Anybody know where I can find a repair service for IC's with broken legs?

GTRetro87

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Anybody know where I can find a repair service for IC's with broken legs?

Hey all,

Figured I'd try again at repairing a 6-player X-men I acquired some months ago that had some oxidation. As I tried to remove (with not the correct equipment at the time) one of the IC's on the PCB, one of the legs game off and I'd like to see if you guys know of any services that use a CO2 laser to remove the epoxy die off an IC

I know I can use a dremel and careful hand, but I think the professional service would obviously be the best bet (even though the cost of the service might out-weigh the actual value of the game). Either way a fixed game is a fixed game and that's what I'm looking to achieve.

Let me know!
 
As far as hybrid sound chip, we're in the works for that. But for the onboard IC's I wouldn't think so. I can do some research but I highly doubt there are any replacements other than those from a parts board. I rather repair it myself or have the IC repaired by a pro with particular tools.
 
You probably don't need a CO2 laser. I would think a few of the repair folks around here could do it. I've done a lot of small pin repairs with just a fine iron, and the right techniques. Depends on what it looks like.

Maybe post a pic?
 
Definitely post a pick.

If any of the metal of the leg is sticking out of the chip, the chip can be put into a turned pin socket, and a wire soldered between the socket pin and the exposed metal of the broken leg.

If it is broken off flush with the chip package, but clean, you might be able to get fine wire soldered to it, if not, a dremel would do the job fine... the plastic of the chip will cut away easy compared to the metal of the leg. You do not need to expose much of it.

I've never heard of a 'professional' service that uses a laser to do this type of thing.... but the existence of someone/company using 'high tech' tools to do it would not surprise me.
 
Definitely post a pick.

If any of the metal of the leg is sticking out of the chip, the chip can be put into a turned pin socket, and a wire soldered between the socket pin and the exposed metal of the broken leg.

If it is broken off flush with the chip package, but clean, you might be able to get fine wire soldered to it, if not, a dremel would do the job fine... the plastic of the chip will cut away easy compared to the metal of the leg. You do not need to expose much of it.


Yeah, this is exactly what I was thinking. In either case, the key is to use a Dremel or a file to expose all fresh bare metal, then a fine wire should stick to it no problem.
 
If it was a regular IC that I could place in a socket, even with a little bit of leg still exposed - yes you'll all be correct. However, I forgot to mention that it's an SMD IC, so.. game change big time.

This is a pic of an SMD IC with the die removed by CO2 laser. See what I mean.

I've actually tried to solder thin wire, kynar, but kynar is way too thick. If i were to try soldering to it again it would have to be like 40 gauge copper wire.

Removing the die will be the best bet to getting a solid solder connection in this case.
 

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