Usually with epoxy potted modules I go with boiling first if possible because it releases the least fumes. While transferring the maximum amount of heat into the epoxy. I have a small table outside under an old shed… where I keep some of my most caustic chemicals and a modified toaster oven… I keep the modified toaster oven for help with depotting, and the various harsh chemicals in sealed containers. Most of which are kept outside away from the shop and the depotting definitely has to be done outdoors! I only attempt this on the most expensive of circuit boards and modules that absolutely have to be extracted, repaired, or reproduce. Because it’s a real pain in the butt 😂 It really isn’t worth the time other than when I dissect stuff for fun, Or my own curiosity. I’m always being asked to repair industrial modules that have been potted. Stuff like caterpillar bulldozers, giant and expensive miller and Lincoln welders, even those large tow behind generators for construction sites… that’s the type of industrial stuff that always contains many sealed and potted modules. As technology and the Internet has become more prevalent… Hiding the circuit boards to try and keep them away from prying eyes of competitors… That’s become a lot less common. All of the manufacturers know that if someone wants to look at the board and reproduce it that a slight coating of epoxy isn’t going to hinder them in the least. And if they’re that concerned about hiding their design… They laser off all of the identification markers on the tops of the IC chips. And honestly that’s still ridiculous because anyone with a decent lab can still identify almost anything. But the popping sure as hell helps with moisture in grass and other damage from vibrations and such. And it’s also a great way for the companies to sell replacement modules for 10 times their value… Because they’re so difficult to repair. Honestly most people with that type of equipment ....are going to purchase new modules instead of trying to repair. I always avoid jobs like that. But if the customer iinsists and we absolutely can’t find a board somewhere online… Then I charge about 10 times my normal price 😂 and I’m still pretty bummed out if they accept he offer and want me to complete the job
there a YT guy has considerable success with about a half hour in boiling water . . . does not damage any components, but softens the epoxy enough to remove
I've used my oven to bake potted equipment to the point where it all goes crumbly, but it's a rather messy and destructive process. OK for circuit analysis, but not great for repairs. Was that an ozone generator power supply by any chance?
I know this is an old video but still great to look at:-) I may have a solution: normal steam, just do as if you would steam vegetables for an hour but don't eat the board afterword:-)
You could always try to "boil" them in parrafin oil/wax or some other high boiling oil to soften the whole part, fishing it out and giving it a massage.
I was thinking a solvent of some sort might be able to remove the potting compound without damaging the underlying electronics. But I couldn't tell you what.
Interesting video! I'm currently working with a product wich is potted, but fortunatly the potting compound is polyurethane (silmilar to the LED bulbs in your other videos) When I had to do some truble shooting after a few units did not survive enviromental testing cutting into them with a scalpel was easy enough to expose testpoints for probing. The epoxy looks quite bad though, maybe acid could be another way to get in, but that is probably even more nasty than heating it up. Potting a design should be avoided at all cost imo :)
I've never had luck getting the epoxy to free up from the parts and I have pretty much given up on anything I see potted now. I don't do electronics much, so I usually only see potting when I am taking something apart just to see inside. I'm just nosey and like to see stuff I'm not suppose to see.
The point is to extract the electronics covered by the epoxy. The epoxy will become brittle... but so will everything else. It might end up just cracking everything into small bits..
If something in a circuit holds a charge USE AN ELECTRICAL LOAD that will consume the power to dishcarge it aka.... a Resistor across the terminals of the component let's say capacitor.
It’s funny how you start off talking about temp stage and such but never thought about just boiling in water. Once you boil them it’s like a soft boiled egg. You just peel and serve. No ACIDS, solvents, chemical that was used in death chambers or anything else that will harm you, just boiling water. I once had a control board that got soaked in ink. Took it to a machine shop and asked them to put it into their parts washer. It’s a machine like a dishwasher. It took two cycles, but after drying with compressed air, it looked brand new. Saved $3000.00 on a new board. They where so freaked out over my intelligence for even thinking up the idea they didn’t even charge me. So I tipped them $5.00.
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Usually with epoxy potted modules I go with boiling first if possible because it releases the least fumes. While transferring the maximum amount of heat into the epoxy. I have a small table outside under an old shed… where I keep some of my most caustic chemicals and a modified toaster oven…
I keep the modified toaster oven for help with depotting, and the various harsh chemicals in sealed containers. Most of which are kept outside away from the shop and the depotting definitely has to be done outdoors!
