Worklog The LIGHTNiiNG - BLOCKED

Joined
Apr 29, 2020
Messages
112
Likes
137
Thank you for keeping us updated! I think you are attempting a real first in the history of Wii portablizing, super exciting!

In bocca al lupo!
 

dababy

.
Joined
Nov 7, 2021
Messages
110
Likes
40
I am so excited to see how this turns out!! Do u plan on possibly selling these boards if they work well?
 
Joined
Jan 11, 2022
Messages
103
Likes
174
Location
Italy
I am so excited to see how this turns out!! Do u plan on possibly selling these boards if they work well?
Well it would be a different project that would provide a different moddig experience for anyone that wants to give a try. So why not? Obviously
it will take some more time before the project is complete and the wii portable works well.
 
Joined
Jan 11, 2022
Messages
103
Likes
174
Location
Italy
Here are some pictures of my first attempts of trying to reball the GPU.
First I cleaned all the pads
E31DDBB7-A7B4-47B4-AC80-7AEE2E74C71A.jpeg

First try: I've messed upquite a lot of solder balls, and many of them came off
2F72E76B-5D46-4B77-BD07-549D3FC00E35.jpeg
940A766D-2439-4209-8C36-50ADE28594E9.jpeg

Second try: this time it went a little better but still some solder balls came off, and some of them didn't melt properly.
133093B0-A947-4B2E-A2AA-4901DE60D0E6.jpeg

Third thry: this is my last attempt for today and it turned out pretty good. The problem here are the dimensions of the solder balls. They came out like this because I didn't spread the solder paste very well. But instead I understood which technique works better.
EC76ECDF-1FE9-4C45-B7CC-6B0F0A8F72FD.jpeg
095B6767-0931-488A-8C6A-F764BF5477B8.jpeg
 

MJMT

.
Joined
Apr 16, 2021
Messages
90
Likes
119
Portables
2
It would be great if someone could design a processor mount for that chip. Then anyone could do it.
istockphoto-468059858-1024x1024.jpg
 
Joined
Apr 6, 2020
Messages
104
Likes
290
Tracking your project. would like to see the tools you are using, do you have pictures of the tools to show us?
 
Joined
Jan 11, 2022
Messages
103
Likes
174
Location
Italy
Tracking your project. would like to see the tools you are using, do you have pictures of the tools to show us?
I'll try to upload some images tomorrow, but don't expect to see anything in particular:XD:, especially as I'm trying not to spend too much on the project. When I do these kind of stuff I try to use the most common materials I have available.
 
Joined
Apr 6, 2020
Messages
104
Likes
290
I'll try to upload some images tomorrow, but don't expect to see anything in particular:XD:, especially as I'm trying not to spend too much on the project. When I do these kind of stuff I try to use the most common materials I have available.
Don't worry friend, I understand you perfectly, I think like you, I don't have the courage to spend a lot on a hobby, I also think about using or developing low-cost tools. I'm looking forward to seeing your project completed, I'm also working on something similar on PS2, we can exchange ideas and information for the benefit of both.
 
Joined
Apr 6, 2020
Messages
104
Likes
290
Here are some pictures of my first attempts of trying to reball the GPU.
First I cleaned all the pads
View attachment 22709
First try: I've messed upquite a lot of solder balls, and many of them came off
View attachment 22710View attachment 22711
Second try: this time it went a little better but still some solder balls came off, and some of them didn't melt properly.
View attachment 22712
Third thry: this is my last attempt for today and it turned out pretty good. The problem here are the dimensions of the solder balls. They came out like this because I didn't spread the solder paste very well. But instead I understood which technique works better.
View attachment 22714View attachment 22713
I don't know if these components are working, but you run the risk of damaging them, you can create a PCB to train the reballing of the spheres. In this link I share my idea for this.

 
Joined
Jan 11, 2022
Messages
103
Likes
174
Location
Italy
I don't know if these components are working, but you run the risk of damaging them, you can create a PCB to train the reballing of the spheres. In this link I share my idea for this.

I'm already using a PCB to train reballing. Plus I'm using the components from a dead Wii, so I can practice as muck as I want. In these days I'm trying to change my technique in order to get a perfect reballing at the first try, so after that I can start dealing with the working components and be sure I don't break anything.
 
Joined
Jan 11, 2022
Messages
103
Likes
174
Location
Italy
So here are some of the tools I’m using for la my project
E6CBF58F-80D9-46F5-9DC6-81CF872F2599.jpeg
As I mentioned yesterday it’s nothing particular.
-stencils
-solder paste
-tweezers
-solder wick
and other common tools like the soldering iron and a hot air gun. Recently i got myself some lead free tin balls, because I couldn’t get them to be all the same dimension by using the solder paste.
A2F56F98-39A9-4646-BDE1-FFEAE8278FAE.jpeg
 
Joined
Apr 6, 2020
Messages
104
Likes
290
Are you using any heat source to heat the PCB? For a reballing, two heat sources are needed, one on the bottom of the pcb and the other on top of the pcb, so you will need to heat up the chips less and avoid damaging them.
 
Joined
Jan 11, 2022
Messages
103
Likes
174
Location
Italy
Are you using any heat source to heat the PCB? For a reballing, two heat sources are needed, one on the bottom of the pcb and the other on top of the pcb, so you will need to heat up the chips less and avoid damaging them.
I’m using a heated basa to warm it up from underneath in addition to the hot air gun. Yesterday I managed to successfully remove the working RAM, GPU, and CPU; so it won’t be much longer before i start reballing them.
 

xsping

.
Joined
Dec 9, 2018
Messages
154
Likes
50
I’m using a heated basa to warm it up from underneath in addition to the hot air gun. Yesterday I managed to successfully remove the working RAM, GPU, and CPU; so it won’t be much longer before i start reballing them.
i can not wait to see the result
 
Joined
Dec 3, 2019
Messages
1
Likes
0
Any update? Getting close to 3 months since last post of yours, wondering where this is at?
 
Joined
Jan 11, 2022
Messages
103
Likes
174
Location
Italy
Any update? Getting close to 3 months since last post of yours, wondering where this is at?
Hi everyone,
sorry for the long period of inactivity, but I had some problems during this period, plus the work did not allow me to have much free time. However, I leave you some updates:
-in order to be able to rework the main components I had to give up, and I had to use a special support and stencils suitable for the components of the Wii
-I have tried several times to solder components such as CPU or GPU on my PCB, and it seems that I managed to find the right way to do it.

I will try to come back as soon as possible and post more frequently by also adding images to show you my progress. Sorry again for the inactivity, but don't worry, the project will go on until the end.
 
Top