removing potted components?

cowanrg · 26th April 2004, 01:34 AM

hey guys, i found a circuit that im trying to work with, but there is a big plastic block in it. i unscrewed it to find that its been potted, filled to the brim with epoxy. there are 3 wires going in, and 3 coming out, and im very curious whats in there... whats the best way to get rid of the epoxy without ruining whatever is in there. (i am assuming its not a sensitive IC, its a pretty small block, 2"x1"x1".) one side appears to have a small inductor or transformer in it.

i did some searching and found that acetone or heat would probably work. is there a way of telling what kinda of epoxy (or if it is epoxy?), and what would work best?

thanks guys.

dkimble · 26th April 2004, 03:01 AM

What kind of circuit is it? Often you can figure out what is in it by looking at the rest of the circuit. Or you can try to measure differences in output with various inputs. This can get awfully complicated, though!

Dave Kimble

cowanrg · 26th April 2004, 03:24 AM

its a very simple circuit... it has another "thing" that i suspect is a dc to dc converter... but i am not sure yet.

i am a little hesitant to reveal the circuit because im working on it for a patent, and im taking apart a few other circuits to find out what i can and cant use, etc...

i just need to remove the potting if possible.

bobcat190 · 26th April 2004, 03:53 AM

I found a link that might be of help to you. I hope so Bob.

Here the link

cowanrg · 26th April 2004, 04:18 AM

cool, thanks!

i think freezing and chipping away will probably be the best solution... maybe melting the epoxy next. either way, it will be work.

tubes n' hornz · 29th April 2004, 08:00 AM

Ever thing of going to your Dentist and having them x-ray it ???

Magura · 29th April 2004, 04:04 PM

Depending what type of epoxy it is, you can heat it up by boiling it and it becomes soft enough to be removeable.

Magura

cowanrg · 29th April 2004, 04:36 PM

haha, that could be expensive! but i dont think it would tell me values right? i would want to know values.

Quote:

Originally posted by tubes n' hornz
Ever thing of going to your Dentist and having them x-ray it ???

Brian Donaldson · 30th April 2004, 04:16 AM

No values, but he could tell you if it needs a root canal or something. Has it been flossing.

Sorry, I amused myself though.

cowanrg · 30th April 2004, 05:27 AM

hum.

well, i kinda half tried the compressed air thing. yes, upside-down it does freeze, but even after icing the whole thing, and giving a good whack with a hammer, it does nothing. i think melting it would be best. or using a solvent of some sort to melt it away.

26th April 2004, 01:34 AM	#1
cowanrg diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Lafayette, CO	removing potted components? hey guys, i found a circuit that im trying to work with, but there is a big plastic block in it. i unscrewed it to find that its been potted, filled to the brim with epoxy. there are 3 wires going in, and 3 coming out, and im very curious whats in there... whats the best way to get rid of the epoxy without ruining whatever is in there. (i am assuming its not a sensitive IC, its a pretty small block, 2"x1"x1".) one side appears to have a small inductor or transformer in it. i did some searching and found that acetone or heat would probably work. is there a way of telling what kinda of epoxy (or if it is epoxy?), and what would work best? thanks guys.

29th April 2004, 04:04 PM	#7
Magura diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Denmark, Viborg	Depending what type of epoxy it is, you can heat it up by boiling it and it becomes soft enough to be removeable. Magura __________________ Everything is possible....to do the impossible just takes a little while longer. www.class-a-labs.com

30th April 2004, 04:16 AM	#9
Brian Donaldson diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Texas, Love it or leave it	Dentist No values, but he could tell you if it needs a root canal or something. Has it been flossing. Sorry, I amused myself though.

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26th April 2004, 03:01 AM	#2
dkimble diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Santa Maria CA	What kind of circuit is it? Often you can figure out what is in it by looking at the rest of the circuit. Or you can try to measure differences in output with various inputs. This can get awfully complicated, though! Dave Kimble

26th April 2004, 03:24 AM	#3
cowanrg diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Lafayette, CO	its a very simple circuit... it has another "thing" that i suspect is a dc to dc converter... but i am not sure yet. i am a little hesitant to reveal the circuit because im working on it for a patent, and im taking apart a few other circuits to find out what i can and cant use, etc... i just need to remove the potting if possible.

26th April 2004, 03:53 AM	#4
bobcat190 diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Texas	I found a link that might be of help to you. I hope so Bob. Here the link

26th April 2004, 04:18 AM	#5
cowanrg diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Lafayette, CO	cool, thanks! i think freezing and chipping away will probably be the best solution... maybe melting the epoxy next. either way, it will be work.

29th April 2004, 08:00 AM	#6
tubes n' hornz diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: San Diego	Ever thing of going to your Dentist and having them x-ray it ???

30th April 2004, 05:27 AM	#10
cowanrg diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Lafayette, CO	hum. well, i kinda half tried the compressed air thing. yes, upside-down it does freeze, but even after icing the whole thing, and giving a good whack with a hammer, it does nothing. i think melting it would be best. or using a solvent of some sort to melt it away.

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