Last Week Preview

As expected, I spent most of my time in the labs again.

My 1st PCB board isn’t that satisfying – there’re a lot of small disconnections, which have to be re-connected manually by using the soldering iron. This happened due to my inexperienced first-time PCB fabrication, can’t expect much from me, right?!

So, I decided to fabricate another PCB. This time around, the lab technician was annoyed and lazy (I’m telling nothing but the truth *cross ma heart muahahhahahaha*) already.
He asked us to “sek ji kei” a.k.a. EAT OURSELVES!!

He helped us to laminate our PCBs (there’re a few of us, including a final year student) and we were on our own from there onwards. Then, he just went “kai kai”. We proceeded with the UV light – placing a layer of photoresist on our PCBs. We’re troubled by how many seconds we should put for the photoresist thingy :”> *maklumlah kan?*

Next, we went on with the Developer Tank and the Etcher Tank. These 2 processes required a lot of attention and patient. We had to keep on “nurturing” our PCBs from time to time, worrying that the PCBs might over-develop or over-etch. If either of this happens, then the PCBs are declared KO already! Which means -- you have to START EVERYTHING all over again! Gosh, imagine that *head spinning with full kinetic energy*

Fortunately we didn’t blow up the two tanks *giggles heeheeheeheee* It contains some acidity chemical substances, don't play play!

Finally, we’re ready for the Stripper process to remove the photoresist on our PCBs. We just throw our PCBs into the Stripper Tank and went for lunch. Oops, not that we didn’t care about it anymore, but this last process took time. So, be patient lah, go have a cup of coffee or something lah!

Went to get my PCB at the afternoon. Although it still has some “weaknesses”, nevertheless I’ll “sayang” it with all my heart, just like my own child (but hey I have no child okay :)))

How I “sayang” it? I drilled holes on it…to put components’ legs mah, hehe. Then I solder it under an extremely hot temperature. No abuse here.

At last, my Infrared MODEM was born! There’s too many sweet & sour in the producing of this MODEM, which I could only cried it to myself :((

Now…The time for Basic Law midterm came – 26 August 2005 (last Friday).

After the test, we’re in to the PCB evaluation today (Monday) afternoon, followed by the Intro to Power System midterm just now.

Luckily my PCB can work *whew* However, I was very disappointed with the test just now. None of the question which I’m 100% sure knows how to do.

But, now I have to look forward – tomorrow I got a morning lab session. Next, there’s a very stressful assignment to be submitted on coming Friday, while another due on coming Monday.

K lah, I’ve blurted out briefly the “4 seasons’ tastes” I’ve gone through all these while --- sweet, sour, spicy, salty…

It must have been an awfully “delicious” meal! Wana get some try?? ;;)