{
    "meta": {
        "title": "D-Central — ASIC Repair Tools & Equipment",
        "description": "The 15-tool ASIC repair bench kit, tiered by repair stage and DIY-vs-bench skill: tool, recommended spec, purpose, stage, DIY tier and rough CAD cost band.",
        "generated": "2026-06-21T04:15:44+00:00",
        "version": "1.0",
        "license": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
        "license_name": "CC BY 4.0",
        "source": "https://d-central.tech/asic-repair-tools/",
        "record_count": 15,
        "provenance": "D-Central Mining Bible (HASHBOARD_DIAGNOSTICS 8.1/8.2) + the Laval ASIC repair bench.",
        "disclaimer": "A reference, not a guarantee. Cost bands are approximate and vary by supplier/region; microsoldering and hot-air rework carry a real skill and damage risk - practice on scrap first."
    },
    "rows": [
        {
            "id": "usb-microscope",
            "tool": "USB microscope",
            "recommended_spec": "200x+ magnification",
            "purpose": "Inspect pads, solder joints, bridges, flux residue and BGA alignment",
            "repair_stage": "visual",
            "diy_tier": "DIY",
            "cost_cad_band": "~$40-150 CAD (approx, varies)",
            "notes": "Fine for inspection; for actual rework a stereo microscope is preferable, but a 200x USB scope is enough to look.",
            "source": "HASHBOARD_DIAGNOSTICS.md 8.1 (line 767); visual inspection 498-502"
        },
        {
            "id": "anti-static-mat",
            "tool": "Anti-static mat / wrist strap",
            "recommended_spec": "Grounded ESD mat + wrist strap (grounded workstation)",
            "purpose": "ESD protection for boards and ASICs during handling and repair",
            "repair_stage": "visual",
            "diy_tier": "DIY",
            "cost_cad_band": "~$20-60 CAD (approx, varies)",
            "notes": "Cheap insurance against static-killing a good chip; verify the strap is actually earth-grounded.",
            "source": "HASHBOARD_DIAGNOSTICS.md 8.1 (line 771)"
        },
        {
            "id": "digital-multimeter",
            "tool": "Digital multimeter",
            "recommended_spec": "Fluke 15B+ or better; voltage/resistance + diode mode",
            "purpose": "Rail voltage checks, domain/LDO impedance-to-ground tests, diode-mode chip checks",
            "repair_stage": "unpowered-multimeter",
            "diy_tier": "DIY",
            "cost_cad_band": "~$60-200 CAD (approx, Bible lists no price)",
            "notes": "A real diode mode and reliable low-ohm range matter more than the brand; basic meters cover most checks.",
            "source": "HASHBOARD_DIAGNOSTICS.md 8.1 (line 764); diode/impedance use 9.3"
        },
        {
            "id": "oscilloscope",
            "tool": "Oscilloscope",
            "recommended_spec": "100 MHz+ bandwidth, 2 channel, fine-tip probes",
            "purpose": "Confirm 25 MHz CLK square wave, decode UART 115200 8N1, check I2C signal integrity",
            "repair_stage": "powered-scope",
            "diy_tier": "Intermediate",
            "cost_cad_band": "~$400-1,500 CAD (approx, varies)",
            "notes": "Bandwidth and channel count are the spec; entry 100 MHz 2ch scopes suffice.",
            "source": "HASHBOARD_DIAGNOSTICS.md 8.1 (line 765); scope use 6.4 (line 587, 601)"
        },
        {
            "id": "thermal-camera",
            "tool": "Thermal camera",
            "recommended_spec": "FLIR C5 or similar; 160x120 resolution minimum",
            "purpose": "Map heat distribution to find hot/cold chips and heatsink/thermal-paste failures",
            "repair_stage": "thermal",
            "diy_tier": "Intermediate",
            "cost_cad_band": "~$600-1,200 CAD (approx, varies)",
            "notes": "Resolution (>=160x120) matters more than brand; phone clip-on thermal modules are a budget entry.",
            "source": "HASHBOARD_DIAGNOSTICS.md 8.1 (line 766); resolution note line 619"
        },
        {
            "id": "soldering-station",
            "tool": "Soldering station",
            "recommended_spec": "Hakko FX-951 or similar; temperature-controlled",
            "purpose": "Hand soldering of LDOs, capacitors, connectors and solder-wick cleanup",
            "repair_stage": "hot-air-rework",
            "diy_tier": "Intermediate",
            "cost_cad_band": "~$150-400 CAD (approx, varies)",
            "notes": "Temperature control is the key spec; FX-951 is widely cloned, so buy from reputable sources.",
            "source": "HASHBOARD_DIAGNOSTICS.md 8.1 (line 768)"
        },
        {
            "id": "hot-air-rework-station",
            "tool": "Hot air rework station",
            "recommended_spec": "Quick 861DW or similar; controlled profile 350-380 C",
            "purpose": "BGA ASIC chip removal and reflow at a controlled temperature profile",
            "repair_stage": "hot-air-rework",
            "diy_tier": "Bench",
            "cost_cad_band": "~$400-900 CAD (approx, varies)",
            "notes": "Stable airflow and temperature control are essential; avoid cheap pencil-style heat guns for ASIC reflow.",
