CW Computer & Black Screen of Death
I had the Black Screen Of Death the other day with the LCD freezing up on change bit followed by a re boot and the Death Screen.... A row of black blocks on the top row of the LCD.
The quick fix was a replacement computer after changing cards and checking connections.
So tonight I pop the cover off the CW Computer and I was shocked being a Circuit Board Electronic Guy finding the Computer with lots of SAWDUST inside.... That is like putting a blanket over your computer and not letting it properly cool.... So likely, HEAT Overload was the reason for the Black Screen Of Death....
I took it to the shop and slowly and gently blew the dust out of the top part of the computer. Remembering a Sony Tech in San Diego showing me a LP Air hose with something on it to prevent STATIC that was used in the Cell Phone Referb Lab. He said normal LP Air can FRY the Circuit Boards... with static. So lesson remembered....
At the Philly Sony Service Center I would replace the postage stamp size chips using a sharp knife to cut the traces along the chip then with flux clean and remove the pieces.... Then the re soldering in careful strokes like combing hair... We had a heat air gun too for chip removal.. but many times it blew off other small components and then you had a mess.... I miss the Sony days....
I wanted to point out the 3 Servo Drivers that are mounted to the case as a heat sink... When you get a Servo Axis Failure, this is the most likely component to fail.... a 7 leg chip....
I believe I will add opening my other computers and inspect for dust too.... BE WARNED.... NO Vacuum Cleaners... that will kill the computer.... And at your own risk blow the sawdust out....
For this computer I will carefully remove the Servo Heat Sink Hardware, the Plug Hardware, and finally the nuts holding the circuit board securely to the metal case and remove it... I will wear my Circuit Board Grounding Wrist Strap then using Circuit Board Cleaner wash the board. Waiting a day for the Cleaner to fully evaporate from under the chips.... Then give it a SHOT... It might work again..... I will post the results in a few weeks.... Busy here in the shop....
AL
Servo Drivers 5206-2 http://pdf.datasheetarchive.com/inde...SAE0010669.pdf
32 Bit, 25 Mhz Microcontroller http://www.freescale.com/webapp/sps/...p?code=MC68332
$7 Bucks, the right equipment, and luck.... http://www.digikey.com/product-searc...bfree=1&rohs=1