I am in the middle of making my own projector. I am using a 15" LCD panel I got for Christmas. The problem with using this unit came because of the fact that the LCD splitter circuit board was positioned directly behing the LCD and its backings, and the ribbons anchoring it to the panel were far too short for me to move it out of the way. I tried to search for some longer ribbons, but had no luck. I concidered cutting a ribbon from a CD-rom i had laying around, bu the cable was too short.
SOLUTION:
Bought some 30 gauge magnet wire from r-shack (2.69USD), along with conductive epoxy(3.25USD) and a hobby knife kit(3.49USD). Last thing needed was sandpaper, finest grain, forgot the number, but not so important.
Now, whether the cable is broken, or in my case, cut, we must make ends meet. If it's broken in an uneven line, using the knife, straighten each edge of the cable using a ruler. This makes it much easier to fit in the end.
For easyness and speed, put a piece of tape over the ribbon, leaving a 1/5" or so from the parted edge. Now carefully crease the sandpaper and sand the ribbon edge down to the foil wiring.
Once done for both sides, using the blade, ultra-carefully, part all of the wires within the ribbon. (NOTE: I found that using a razor blade, which is much finer, is far easier for this.)
Ok, now the tedious part- you must glue each of the corresponding wires using the conductive epoxy- soldering is out of the question. I have not tried it, but it may be easier to use a 40-pin ATA cable as the extension link. All you have to do is cut away a strip bareing the number of wires which are on the ribbon itself, then split and strip each.
I hope this come in handy to someone in the same boat.
SOLUTION:
Bought some 30 gauge magnet wire from r-shack (2.69USD), along with conductive epoxy(3.25USD) and a hobby knife kit(3.49USD). Last thing needed was sandpaper, finest grain, forgot the number, but not so important.
Now, whether the cable is broken, or in my case, cut, we must make ends meet. If it's broken in an uneven line, using the knife, straighten each edge of the cable using a ruler. This makes it much easier to fit in the end.
For easyness and speed, put a piece of tape over the ribbon, leaving a 1/5" or so from the parted edge. Now carefully crease the sandpaper and sand the ribbon edge down to the foil wiring.
Once done for both sides, using the blade, ultra-carefully, part all of the wires within the ribbon. (NOTE: I found that using a razor blade, which is much finer, is far easier for this.)
Ok, now the tedious part- you must glue each of the corresponding wires using the conductive epoxy- soldering is out of the question. I have not tried it, but it may be easier to use a 40-pin ATA cable as the extension link. All you have to do is cut away a strip bareing the number of wires which are on the ribbon itself, then split and strip each.
I hope this come in handy to someone in the same boat.
Wow. 🙂 I applaud you for your good work! Extending ribbon cables is no easy task, and you seem to have approached it with determination and flair. 🙂 Well done!
Well, I don't think its going to work... but pictures are welcome.. 😀 I guess we will just have to wait and see. . 🙂
So far so good
This is the tip of the original film ribbon, with the edge sanded down. note the broken edge- I should have been more careful when sanding. Always sand towards the edge.
http://web.tampabay.rr.com/sweetfeet/LCD Ribbon.html
This is the ribbon I made myself, out of the 30-gauge magnet/ wrapping wire. It is actually a pretty stiff wire. I hope it's thin enough to transmit the signals without much friction. This cable is about a foot and a half. I used masking tape. It proved ideal for the task. It bares 26 wires, to match those found on the original ribbon. It only took about an hour to make the whole cable from scratch. This included measuring up, cutting, and alignining the wire on to the tape.
http://web.tampabay.rr.com/sweetfeet/LCD Ribbon.html
Only two steps left- stripping the wires on my ribbon (via burning the plastic off- faster), and bonding it to the original ribbon, hardest part by far.
This is the tip of the original film ribbon, with the edge sanded down. note the broken edge- I should have been more careful when sanding. Always sand towards the edge.
http://web.tampabay.rr.com/sweetfeet/LCD Ribbon.html
This is the ribbon I made myself, out of the 30-gauge magnet/ wrapping wire. It is actually a pretty stiff wire. I hope it's thin enough to transmit the signals without much friction. This cable is about a foot and a half. I used masking tape. It proved ideal for the task. It bares 26 wires, to match those found on the original ribbon. It only took about an hour to make the whole cable from scratch. This included measuring up, cutting, and alignining the wire on to the tape.
http://web.tampabay.rr.com/sweetfeet/LCD Ribbon.html
Only two steps left- stripping the wires on my ribbon (via burning the plastic off- faster), and bonding it to the original ribbon, hardest part by far.
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