            "source": "HASHBOARD_DIAGNOSTICS.md 8.1 (line 769); temps 9.1 line 870, 877"
        },
        {
            "id": "thermal-paste",
            "tool": "Thermal paste / gel",
            "recommended_spec": "Fujipoly SPG-30B thermal conductive gel",
            "purpose": "Reapply between ASIC die and heatsink after any heatsink removal",
            "repair_stage": "hot-air-rework",
            "diy_tier": "DIY",
            "cost_cad_band": "~$20-50 CAD (approx, varies)",
            "notes": "Bible names Fujipoly SPG-30B specifically; reapplication is mandatory after heatsink removal or chips thermal-shutdown.",
            "source": "HASHBOARD_DIAGNOSTICS.md 9.1 line 871, 9.7 line 1000, consumables line 1395"
        },
        {
            "id": "flux-solder-wick",
            "tool": "Flux and solder wick",
            "recommended_spec": "No-clean flux + solder braid/wick",
            "purpose": "Wet joints for reflow and clean pads after chip removal",
            "repair_stage": "hot-air-rework",
            "diy_tier": "DIY",
            "cost_cad_band": "~$15-40 CAD (approx, varies)",
            "notes": "Essential rework consumable; clean flux residue afterward to avoid corrosion and shorts.",
            "source": "HASHBOARD_DIAGNOSTICS.md 9.1 lines 876-884 (approx, not in 8.1 table)"
        },
        {
            "id": "bga-reballing-kit",
            "tool": "BGA reballing kit",
            "recommended_spec": "0.4 mm lead-free Sn/Ag/Cu solder balls + reballing jig/stencil",
            "purpose": "Re-ball salvaged or replacement ASICs before reflow",
            "repair_stage": "reballing",
            "diy_tier": "Bench",
            "cost_cad_band": "~$30-150 CAD (approx, kit cheap, skill costly)",
            "notes": "Ball size (0.4 mm) must match the package; reballing is a high-skill microsoldering step.",
            "source": "HASHBOARD_DIAGNOSTICS.md 8.1 (line 770); 9.1 lines 870-871; consumables line 1394"
        },
        {
            "id": "eeprom-programmer",
            "tool": "EEPROM programmer",
            "recommended_spec": "CH341A (generic) or dedicated EEPROM cable/tool",
            "purpose": "Read/clone/write hash-board EEPROM so all boards in a miner match",
            "repair_stage": "eeprom-flash",
            "diy_tier": "DIY",
            "cost_cad_band": "~$10-40 CAD (approx, varies)",
            "notes": "CH341A clips are cheap; the real risk is writing wrong or mismatched data, not the hardware cost.",
            "source": "HASHBOARD_DIAGNOSTICS.md 8.1 (line 774); 9.5 lines 945-964"
        },
        {
            "id": "pic-programmer",
            "tool": "PIC programmer",
            "recommended_spec": "Microchip PICkit3 (for PIC16F1704 on S19 series)",
            "purpose": "Read/reprogram PIC calibration data (frequency/voltage) on S19-series boards",
            "repair_stage": "pic-program",
            "diy_tier": "Intermediate",
            "cost_cad_band": "~$50-120 CAD (approx, varies)",
            "notes": "Only S19-series boards use the PIC; correct model/revision firmware is required to flash.",
            "source": "HASHBOARD_DIAGNOSTICS.md 8.1 (line 775); 9.6 lines 966-979"
        },
        {
            "id": "bench-power-supply",
            "tool": "Bench power supply",
            "recommended_spec": "50 A capable (for standalone hash test)",
            "purpose": "Power a hash board off-miner for bring-up and load/hash testing",
            "repair_stage": "bring-up",
            "diy_tier": "Intermediate",
            "cost_cad_band": "~$200-800 CAD (approx, varies)",
            "notes": "High current (>=50 A) is the spec; under-rated supplies sag under hash load and produce false failures.",
            "source": "HASHBOARD_DIAGNOSTICS.md 8.1 (line 772); STASIC 50A note 8.2 line 803"
        },
        {
            "id": "usb-ttl-adapter",
            "tool": "USB-to-TTL adapter",
            "recommended_spec": "CP2102 or CH340 based; 3.3 V logic, 115200 8N1",
            "purpose": "Serial console to the test fixture or board for diagnostic log viewing",
            "repair_stage": "bring-up",
            "diy_tier": "DIY",
            "cost_cad_band": "~$5-20 CAD (approx, varies)",
            "notes": "Use a 3.3 V (not 5 V) adapter; counterfeit CH340/CP2102 chips may need specific drivers.",
            "source": "HASHBOARD_DIAGNOSTICS.md 8.1 (line 773); serial 6.4 line 601, 1264"
        },
        {
            "id": "hashboard-test-fixture",
            "tool": "Hash-board test fixture / multi-tester",
            "recommended_spec": "Bitmain official fixture (V2.1/V2.3) or third-party ARC / STASIC / K3L-K8",
            "purpose": "Standalone PT1/PT2/PT3 testing (chip enumeration, pattern, frequency sweep); pinpoints the failing chip",
            "repair_stage": "bring-up",
            "diy_tier": "Bench",
            "cost_cad_band": "~$1,500-4,000+ CAD (pro, approx)",
            "notes": "Pro-shop gear; ARC/STASIC reportedly cut repair time ~6x vs manual but model coverage varies, and STASIC hash-sim needs a 50 A PSU.",
            "source": "HASHBOARD_DIAGNOSTICS.md 8.2 lines 777-814"
        }
    ]
}