DIY or BUY - BGA Rework Station | Frankie will MELT your "spheres" off!

THIS IS NOT A TUTORIAL. DO NOT DO THIS!

In 2019 I got serious about stepping up my soldering game and worked my way up to Ball Grid Array (BGA) Rework with the goal of reballing the Backwards Compatible PlayStation 3’s GPU.

I’ve limped along with a Ghetto reballing setup, using a T8280 Preheater and 853D Rework station for a couple of years. With practice that worked and I was able to make my own Frankenstein Phat PlayStation 3, which is where you replace a failed 90nm GPU with a more efficient 65 or 40nm model. But it requires a lot of manual attention and it’s not ideal. For awhile I’ve been thinking about hacking together a DIY BGA Rework Station, gathering materials, drawing up schematics, watching videos, and reading articles about the various aspects. And I finally decided to do it.

I would not recommend anyone do this unless you are just looking to push your electronics skill and have a project to work on. I ended up spending more than it would have cost me to buy one! Which would have saved me the last 6 months of my life. Oh well, you live and learn. Besides I had fun, which was mainly the point.

PS: You're not supposed to know what the Potato is yet. Have fun speculating in the comments.

Tools & Products Used or Recommended (Affiliate Links):

PS3 Disassembly | T6-30 Torx Security Bit set (https://amzn.to/4fneAfg)
SYSCON UART | 3.3v USB-to-TTL Serial Cable (https://amzn.to/3YohDN3)
Breadboard Jumper Wires | Male to Female (https://amzn.to/3A2Rvzu)
Wire Stripper | 20-30 AWG (https://amzn.to/3Us6QjT)
99.9% Pure Isopropyl Alcohol (https://amzn.to/40mLuIu)
Soldering Iron | KSGER T12 (https://amzn.to/3YAYMjf)
Soldering Flux | STIRRI-ASM-TF no-clean (https://amzn.to/40ihOft)
CPU Deliding Tool | Palette Knife Set (https://amzn.to/3UpB4UM)
GPU Deliding tool | Pry Bar Door Panel & Trim Removal Tool (https://amzn.to/4fjBfsO)
Plastic Razor Blade Scraper & Blades (https://amzn.to/3AbKdJJ)
Steel Single Edge Razor Blades (https://amzn.to/4hqgZHR)
99.9% Pure Isopropyl Alcohol (https://amzn.to/40mLuIu)
Microfiber Cleaning Towels (https://amzn.to/4fieUM6)
GPU (RSX) Glue | STARS-922 Heatsink Plaster (https://amzn.to/4ffskZT)
CPU (CELL) Glue | Permatex 82194 Ultra Grey Rigid High-Torque RTV Silicone (https://amzn.to/3YCLzGJ)
CPU Glue Dispenser | 3ml Luer Lock Tip Syringes (https://amzn.to/3C1YXLF)
CPU Glue Dispenser | Syringe Tip Caps for Luer Lock (https://amzn.to/3YqpauS)
CPU Glue Dispenser | Blunt Tip Dispensing Needles with Luer Lock 14 Ga (https://amzn.to/3UqRigj)
Vacuum Sealer | Came with enough bags (https://amzn.to/4e7GcDQ)
Wolfcraft MT Pointed Spring Clamp (https://amzn.to/4dYyDzv)
Digital Calipers Measuring Tool (https://amzn.to/40kVvWB)
ARCTIC MX-4 (20g) Thermal Paste (https://amzn.to/3A412po)
ARCTIC MX-4 (4g) Thermal Paste (https://amzn.to/3YqauMe)
Arctic Silver Ceramique 2 (25g) Thermal Paste (https://amzn.to/3C1YA3K)
Arctic Silver Ceramique 2 (2.7g) Thermal Paste (https://amzn.to/3C2mBro)
Thermal Grizzly Conductonaut (1g) | Liquid Metal Thermal Interface Material (https://amzn.to/3NI4Ccr)
Open Cell Foam Tape | 1/2 X 1/4 Inch (https://amzn.to/4hxF7bA)
For Motherboard Brace | M4 Brass Standoffs (https://amzn.to/3O2fGBv)
For Motherboard Brace | M4 Knurled Thumb Screws (https://amzn.to/3ArDLOC)
Rotary Engraving tool | For precision masks removal (https://amzn.to/47AesGj)

Music:
8bit Dungeon Boss - Video Classica by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...

Horror Music by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...

Ghost Processional (Alternate) by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...

Martian Cowboy by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...

Militaire Electronic by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...

Medusa by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...

Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
00:59 Week 1-5 Build Montage
05:18 1st PWR Test (w/o Heaters)
10:20 Results, Red Herring, & RIP 853D
13:26 Week 6 & 7 - Heater mods, TCs,
16:20 Week 8 - LEDs & 909D (Magic Smoke!)
26:51 Week 9 - 2nd PWR Test (w/heaters)
31:30 T8280 Safety Inspection
34:14 Rework Attempt #1 (Bumbling buffoonery)
41:09 Rework Attempt #2 (Overthinking it)
49:42 Week 10 - Built-in Preheater
51:54 Week 11-13 - Climbing/Slipping...fighting
52:16 UNHOLY Popcorn & Delamination
56:35 Summit Day!
58:57 Outro