Re: Soldering SMT Components

On Thu, 17 Apr 2008 09:03:30 -0700, Joerg
<notthisjoergsch@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Leon wrote:
On 17 Apr, 00:47, Joerg <notthisjoerg...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Leon wrote:
On 16 Apr, 17:38, Joerg <notthisjoerg...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Leon wrote:
On 15 Apr, 17:47, Joerg <notthisjoerg...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
qrk wrote:
On Mon, 14 Apr 2008 17:33:40 -0700, Joerg
<notthisjoerg...@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.
Thanks! That seems like a good place to buy tools. They've got good
pricing on Hakko as well. So I bookmarked them. But I can't use a fixed
temperature iron here in the lab because as a consultant I have to deal
with widely different technology.
The temperature is determined by the cartridge, you just need
different cartridges for different jobs. No calibration is required,
which is a big advantage in a production environment.
Ok, for production that is fine but not in my lab. I don't want to
switch cartridges or tips all the time. I remember the nasty burns I got
when changing between #6, #7 and #8 tips on the old non-adjustable Wellers.
It's very quick and easy, using the heat-resistant pad provided. It
takes about 30 seconds to switch off, swap cartridges, and switch on,
including the time for the new cartridge to reach its operating
temperature.
I just turn the dial on the Weller a wee bit and it goes from 650F to
700F in five seconds. Back down is even faster since you can help it
along by dipping it into the wet sponge.

How long does it take to change tips?


I sometimes have to do that when in need of a fine-pitch tip. Ok, full
confession, I do not use the proper wrench. To save time I take flat
pliers (because that way I can keep holding the tube piece), unscrew,
flick the tip into a metal tray and slide the new one in. Maybe five
seconds or so.

Care needs to be taken when it's only for one quick solder joint, you
want to switch back right away, grab the other tip that was just
ejected, and ... *OUCH*. That's where burn gel comes in ;-)

Thus losing maybe a full minute
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Connections question?
    ... If you tell us what cartridge you are using, ... cable capacitance, but this may be important with some MM cartridges. ... :-) Both good pressure contacts and soldered ones should be 'ohmic'. ... are dissimilar and/or the solder is inappropriate. ...
    (uk.rec.audio)
  • Re: Soldering SMT Components
    ... I solder Rs and Cs using a small tip cartridge, ... The temperature is determined by the cartridge, ... switch cartridges or tips all the time. ...
    (sci.electronics.design)
  • Re: Soldering SMT Components
    ... I solder Rs and Cs using a small tip cartridge, ... The temperature is determined by the cartridge, ... switch cartridges or tips all the time. ...
    (sci.electronics.design)
  • Re: Hot air smd rework station. SMD removal??? Defective Machines???
    ... study of thermodynamics and heat transfer. ... think that a higher temperature is better for soldering. ... The raising of the temperature to the melting point of the solder ... A clean iron, well tinned, clean circuit board and component lead, fluxed. ...
    (sci.electronics.repair)
  • Re: Hot air smd rework station. SMD removal??? Defective Machines???
    ... In order to get the solder to acquire melting temperature ... problem lies in heat transfer and loss. ... You mistake the transfer of heat for temperature. ... soldering iron and the power of the heating element. ...
    (sci.electronics.repair)