I have been working on restoring an original 1986 NEC Multispeed. I have 1 piece left to the puzzle... The LCD panel appears to be melted. Somebody on Facebook said it looked like vinegar syndrome. Sure enough, it does reak of vinegar, but the question is, how do I fix it? I have tried to look at many videos and tried to read posts, but this isn't the polarizer on the front of the display. It appears to be the reflection polarizer behind the LCD.
Furthermore, I may have already completely destroyed this thing out of ignorance.
Basically, I thought that by twisting each of the metal clips around the side, the metal shroud would come off. I was wrong. The panel appears to be glued to this, or it's been in place for so many years that it's bonded together.
I very cautiously pealed open the layers between the actual panel and the circuit board and then thought, O NO!. 1st, the melting appears to be on this rear reflective layer. That's obviously not just polarizing film and that's what I guess I need to replace. I can't fully separate the back and front because of what appears to be a pressed ribbon cable attaching them. I then realized that the white strips down the sides are actually connectors that were aligned to the board which I've now just separated. What are the odds those will ever line up again?
So now I ask, is it safe to try to separate these 2 layers? Is there a commercial product I can buy to replace the reflective last layer? I'm guessing the polarizer deteriorated and has melted the reflective layer.
I am not an engineer. I have only ever replaced bad panels. I've replaced backlights before. But never tried to peal away parts of the LCD.
I don't think I can make the images small enough to be of any use on here so I've provided a link to the Facebook posting I made.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/vintagecomputerswapmeet/permalink/3514839171925103/
Furthermore, I may have already completely destroyed this thing out of ignorance.
Basically, I thought that by twisting each of the metal clips around the side, the metal shroud would come off. I was wrong. The panel appears to be glued to this, or it's been in place for so many years that it's bonded together.
I very cautiously pealed open the layers between the actual panel and the circuit board and then thought, O NO!. 1st, the melting appears to be on this rear reflective layer. That's obviously not just polarizing film and that's what I guess I need to replace. I can't fully separate the back and front because of what appears to be a pressed ribbon cable attaching them. I then realized that the white strips down the sides are actually connectors that were aligned to the board which I've now just separated. What are the odds those will ever line up again?
So now I ask, is it safe to try to separate these 2 layers? Is there a commercial product I can buy to replace the reflective last layer? I'm guessing the polarizer deteriorated and has melted the reflective layer.
I am not an engineer. I have only ever replaced bad panels. I've replaced backlights before. But never tried to peal away parts of the LCD.
I don't think I can make the images small enough to be of any use on here so I've provided a link to the Facebook posting I made.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/vintagecomputerswapmeet/permalink/3514839171925103/