Hector Martin on Twitter: "This decap was done with the exact same method, except instead of a blowtorch I used a gas range, and instead of thinking about flames I just cooked the thing until I was pretty sure the epoxy had sufficiently decomposed. Dunk then scrape scrape scrape. https://t.co/nj1QdXrBRh… https://t.co/mpnIrOAhW1"

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Mark C.‏ @LargeCardinal 28 Oct 2018

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So, this is the target.... (Recognise it? Yes, it's a job lot of toaster controllers....) I wanna see what they did to actually get them so cheap and custom silicon.... So I wanna decap it. With a blowtorch. Bear with me....pic.twitter.com/WE9sySNWB9

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Mark C.‏ @LargeCardinal 28 Oct 2018

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So, the theory is this; Heat around the silicon die until the yellow flames are exhausted. The idea here is that the combustion of epoxies is 'candkelike' (got the idea from here: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/app.1968.070120114 … though I am not a chemist)

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Mark C.‏ @LargeCardinal 28 Oct 2018

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So, putting the blowtorch to the chip on a brick outside should combust a layer of epoxy. Moving in circles around the die location (in the middle), I get the nice candle-like flame.

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Mark C.‏ @LargeCardinal 28 Oct 2018

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Once the yellow flames disappear it then gets dunked into water immediately - this induces a thermal shock around the die. The spent epoxy then just rubs off in water by fingerstrength. After two runs of this, the legs gave enough purchase to break off the majority of the epoxy

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Mark C.‏ @LargeCardinal 28 Oct 2018

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To finish off, I used a scalpel dragged backwards over the die, and then some IPA and a cottonbud to clean off the remaining epoxy. So, here is the result on a slide... You can see the die is fully exposed! o/ pic.twitter.com/g0fyId75cB

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Mark C.‏ @LargeCardinal 28 Oct 2018

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And here it is under a microscope!! :D sokephitosnfrok just poking my phone over the eyepieces... you can make out some of the details... Though I need to improve the lighting a lot and the imaging. Early days!!pic.twitter.com/wl94AxBBjT

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Mark C.‏ @LargeCardinal 28 Oct 2018

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Here is a photo courtesy of @adhorden's phonepic.twitter.com/qKAHfw74iv

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Mark C.‏ @LargeCardinal 28 Oct 2018

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So, now I need to maybe do another attempt and read more of @marcan42's and @johndmcmaster's stuff to work out what is going on in this custom toaster controller x-P

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Mark C.‏ @LargeCardinal 28 Oct 2018

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As an aside, the AMAZING Aidan at @makeinsalford machined me this! (Still need to add the screws) for this neopixel microscope light mount :D can't wait to try it out properly!pic.twitter.com/2vf9p0ZJpz

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Mark C.‏ @LargeCardinal 28 Oct 2018

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Thank to @leedshackspace for the blowtorch and microscope access!!! :D first successful run.

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Hector Martin‏ @marcan42 28 Oct 2018

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Replying to @LargeCardinal @leedshackspace

Hector Martin Retweeted Hector Martin

This decap was done with the exact same method, except instead of a blowtorch I used a gas range, and instead of thinking about flames I just cooked the thing until I was pretty sure the epoxy had sufficiently decomposed. Dunk then scrape scrape scrape.https://twitter.com/marcan42/status/1013072621460549633 …

Hector Martin added,

Hector Martin @marcan42

Guess the chip. Brought to you by a gas flame and a razor blade (yes, I'm still doing shitty decaps, and my Mighty Razor™ still does an amazing job). pic.twitter.com/MZ3TTxqQp9

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