Date   : Mon, 12 Dec 2005 12:28:30 +0000 (GMT)
From   : Ian K <BBCmail@...>
Subject: Re: Vanishing electronics suppliers

In article <BFBD0287.7E65%darren.grant@...>,
   Darren Grant <darren.grant@...> wrote:



> On 7/12/05 8:27 pm, "Ian K" <BBCmail@...> wrote:
> > 
> > I have found as a Photocopier service engineer repairing rather than
> > replacing things is becoming harder to do. Especially with PCBs, in
> > the past the average copier would be controlled by some form fairly
> > straightforward off the shelf logic that would be easy to follow
> > through and find fault with. These days things are so sophisticated
> > and complex that most in depth PCB fault investigation and repair can
> > only be done by a specially trained engineer with specialist
> > diagnostic equipment which can make even fairly simple faults
> > uneconomic to repair.
> > 
> >> Of course it'll take a while after the incentive's there for people
> >> to make do with what they have before companies actually start
> >> producing decent products again rather than cheap junk...
> > 
> > With luck the additional costs of the WEEE directive will make
> > companies think more about making a product that can be maintained
> > more easily rather than just replaced every couple of years.

> It is the increased complexity that makes it impossible to build
> something repairable. PCB's need to be multi-layer to fit the components
> on without needing a room to host the latest copier. Features that
> needed 25 IC's are now performed by 1 microprocessor to increase the
> flexibility. If you imagine a car that now instead of 1 engine now had
> 24 tiny engines, how could a mechanic repair it ?

Very true.

> If anything I think we will simply see devices becoming more complex
> performing many tasks. As much as possible will be performed in software
> to allow the functions to be changed in software instead of throwing out
> hardware.

Yes. As you say functions are being performed much more as software
programs but unfortunately equipment is still seldom readily upgradeable.
This is certainly an area that manufactures could concentrate on more.

> I don't see anything change how repairable something is, it will still
> cost less to dump a board than it will to pay an engineer to fix it.

Unfortunately true. Manufactures could certainly design there products so
there easier to service though. Photocopier manufactures are still at the
moment pretty good at this but they are very much the exception. Trying to
carry out the most basic servicing on say an inkjet printer; like cleaning
paper feed rollers, means half an hour of contortions and wrestling with
plastic clips when it would be a five minute job on most photocopiers.