I only attempt this on the most expensive of circuit boards and modules that absolutely have to be extracted, repaired, or reproduce. Because it’s a real pain in the butt 😂
It really isn’t worth the time other than when I dissect stuff for fun, Or my own curiosity.
I’m always being asked to repair industrial modules that have been potted. Stuff like caterpillar bulldozers, giant and expensive miller and Lincoln welders, even those large tow behind generators for construction sites… that’s the type of industrial stuff that always contains many sealed and potted modules.
As technology and the Internet has become more prevalent… Hiding the circuit boards to try and keep them away from prying eyes of competitors… That’s become a lot less common. All of the manufacturers know that if someone wants to look at the board and reproduce it that a slight coating of epoxy isn’t going to hinder them in the least. And if they’re that concerned about hiding their design… They laser off all of the identification markers on the tops of the IC chips. And honestly that’s still ridiculous because anyone with a decent lab can still identify almost anything. But the popping sure as hell helps with moisture in grass and other damage from vibrations and such.
And it’s also a great way for the companies to sell replacement modules for 10 times their value… Because they’re so difficult to repair. Honestly most people with that type of equipment ....are going to purchase new modules instead of trying to repair.
I always avoid jobs like that. But if the customer iinsists and we absolutely can’t find a board somewhere online… Then I charge about 10 times my normal price 😂 and I’m still pretty bummed out if they accept he offer and want me to complete the job
What do you charge to repair one of these boards?
there a YT guy has considerable success with about a half hour in boiling water . . . does not damage any components, but softens the epoxy enough to remove
I've used my oven to bake potted equipment to the point where it all goes crumbly, but it's a rather messy and destructive process. OK for circuit analysis, but not great for repairs. Was that an ozone generator power supply by any chance?
bigclivedotcom It is indeed from a ozone generator....
I know this is an old video but still great to look at:-)
I may have a solution: normal steam, just do as if you would steam vegetables for an hour but don't eat the board afterword:-)
You could always try to "boil" them in parrafin oil/wax or some other high boiling oil to soften the whole part, fishing it out and giving it a massage.
I was thinking a solvent of some sort might be able to remove the potting compound without damaging the underlying electronics. But I couldn't tell you what.
Interesting video! I'm currently working with a product wich is potted, but fortunatly the potting compound is polyurethane (silmilar to the LED bulbs in your other videos) When I had to do some truble shooting after a few units did not survive enviromental testing cutting into them with a scalpel was easy enough to expose testpoints for probing. The epoxy looks quite bad though, maybe acid could be another way to get in, but that is probably even more nasty than heating it up. Potting a design should be avoided at all cost imo :)
A very informative video...thank you!
I've never had luck getting the epoxy to free up from the parts and I have pretty much given up on anything I see potted now. I don't do electronics much, so I usually only see potting when I am taking something apart just to see inside. I'm just nosey and like to see stuff I'm not suppose to see.
I know what you were trying to do but if you pick just the apoxy it separate from the part. Maybe not!
What about using Acetone as a solvent to dissolve the potting compound.
+DAVID GREGORY KERR you would need to wait a very long time (and it would destroy components below which are also sensitive to this solvent
How about using a magnifying glass with the sun?
What would happen if you would cool it with dry ice and bring it to a glass state ? Stupid idea yes or no.
The point is to extract the electronics covered by the epoxy. The epoxy will become brittle... but so will everything else. It might end up just cracking everything into small bits..
how do you discharge components that hold a charge ?
+frank villa
Large electrolytic capacitors that pose a hazard are rarely potted if that's what you're referring to.
They are rarely potted, but use a resistor to short them for 10 seconds. Don’t use just a price of metal you could destroy the circuit
If something in a circuit holds a charge
USE AN ELECTRICAL LOAD that will consume the power to dishcarge it
aka.... a Resistor across the terminals of the component let's say capacitor.
It’s funny how you start off talking about temp stage and such but never thought about just boiling in water. Once you boil them it’s like a soft boiled egg. You just peel and serve. No ACIDS, solvents, chemical that was used in death chambers or anything else that will harm you, just boiling water.
I once had a control board that got soaked in ink. Took it to a machine shop and asked them to put it into their parts washer. It’s a machine like a dishwasher. It took two cycles, but after drying with compressed air, it looked brand new. Saved $3000.00 on a new board. They where so freaked out over my intelligence for even thinking up the idea they didn’t even charge me. So I tipped them $5.00.
Could you theoretically x-ray these and get a close idea?
yee
this is the wrong kind of potting soil i think...