The link you gave is not availble.
The wax is used on critical components to reduce the effects of
vibration to cause microphonic effects with vibration or movement.
This was done especialy in high frequency circuits, to dampen the
microphonics, and to also keep the components mechanicaly aligned. The
physical positions of many of these compoenents is critical for the
alignment of the circuits involved. I would not advise to mess with
this.
Jerry G.
http://www.zoom-one.com
--
Don Bruder said:
[QUOTE=""phil said:
It might not be ultra-stong, but it's sufficient to prevent various
motion and/or deformation of controls/parts that are adjustable, or
could be "thrown out of whack" by being moved, squashed, or otherwise
rearranged.
If you look closely, you'll probably notice that the majority of the
"waxed" pieces are either adjustable (probably little square metal
"cans" with a screwdriver hole in the top. Those are slug-tuned coils,
and turning the slug, deliberately or otherwise, *WILL* alter the tuning
capability. Ditto little "flat-pack" widgets with what look like screws
- Tiny trimmer capacitors.) or would be sensitive to being deformed,
such as naked coils, like the one you describe as being stuffed with a
wax soaked sponge. These guys can change value dramatically if bent,
stretched, or otherwise altered even slightly, again changing the
tuning, and probably not for the better - Unless you *WANT* the radio to
cease picking up the FM broadcast band, and instead, start tuning in Ham
radio conversations, TV soundtracks, perhaps even cops, or in ungodly
improbable circumstances, even cell phone transmissions.
The wax is all about "locking down" the factory tuning to prevent
accidental changes that would knock the radio "out of alignment"
How is it applied, do they pay someone with a candle to drop wax drops
at the end of the production line ?
More likely, the whole board sits in a mold-box, and something filled
with hot wax just goes <SPOOGE> in the general direction of the board as
it goes by on the line, without much (if any) interest in exactly where
any overflow ends up. Wax isn't conductive, so it really doesn't matter
on any level (other than cosmetic considerations) where any "spatters"
might land. Of coure, a more sophisicated production line could use
something that "spooges" through multiple nozzles, with pinpoint
accuracy. But since most electronic boards are hidden inside some sort
of pretty casing, the typical consumer is never going to see how pretty
it is or isn't. Only "weirdos" like you and me, who open up our
electronic toys to see what makes them tick.
Amusement value:
The legend "No user servicable parts inside" that appears on so many
electronic widgets. Guess what, manufacturers... Some of us CAN figure
out how to run a soldering iron, meter, and other electronic servicing
equipment, and can indeed service that "unservicable" device, so your
statement about no user servicable parts is pure baloney.
I've always been amused by that one... Dunno why, but it tickles my
funnybone.[/QUOTE]