The "Retr0brite" Project
By Merlin, of AmiBay, English Amiga Board and Vintage Computer Forums (among others)
How to deal with the "not-so-mellow yellow" of old computers and consoles
Anyone who has dug their old computer or console out of the cupboard or loft for some retro gaming will probably have noticed that it maybe hasn't worn too well with the test of time. The plastics these machines were made of is called ABS and to make it flame retardant (just in case it catches fire after a marathon session) the plastics manufacturers added chemicals that caused the plastic turn yellow or, even worse, brown over a long period of time.
Read More...
http://retr0bright.wikispaces.com/
Don
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Monday, March 2, 2009
Parts: 32KB SPI SRAM memory (23K256) - Hack a Day
Can you do this? I would like to learn about these kinds of things...
filed under: misc hacks, parts
http://hackaday.com/2009/03/02/parts-32kb-spi-sram-memory-23k256/
Don
Parts: 32KB SPI SRAM memory (23K256)
posted Mar 2nd 2009 10:00am by Ian Lesnetfiled under: misc hacks, parts
Microchip's new 23K256 is a serially interfaced 32 kilobyte SRAM memory chip, available in 8 pin DIP and 8 pin SO packages. SRAM, like EEPROM, is a data storage medium. Data stored in SRAM is lost without constant power, but it's really fast and there's no limits to the number of write cycles. EERPOM stores data even without power, but it's slow and usually limited to around a million write cycles.
32K SRAM chips typically have 13 address lines and 8 data lines, like the IS61LV256AL we used on our CPLD development board. The 23K256 requires just four signal lines, but sacrifices the speed of a parallel memory interface. It's a great way to add extra memory to a low-pin count microcontroller without routing 21 signal traces. We'll show you how to interface this chip below.
Go there...http://hackaday.com/2009/03/02/parts-32kb-spi-sram-memory-23k256/
Don
Restoring yellowed computer plastics - Hack a Day
Restoring yellowed computer plastics
posted Mar 2nd 2009 12:19pm by Eliot Phillipsfiled under: macs hacks, misc hacks, pcs hacks
Many of our cherished computers and consoles from the past have not stood up well over time. It's not the hardware as much as the color. From Commodores, Apples, to Super Nintendos, the machines have slowly drifted towards a sickly yellow and even brown. The culprit appears to be the fire retardant chemicals used in the plastics. Amiga enthusiasts have spent the last year perfecting a technique that restores the plastic of these machines to its original splendor. Dubbed 'Retr0brite' it's a gel made from hydrogen peroxide, xanthan gum, glycerine, and 'Oxy' style laundry booster. The results are really impressive. If you do start restoring your own machines, caution should be used since it requires strong concentrations of hydrogen peroxide typically employed in bleaching hair.
[via Waxy]
Go there...
http://hackaday.com/2009/03/02/restoring-yellowed-computer-plastics/
Don
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