Wrote:All the solder points checked out. It's not pretty but it's solid, so that's a win.

Soldered in all the resistors and diodes. Didn't have a 20 MHz crystal on hand so had to place an order to Digikey. Throwing it back on the project pile for now.

parts came. All the soldering is done.

My dumb ass ordered the wrong logic gate IC though. This requires 74HCT00, and I bought 74HC00. Welp.

so that’s it for now. I’ll order the replacement part next time I have a big enough list of components to order. No point paying $10 shipping for a $0.75 IC.


.jpeg   IMG_4607.jpeg (Size: 2.18 MB / Downloads: 7)

Pete's Projects: V20-MBC - Jim Rockford - 06-26-2026

So now that it is nearly a "whole" computer - what are your plans (other than 70s and 80s retro games)? Write your own OS/toolset?

EDIT:
BigPete, post: 2269950, member: 4840 Wrote:I’ll probably just drench it in flux and try drag soldering with the knife tip. We’ll see how it goes!
I forgot you wrote this, but I just watched a Louis Rossman video (from 9 years ago) where he talks about not having a steady hand and still accurately soldering tiny things (which I have struggled with). He demonstrates on a laptop video connector using the same technique you described, but instead of the tip, he uses the "elbow" of the knife where the sharp knife edge meets the rest of the body. He is NOT conservative with flux.

[MEDIA=youtube]id=ys1zDMcDh_c;t=317[/MEDIA]

Pete's Projects: V20-MBC - BigPete - 06-26-2026

Jim Rockford, post: 2270052, member: 28508 Wrote:So now that it is nearly a "whole" computer - what are your plans (other than 70s and 80s retro games)? Write your own OS/toolset?
Not too sure. I’m already thinking about the next project. I’d like to maybe build a Micro8088. it’s a full XT Clone. https://github.com/skiselev/micro_8088

Pete's Projects: V20-MBC - BigPete - 06-26-2026

This one was fun, but from a practical standpoint it’s still pretty limited compared to the XT.