Author Topic: Is this DMD fixable?  (Read 683 times)

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Offline Gruntis

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Is this DMD fixable?
« on: August 16, 2015, 09:24:32 AM »
Just got a new pin delivered and found some lines partially out. Anyone out there have any experience with this.



The full line out is just the test line, the two partial lines are the problems.
Any help/ideas would be great
Cheers

Offline MrMaloo

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Re: Is this DMD fixable?
« Reply #1 on: August 16, 2015, 04:41:37 PM »
A whole row or column out would suggest a broken join at the edge of the glass on the DMD ( where the flat wire pieces come out of the glass ) .

A partial column could not be this ..  !@#

Perhaps it could be just a bad join / connection from the ribbon cables running to the DMD .

Have you tried removing / cleaning / re-fitting all of the connectors associated with the DMD ?  Do both ends .. ie. the end that connects to the DMD as well as the end that connects to the board in the backbox .

Offline Gruntis

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Re: Is this DMD fixable?
« Reply #2 on: August 16, 2015, 05:18:57 PM »
I swapped the dmd with another machine and the problem followed it so it seems to be something with the display. I was thinking the same thing that being only a partial missing line it wouldn't be a solder joint but still not sure. I've tried reflowing the corresponding joints anyway (well where I think they are) with no change.

Offline Gruntis

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Re: Is this DMD fixable?
« Reply #3 on: August 16, 2015, 06:06:27 PM »
On the other machine a horizontal line looked a little sketchy and after a game the knocker went off. As soon as that happened the sketchy horizontal line went out  ^&^
Thinking on taking it to work and use the hot air solder machine on it and reflow all the connections.

Offline Strangeways

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Re: Is this DMD fixable?
« Reply #4 on: August 16, 2015, 07:41:59 PM »
I've not seen a partial line out on a DMD. Reflowing the solder joints would be where I would start.

You did mention - "Just got a new pin delivered" - If bought from a dealer - it would be under warranty.
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Offline Gruntis

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Re: Is this DMD fixable?
« Reply #5 on: August 16, 2015, 08:09:15 PM »
I've not seen a partial line out on a DMD. Reflowing the solder joints would be where I would start.

You did mention - "Just got a new pin delivered" - If bought from a dealer - it would be under warranty.

Will try reflowing the joints. Is a hot air solder a good choice to work on these, hands a bit wobbly for the iron.
Didn't buy it from a dealer, old ebay strikes again - man I have to start looking these things over before I buy  @.@

Offline Steevsee

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Re: Is this DMD fixable?
« Reply #6 on: August 16, 2015, 10:13:37 PM »
I've not seen a partial line out on a DMD. Reflowing the solder joints would be where I would start.

You did mention - "Just got a new pin delivered" - If bought from a dealer - it would be under warranty.

Will try reflowing the joints. Is a hot air solder a good choice to work on these, hands a bit wobbly for the iron.
Didn't buy it from a dealer, old ebay strikes again - man I have to start looking these things over before I buy  @.@

I think regular soldering iron would be much better than hot air.

I'd be concerned about thermal shock on surrounding components/glass, if using hot air.

Offline Gruntis

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Re: Is this DMD fixable?
« Reply #7 on: August 17, 2015, 07:51:17 PM »
I reflowed the connectors at work today and got the horizontal line to return. No luck on the partial lines though.
Either I'm just going to have put up with them or use this as an excuse to buy a colour dmd....  &&

Offline Dann36

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Re: Is this DMD fixable?
« Reply #8 on: August 19, 2015, 03:52:10 PM »
If the fault has been confirmed to be the DMD itself as you have done by swapping out then most likely it is an internal problem inside the actual glass. It could be the drive ic but i really doubt it, i would expect a full line missing if it was the ic or any sort of fault in the electronics..


Offline andypinboy

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Re: Is this DMD fixable?
« Reply #9 on: August 19, 2015, 05:56:21 PM »
Really weird to have a partial line out. I'd live with it personally; although colordmds are v nice.
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