Re: Soldering SMT Components

On Mon, 14 Apr 2008 17:33:40 -0700, Joerg
<notthisjoergsch@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Leon wrote:
On 14 Apr, 19:49, jd_l...@xxxxxxxxx wrote:
I'm looking for Do-it Yourselft articles on soldering surface mount
components. I can't afford the IR equipment that commercial board
houses use. I'm particularly interested in soldering the new ROHS
components that require lead free solder. The lead free solders
require higher temperatures. Also, do board coatings prevent problems
with tin whiskers that grow from the lead free solders?

I do surface mount assembly with an ordinary Metcal soldering station.
I solder Rs and Cs using a small tip cartridge, and fine-pitch devices
by drag-soldering with a mini-hoof cartridge.


Metcal, ordinary? Those are the Mercedes-Benzes of solder stations. They
are great but the ones I have used at clients were well north of $500.

Metcal has a cheap iron for about $180 (PS-800). Tips are about $8 or
$9. I use the 650 deg 0.016" tips for most of my work (0402 size and
0.5mm pitch parts). I like the small footprint of the station.
http://www.hmcelectronics.com/cgi-bin/scripts/product/5635-0199/ has
pretty good pricing.

For soldering those pesky ICs with the heat slug under the part, I use
a waffle iron. The waffle iron I have has dual purpose plates, one
side for making waffles, the other side is flat for, I'm guessing,
grilled cheese and soldering.

---
Mark
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Soldering SMT Components
    ... I can't afford the IR equipment that commercial board ... I'm particularly interested in soldering the new ROHS ... components that require lead free solder. ... The waffle iron I have has dual purpose plates, ...
    (sci.electronics.design)
  • Re: Soldering SMT Components
    ... I can't afford the IR equipment that commercial board ... components that require lead free solder. ... I do surface mount assembly with an ordinary Metcal soldering station. ... The waffle iron I have has dual purpose plates, ...
    (sci.electronics.design)
  • Re: Lead Solder
    ... The generator industry is a case ... don't know what the latest issue has to say about lead free but the fact ... There are also lots of fake lead free components ... through a wave soldering or selective soldering machine you contaminate the ...
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  • Re: Soldering SMT Components
    ... components that require lead free solder. ... I do surface mount assembly with an ordinary Metcal soldering station. ... I solder Rs and Cs using a small tip cartridge, ... The temperature is determined by the cartridge, ...
    (sci.electronics.design)
  • Re: Soldering SMT Components
    ... I can't afford the IR equipment that commercial board ... components that require lead free solder. ... I do surface mount assembly with an ordinary Metcal soldering station. ... I solder Rs and Cs using a small tip cartridge, ...
    (sci.electronics.design)
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