News for hackers. Stuff that matters.
Re:How bad can a $2.97 ADC be? by jacquesm on Tuesday October 14, 2025 @03:24PM (#45583745)
I like it. I've used sandpaper to solve some interesting problems in the past as well with great success. I suspect we are only seeing the beginnings here in a trend of high-tech applications of fine grit paper.
Re:How bad can a $2.97 ADC be? by Terr_ on Tuesday October 14, 2025 @03:39PM (#45583885)
I expect it's much easier to acquire fine sandpaper, yet my inner child yearns for laser decapping. (Or I suppose more than "decapping", depending on the depth.)
Re:How bad can a $2.97 ADC be? by jacquesm on Tuesday October 14, 2025 @04:55PM (#45584746)
High power lasers are becoming more and more affordable. Laser ablation is definitely an option but you really want to have some proper fume extraction around that.
Re:How bad can a $2.97 ADC be? by BertoldVdb on Tuesday October 14, 2025 @06:02PM (#45585592)
Laser decapping will destroy the die, except if you have a rare package that does not mix glass in the epoxy.

You could still compare the internal structure of the package and bonding, but the die itself is mostly destroyed.

Re:How bad can a $2.97 ADC be? by supportengineer on Tuesday October 14, 2025 @05:04PM (#45584858)
I'm off to build an MCP so AI can control the sandpaper
Re:How bad can a $2.97 ADC be? by jacquesm on Tuesday October 14, 2025 @05:09PM (#45584930)
You may as well start off with one of these then:

https://phillipscorp.com/india/phillipsgrinding/phillips-sur...

All you need is a serial port and some G-codes.

Re:How bad can a $2.97 ADC be? by doubleg72 on Wednesday October 15, 2025 @12:42AM (#45588158)
Surface grinders generally don’t use CNC, they are a simple machine.
Re:How bad can a $2.97 ADC be? by Dries007 on Wednesday October 15, 2025 @04:45AM (#45589700)
This is a fun playlist of a conversion of a manual machine to CNC:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDlWKv7KIIr9rlCwZ9K43...

Re:How bad can a $2.97 ADC be? by jacquesm on Wednesday October 15, 2025 @06:48AM (#45590496)
In the 1950's, yes. But these days they definitely are CNC based.

https://www.rooy.nl/en/areas-of-expertise/surface-grinding/