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We’re building a robotics system that recovers reusable electronic components from retired hardware. To run experiments we’re looking to buy electronics that ar

We’re building a robotics system that recovers reusable electronic components from retired hardware. To run experiments we’re looking to buy electronics that are *retired or obsolete but still contain valuable components*. Examples: * servers, networking gear, routers, switches * laptops / workstations * telecom / industrial / embedded boards * lab equipment electronics * obsolete or end-of-life hardware with populated PCBs We’re especially interested in hardware that *is no longer useful as a system but still has valuable chips or components on the boards*. Typical pricing depends on the hardware, but we often pay *$20–$200+ per unit* for things like servers, networking gear, or laptops depending on what’s inside. Happy to buy bulk lots. Based in the Bay Area; we can arrange pickup locally or pallet shipping within the US. If you run ITAD, recycling, refurbishment, repair, or have retired hardware sitting around, email: sava@dayworkx.com Even rough descriptions like “a pallet of old switches” are helpful.

girvo 6mo ago
This is very very cool :) And is _way_ better than when I'm forced to do this by hand, I'll say that much haha
- Joel_Mckay 6mo ago
  There are e-waste companies with inert hot-air centrifuges. Essentially, they extract the RoHS solder, clean it, and resell re-certified product back to manufacturers. The chips simply drop off into a bin, and no ethical company will sell customers used silicon. There were a few folks that ended up getting a few years in prison for that con (small China groups would sand and laser mark old chips with modern lot codes), and hence why many US recycling plants shred the chips for recovery of precious metals. It is a serious safety problem, and having personally been stung by locally sold counterfeit/used stuff with BS compliance documentation... it sometimes means months of lost project time figuring out what happened. Always direct sample from the manufacturers whenever possible. =3
  - femto 6mo ago
    I can't see a problem, as long as the chips are not fraudulently resold. Beyond not using a resource in the first place, reuse is the gold standard in sustainability. As an engineer, I wouldn't use second hand components for prototyping. When prototyping you need to eliminate as much uncertainty as possible. I'd consider using second hand components in production, provided there is a cost advantage, supply is reliable and my production line includes a test that would pick up faulty components. Even then, I'd be monitoring failure rates and reverting to new components if elevated failure rates caused costs. There's an argument that (well handled) second hand components might even have a lower failure rate than new as they have been burned in. I'm guessing this company is targeting specialsied repair rather than production. Sometimes complex parts are no longer manufactured and the only option is second hand (often at a premium price).
    - Joel_Mckay 6mo ago
      >I can't see a problem, as long as the chips are not fraudulently resold. In general, most components are only rated for 2 to 4 re-flow heating cycles before internal damage occurs. On some components the initial re-flow cycle brings the component into the rated tolerance, and for others the PCB forms a bimorph cantilever that physically fatigues the chip contacts/leads. Production yields are only part of the Infant Mortality Phase of the bathtub curve. Some components do get more stable with age if and only if left alone, but you can count those on one hand if you still have all your fingers. That is also a 3 hour pedantic conversation no one wants to have. I am secretly a sentient turnip... =3
      - phyzome 6mo ago
        ...OK, I'll bite, what's the "sentient turnip" bit about?
        Joel_Mckay 6mo ago
        Biting is considered bad manners... and don't worry about it. =3
- skholinn 6mo ago
  thanks! how often do you have to do it by hand and how long does it take it?
  - Ccecil 6mo ago
    I am not the poster...but I can say for things like the A4982 stepper drivers it would take me about 1-2min/chip to do it by hand with hot air with a preheater. [1] In one particular case where we had a BOM mixup on a batch of 500 boards @5 chips per board this would have saved me a ton of time. I did 2500 chip swaps by hand... If you need any help with the project let me know. This is something I would love to help develop hardware for. [1] https://youtu.be/rZCczA-PX5w?si=_BPojbLMsTLjsDCw https://youtu.be/rZCczA-PX5w?si=_BPojbLMsTLjsDCw
  - girvo 6mo ago
    Rarely! But it takes me a few minutes per component, sometimes more because I'm quite bad at electronics and always afraid of damaging things haha

girvo 6mo ago

This is very very cool :) And is _way_ better than when I'm forced to do this by hand, I'll say that much haha

Joel_Mckay 6mo ago
There are e-waste companies with inert hot-air centrifuges. Essentially, they extract the RoHS solder, clean it, and resell re-certified product back to manufacturers. The chips simply drop off into a bin, and no ethical company will sell customers used silicon. There were a few folks that ended up getting a few years in prison for that con (small China groups would sand and laser mark old chips with modern lot codes), and hence why many US recycling plants shred the chips for recovery of precious metals. It is a serious safety problem, and having personally been stung by locally sold counterfeit/used stuff with BS compliance documentation... it sometimes means months of lost project time figuring out what happened. Always direct sample from the manufacturers whenever possible. =3
- femto 6mo ago
  I can't see a problem, as long as the chips are not fraudulently resold. Beyond not using a resource in the first place, reuse is the gold standard in sustainability. As an engineer, I wouldn't use second hand components for prototyping. When prototyping you need to eliminate as much uncertainty as possible. I'd consider using second hand components in production, provided there is a cost advantage, supply is reliable and my production line includes a test that would pick up faulty components. Even then, I'd be monitoring failure rates and reverting to new components if elevated failure rates caused costs. There's an argument that (well handled) second hand components might even have a lower failure rate than new as they have been burned in. I'm guessing this company is targeting specialsied repair rather than production. Sometimes complex parts are no longer manufactured and the only option is second hand (often at a premium price).
  - Joel_Mckay 6mo ago
    >I can't see a problem, as long as the chips are not fraudulently resold. In general, most components are only rated for 2 to 4 re-flow heating cycles before internal damage occurs. On some components the initial re-flow cycle brings the component into the rated tolerance, and for others the PCB forms a bimorph cantilever that physically fatigues the chip contacts/leads. Production yields are only part of the Infant Mortality Phase of the bathtub curve. Some components do get more stable with age if and only if left alone, but you can count those on one hand if you still have all your fingers. That is also a 3 hour pedantic conversation no one wants to have. I am secretly a sentient turnip... =3
    - phyzome 6mo ago
      ...OK, I'll bite, what's the "sentient turnip" bit about?
      - Joel_Mckay 6mo ago
        Biting is considered bad manners... and don't worry about it. =3
skholinn 6mo ago
thanks! how often do you have to do it by hand and how long does it take it?
- Ccecil 6mo ago
  I am not the poster...but I can say for things like the A4982 stepper drivers it would take me about 1-2min/chip to do it by hand with hot air with a preheater. [1] In one particular case where we had a BOM mixup on a batch of 500 boards @5 chips per board this would have saved me a ton of time. I did 2500 chip swaps by hand... If you need any help with the project let me know. This is something I would love to help develop hardware for. [1] https://youtu.be/rZCczA-PX5w?si=_BPojbLMsTLjsDCw https://youtu.be/rZCczA-PX5w?si=_BPojbLMsTLjsDCw
- girvo 6mo ago
  Rarely! But it takes me a few minutes per component, sometimes more because I'm quite bad at electronics and always afraid of damaging things haha