Hacking: bisection of IIC motherboard to install IIC in Mac casing

[sebugg@presby.edu (Stephen Buggie)]

                HARDWARE HACKING: CUTTING OF IIC MOTHERBOARD
                 TO FIT IT INTO MAC PLUS OR MAC SE CASING
                 ========================================

Last year, I installed a harddrive in a classic Disk ][ casing.  Now, I
am thinking again about installing a IIC inside a Mac casing.  The Mac SE,
in particular is very roomy.

The obstacle remains the fit of the IIC motherboard inside the
Mac case.  Its slightly too big.  But I am considering butchering the
IIc motherboard by slicing it in half, using spacers to "double-deck"
the two halves, then running soldered wires to connect the corresponding
points at the split edge of the motherboard.

HACKING QUESTIONS:

(a) Is it feasible to split the motherboard, then reconnect the tracings
with soldered wire jumpers?  I have silver solder and have successfully
desoldered RAM chips from the IIC board.

(b) Assuming that all severed points on the motherboard are reconnected
successfully, are there any electrical complications?  For example, any
circuits which will be messed up by several inches of additional wire in
their circuits?   Another anticipated complication is the possibility that
the motherboard is multi-layered with buried tracings.  Anyone know for
sure?  In other words, are the tracings along the surface (where wires can
be attached), or are they buried inside the green resin board?

(c) The direction of the cut will be in areas of the board with the lowest
density of traces and components.  Any suggestions?

(d) The board will be cut with a sharp hacksaw blade on a power saw.
Will the vibration of the saw be risky to components or traces, or should
I saw the board manually instead?

Hardware hackin' advice: sought and appreeciated!      Hakker Sebugg



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 ** Stephen Buggie  Psych Dept  Presbyterian College   Clinton SC 29325 **
 ** sebugg@presby.edu                 voice: (803) 833-8337 or 833-1632 **
 **            On internet my 65c02 masquerades as a Pentium            **
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