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My experience in making new LCD displays

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Andrew Babanin

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My experience in making new LCD displays

Post02 Jan 2018, 22:03

First i would say thay i didn't make displays by myself, I found a company, making displays for different purposes in Minsk (Belarus)
It took approx 9 months.
For the first I found all technical data about necessary display. It is old type of displays with thick glasses, the only back contact (static not dinamic mode). There are 4 digits and dots. First digit has only 3 segments for 1 and 2. I had made quality pics of existing LCD's and then had drawn them in curves.

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Here there are ready drawings of both layers

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I started in april, to the end of may all data was at the factory. There were produced 4!!! different samples till the moment we've eliminated all mistakes.

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There were to many small mistakes, so new display didn't seem look like. On the pic blinking dots are still closer to each other.

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The last sample was perfect. So to the mid of october the production had started. And to the mid of december ready displays had come to me.

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I shaped ready LCD's, made angled cuttings for visual identity. Then replaced old displays with defects on new ones.

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We had to change construction of displays.
1. I had to change a bit thickness of glasses for better stability (thick second layer not good for temperature changes, becides gives too big shade of digits)
2. In old displays both layers are connected with small metal pieces, in new ones - special glue
3. Had to replace polaroid position on 45 degrees (too expensive to use old direction of liquid crystals).
4. Had to replace aluminium powder painting of lower polaroid film for mirrored film used nowdays, but will try to use silwer painting for more vintage view.
Anyway I'm happy with this result, ready for making new displays :)
The proof of the pudding is in the eating...
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dutchsiberia

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Re: My experience in making new LCD displays

Post04 Jan 2018, 14:21

Awesome work!
(I'll dig out my elektronika's again :) )
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simone

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Re: My experience in making new LCD displays

Post04 Jan 2018, 17:50

So cooooool!!!

:dwf:
Some watches are made to last only as long as they are fashionable
Some watches, simply are not made to last
Seiko watches are designed to withstand the ravages of both time and fashion
Someday perhaps, all watches will be made this way
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bucko170

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Re: My experience in making new LCD displays

Post04 Jan 2018, 22:56

Congratulations on a superb job :mega:
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Kasper

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Re: My experience in making new LCD displays

Post05 Jan 2018, 15:38

wow, impressive stuff. Congrats!
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Adam

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Re: My experience in making new LCD displays

Post05 Jan 2018, 21:16

Great attention to detail Andrew. Really 1st class. Can you save our Optels?

regards

Adam
http://www.digital-watch.com - online database of 2000+ watches, manuals and adverts from the 70s-90s
http://www.vintagelcd.com - Vintage Digital Watches for sale
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simone

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Re: My experience in making new LCD displays

Post06 Jan 2018, 00:04

And what about seiko electrochromic lcd?
Some watches are made to last only as long as they are fashionable
Some watches, simply are not made to last
Seiko watches are designed to withstand the ravages of both time and fashion
Someday perhaps, all watches will be made this way
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Andrew Babanin

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Re: My experience in making new LCD displays

Post06 Jan 2018, 23:20

Thank you so much. For sure I thought about DSM displays. It is possible to make. But i didn't think about Optels, only about Mikroma's. I posted here that first russian LCD proto watch of beginning 1974 looked like Mikroma DSM LCD but with 24 hour counting.
viewtopic.php?f=58&t=6207&start=44#p51258
viewtopic.php?f=58&t=7867#p52404
I've got two dead Micromas but do not know about chips - are they good for display restoration. Becides for me a problem to solder new displays to chip. I do not know what display is more popular.
As to Optels... For now I've got 3 timepieces - 1. EPSA with blinking digits 2. EPSA with blinking dots 3. BWC with blinking dots
All od them with good displays. I didn't see bad display for Optel.

Here there are the pics of my Optel display. Seems to me a bit more complicated than FE display.

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The proof of the pudding is in the eating...
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iwatchu

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Re: My experience in making new LCD displays

Post13 Jan 2018, 22:31

Wow, my deep and profound respect for your work, that must have cost you many hours to come to this result.
Would it be possible to manufacture other Lcds, for example with printing on it like the Seiko 0674?
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Adam

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Re: My experience in making new LCD displays

Post19 Jan 2018, 17:30

I think the Microma DSM is an excellent idea. Considering there are none working out there. Although Id love to see an Optel DSM. I have some Microma DSMs here Andrew if you need any help.

