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General Misc => Misc => Topic started by: dablargh on April 30, 2007, 06:56:53 PM

Title: scrap from an old computer
Post by: dablargh on April 30, 2007, 06:56:53 PM
i am just starting this as a hobby and have recently taken my old computer apart. so i guess all i want to know at this point is what could be salvaged.also im sort of technology impaired...at least to the point where i can only use or disassemble it. ive only read about keyboard and mouse parts so if anyone could give me info on this it would be much appreciated.
Title: Re: scrap from an old computer
Post by: Steve Joblin on April 30, 2007, 06:58:51 PM
PC Power Supplies make great bench-top power supplys... you can do lots with the disk drives...
Title: Re: scrap from an old computer
Post by: Admin on April 30, 2007, 07:08:40 PM
these might help:
http://www.societyofrobots.com/robotforum/index.php?topic=833.0
http://www.societyofrobots.com/robotforum/index.php?topic=399.0

just keep the stuff around, you will discover what can be scrapped when you need something in particular
Title: Re: scrap from an old computer
Post by: dablargh on April 30, 2007, 07:18:03 PM
i just opened one of those disk drives and found stuff already... thanks
Title: Re: scrap from an old computer
Post by: gamefreak on April 30, 2007, 07:20:35 PM
i havent tested it but i have two computer fans lying around, they might work just like a modified servo for a low torque motor, someone correct me if im wrong though
Title: Re: scrap from an old computer
Post by: ed1380 on April 30, 2007, 07:23:56 PM
VERY low torque

yeah the PS and some caps off the mobo and motors and wires and any displays and etc.
Title: Re: scrap from an old computer
Post by: dablargh on May 01, 2007, 04:05:16 PM
one other question... can i pull photoresistors/something similar off any thing i may be able to find easily?
Title: Re: scrap from an old computer
Post by: Admin on May 01, 2007, 04:16:51 PM
Quote
one other question... can i pull photoresistors/something similar off any thing i may be able to find easily?
no, but probably IR sensors should be easy to find (TV's, TV remotes, etc.)
Title: Re: scrap from an old computer
Post by: dablargh on May 01, 2007, 06:55:49 PM
ive looked at everything ive taken apart and have found resistors, capacitators, some regulators and a few leds...and wire, lots of wire but nothing is unsoldering from the board what else could i do to it? ???
Title: Re: scrap from an old computer
Post by: ed1380 on May 01, 2007, 07:08:31 PM
It was a PITA, but I unsoldered a good bit of headers from a motherboard. never know when they might come in handy
a few voltage regulators too, or were they mosfets. IDK

I still have yet to make a neclase out of the cpu 8) bling bling ;D
Title: Re: scrap from an old computer
Post by: negroslim on January 01, 2010, 08:22:00 PM
you can possibly find:
dc motors out of cdrom/dvd/floppy disk drives
as well as 4 pin stepper motors that can be used with a microcontrolller
nylon gears of various sizes
metal rods
LEDs which can be used for half duplex communications or for show
rare earth magnets from the hard drives
easily workable metal from the drive enclosures, tin snips ftw!
various connectors that can be desoldered for later use
heat sinks, great when your pushing something hard ;)
the plastic pieces can be cut and used for various applications with a little imagination and sometimes heat lol
the power supply for a benchtop power supply, check instructables.com for howtos (you can also just use a AC to DC wall wart)
fans for cooling or whatever

basically everything can be highly effective for reuse but the motherboard, cpu and addon cards and im sure theres exceptions to even that.