SE/30 parts machine

[joshc]

An SE/30 parts machine came up on eBay so I jumped at it. The only parts missing are a logic board and the floppy drive and hard drive. I've tested one of my recapped SE/30 logic boards with it and it works fine.

I didn't really "need" this (I already have two complete SE/30s), but the case is in very good condition (retrobrighted by previous owner, to a pretty good level), the PSU is unfortunately the Astec one - it does make some squealing sounds, I'm not sure if it's coming from components on the analog board or the PSU, I will probably recap both.

The chassis is corroded - obvious signs that the original logic board in this machine had a battery explosion and some bad corrosion. I will need to sand down and perhaps give the chassis a good coating of zinc primer.

I know some say the Astec PSU is not worth recapping, but as this is probably going to remain as a spare part I keep when I just need to test other SE/30 parts, I think it's probably OK to keep and recap it.

The seller did an amazing job of packing the machine, it was packed with a lot of foam and styrofoam and bubblewrap.

See original ebay listing below for the photos...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Apple-Macintosh-SE-30-case-and-more-Spares-or-Repair/114209993521?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

Beyond this, I don't know what my plans for it are...maybe I'll find another SE/30 logic board to put in here at some point

 

[PotatoFi]

Congrats on the conquest! Too bad it's missing a logic board. Sadly, there are a lot more SE/30's than logic boards at this point.

 

[LaPorta]

The way I see it, parts are parts. Fifty years in the future, someone (maybe you) will be glad that there are spares.

 

[joshc]

That's it, any spares are spares and are hence useful. I never know when an analog board is going to have a a catostrophic failure or if I will need a spare flyback transformer, etc, so anything I can get is good.

I will keep an eye out for a way of getting a logic board, although I know myself and many other collectors are probably searching for good SE/30 boards too.

 

[PotatoFi]

Makes me wonder if anyone will ever do a reproduction SE/30 logic board. Probably a ton of work. Would be neat if we could take a bad board and move parts over to a new PCB.

As for spares, absolutely. For example, I have a Plus analog board with a bad flyback. And I need a fresh CRT for my Classic II.

 

[LaPorta]

WHat's with the Classic II CRT? Which one do you need, the latter, smaller yoke connector?

 

[Bolle]

Makes me wonder if anyone will ever do a reproduction SE/30 logic board. Probably a ton of work. Would be neat if we could take a bad board and move parts over to a new PCB.

I have got something in the drawer regarding that topic but people would not be willing to pay what this would cost... at least not now where there are still cheap salvageable boards available.

And yes, I mean cheap compared to just the production costs for a new bare board without any components.

You would still have to get all parts swapped over from a dead board and get replacements for dead parts.

 

[PotatoFi]

I have got something in the drawer regarding that topic but people would not be willing to pay what this would cost... at least not now where there are still cheap salvageable boards available.

And yes, I mean cheap compared to just the production costs for a new bare board without any components.

You would still have to get all parts swapped over from a dead board and get replacements for dead parts.

What's the "expensive part" of doing that? Sheer design time (I'm sure it would take a ton of work), or size/complexity of the PCB in manufacturing? I've only done small two-layer boards that are 100x100mm at most. Those were cheap when you buy 100 of them, but they were small and I could justify having 100 made...

 

[Bolle]

A mix of both I’d say. Bare board manufacturing cost for a six layer board of the size of the SE/30 logicboard is around what complete „untested“ logicboards go for on eBay right now... about $50-ish.

That’s without factoring in any of the time I needed (and still need to finish) to work on the project... testing, prototypes, shipping from the fab in China, import taxes and in the end someone who would desolder everything from your old board and solder onto the new one if you’re not doing it on your own which will be countless hours again.

Just take a look at reproduction logicboards that the Amiga folks have going and you’ll get an idea.

Prices for those boards are actually pretty „good“ if you take all the above into account but far from what I would pay personally for a bare board without any components while I still could get a fixable parts machine for a fraction of the price.

 

[techknight]

As more and more machines get destroyed by batteries, the demand will increase so eventually it will become justifiable. Also there is a decently priced PCB Fab house there in Germany as well. Getting PCBs out of china these days is a bloody nightmare. 

However I would make some slight design changes to accommodate the availability of parts, such as converting the RAM setup to 72-pin SIMMs. the PALs, VLSI chips and apples propietary chips are where your gonna fall short and need a transplant unless those are all reverse engineered, which would be beyond the scope of the project IMHO.

Is the SE/30 a 6 layer?