Adam
http://www.digital-watch.com - online database of 2000+ watches, manuals and adverts from the 70s-90s
http://www.vintagelcd.com - Vintage Digital Watches for sale
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Andrew Babanin

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Re: My experience in making new LCD displays

Post21 Jan 2018, 21:06

I've got two Micromas: by Nepro and by Microma. I didn't even know, that they have the same LCDs.
Nepro has two batteries, Microma - the only.
I posted here both watches.

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So the task is easier - I can make this DSM, quite wide spreaded in Micromas. In what way is better to unsolder (remove) display from the cirquit block?
As to Optels - I do not have bad LCDs, so do not have samples to send to the factory.
The same situation with Seiko. According to Doensen's book there is only Seiko F623A has electrochromic LCD (also proto of Swissonic 2000). I didn't even see this watch alive.
The proof of the pudding is in the eating...
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SASM

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Re: My experience in making new LCD displays

Post22 Jan 2018, 22:09

That´s super interesting! Keep us updated! If they do optoelectronics, can they do LEDs as well?
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767Geoff

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Re: My experience in making new LCD displays

Post23 Jan 2018, 01:52

I have been following this thread with interest.

Many congratulations for your creations.

I have a question: you seem very adept at design and securing a producer. I have four 0614/06LC Seikos. These were the first six digit displays and only sold in Japan. Only one has a functional LCD panel. Of the rest, they suffer from the temperature effect: work in the fridge but not on the wrist. All modules check functional, and lcd panel swapping confirms it is the LCD display panel at fault.

https://ca.images.search.yahoo.com/sear ... r2=piv-web

And click on images.

I would be very interested in a remanufactured version to replace the LCD panel. Many, many of these watches come up dated from 73 - 76 with bad displays. They are relatively rare and quite expensive when working. I would be interested in contributing to the project if required.

Best regards, Geoff
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simone

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Re: My experience in making new LCD displays

Post23 Jan 2018, 13:39

Interesting could be the Casio blue thunder panels,no way to get one in clean and good conditions.


:dwf:
Some watches are made to last only as long as they are fashionable
Some watches, simply are not made to last
Seiko watches are designed to withstand the ravages of both time and fashion
Someday perhaps, all watches will be made this way
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nick0123

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Re: My experience in making new LCD displays

Post26 Jan 2018, 02:54

@simone — you could grab one of these if you are quick :) (not my auction) https://www.ebay.com/itm/Casio-AA-81-AA ... 2840544687
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simone

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Re: My experience in making new LCD displays

Post26 Jan 2018, 15:28

nick0123 wrote:@simone — you could grab one of these if you are quick :) (not my auction) https://www.ebay.com/itm/Casio-AA-81-AA ... 2840544687


Already done,but during the shipping the panel started to bleed so it arrived to my door with two black spots in the middle :-( (probably plane air pressure during the flight or something similar). The seller is a good guy so the problem is related to the panel itself my bad.
These panels suffers from age so a NEW one with modern materials and build could be a solution. :grin1:

:dwf:
Some watches are made to last only as long as they are fashionable
Some watches, simply are not made to last
Seiko watches are designed to withstand the ravages of both time and fashion
Someday perhaps, all watches will be made this way
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Kasper

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Re: My experience in making new LCD displays

Post31 Jan 2018, 15:57

i can wait :-D

IMG_20160205_132703_01.jpg
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Andrew Babanin

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Re: My experience in making new LCD displays

Post02 Feb 2018, 02:17

I asked about electrochromic LCDs. They heard about this technology, but didn't try, so no way.
As to DSMs - they produced this type of displays before and know how.
This type of displays needs liquid crystals with negative dielectric anisotropy and certain conductivity (i tried to translate from russian). It is possible to make a few experiments to get result.
For now the problem is:
1. I need drawings of Mikroma LCD
2. I need technical info about working voltage (let it be 15 Volts, but better to know real info), frequency (BTW one of my Mikromas has 64 /64 Hz, another one 64/32 Hz - means chip and display).
3. How to remove with no cracks the display? It seems to be soldered and glued with black epoxy.
The proof of the pudding is in the eating...
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iwatchu

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Re: My experience in making new LCD displays

Post09 Feb 2018, 09:20

Thank you for your answer. I will be following closely your further projects...good luck

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