Beginning in the late 80's, all the major IC makers abandoned the rad-hard and rad-tolerant IC market. It was left to small scale, dedicated foundries (e.g. Honeywell, Hughes, etc.) to provide the Silicon-On-Saphire and other materials for satellite and niche markets. Intel was the first to leave and then once TI left, most military electronic specifications no longer required anything in the way of rad capable requirements.
My parents in FL had a problem with pinholing in piping under the concrete slab, as they build almost all the houses down there. Under-slab leaks are rampant, in fact, especially around certain vintages [relatively recent] of construction, where they probably started cheaping out and using L grade pipe instead of M [or maybe I have that backwards]. Anyway, the fix was to chop it all off short and redo everything with PEX through the attic. . Having just recently tooled up a little to do small copper jobs, I'm loath to go the PEX route yet especially with the crimp tools being priced as they are. Fortunately my own neighborhood seems to have a lot of iron in the water but relatively few corrosion- causing minerals. It just discolors the toilet bowl fairly fast. . _H*
Having involvement in certain projects, I will say that tactical, mission-critical systems still have the requirement. Eg fly-by-wire absolutely requires it There are specialized manufacturers http://www.mskennedy.com/client_images/catalog19680/pages/files/MSK106RHTotalDoseTestReportrb.pdf that not only make a line of rad-hard components, but provide TID reports up to MIL-STD-883
Just curious, are you going to use the reliable but illegal 50/50 solder, eg have some ratholed away? The illegal solder works *much* more reliably than the new stuff I know what you mean about the price of the tools. I paid around $200 for the kit, the head can take 1/2 and 3/4 dies which is the only size I'd be fooling with As I'm sure you're aware, an "iron filter" solves one problem but tends to introduce another problem, especially the potassium permanganate
Couple of finer points: 1) Yes, certain projects do require it, that's why I said most. 2) Those that do require it are limited to processing capabilities of two decades ago. The F-22 flight control system is at a i386 level of processing. The software compilers used are ancient. Good enough to work, but very difficult to recruit young software engineers to stick with, since they see it being unmarketable outside of that (shrinking) area.
I agree, part of the problem is that extremely high density IC's have a long way to go before they can deal with the TID's that one can expect from either HAEMP or very close nuclear detonations eg prompt ionizing radiation will reliably introduce latchup in even "certified" systems. Hot restart groups can deal with that, if they are properly programmed/sequenced There are obvious limitations to overall system capability for an airbourne system vs a land system. Eg C3I systems will usually be COTS, but protected by enclosures, even entire rooms, with special design to resist HAEMP. It sounds like we have worked on similar projects and systems If you're referring to the compiler I'm thinking of, I wouldnt exactly label it as "ancient." Not fancy to be sure, very little application on the civillian side, especially the entertainment industry I often hear the frustrations you mention from the younger folks. Not sure what they're moaning about, I've been doing this sort of work since the mid 80's and always seem to drift back into it.
Well, sure. If you don't keep up with the technology, after 2 years you're automatically "ancient" anyway
That is SO true Main Menu especially the part "if women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy"
One of my favorite Red Green clips was the Poor Mans Power Window Conversion Just the ticket, I pull up in an old used up rusted out s***box Dodge van, pop the mixer onto the protruding stud, and zzzzzzzp
I somehow picture Tom's first car being just like this one I know mine was pretty much like that, duct tape and all
Somehow Canadian hillbillies seem more lovable. Perhaps that's because I live in a northern state. Tom
