[sdiy] Reasonable SMT Stations?

[mcb, inc.]

On Sat, 7 Jun 2008, James R. Coplin wrote:

> making a SMT soldering station yet that isn't an insane amount of money?  It
> seems this is where things are going so maybe I should just get the tools
> and save myself the headache.

In no way am I a master craftsmen at smt so all of this is amateur
opinion but...  A reflow oven project like Csaba mentioned is one good
way.  I'm working on a small, dense, dual-sided project where it couldn't
do everything so I haven't built one yet.  I'm using a basic WES51
soldering iron with the smallest tips and a combination of the
finest wire solder and solder paste.  I ignore the expiration date on
the paste (but keeping it in the fridge) without obvious problems.
There are some gotchas specific to handwork and solder paste to be
learned (such as not getting any trapped under flush-mounting smt
parts where they can form shorts).  Work slowly and methodically and
simply accept the fact that you're going to place parts *much*
more slowly than with through-hole.

The two problems I haven't solved are magnification and desoldering.
For magnification I want wide, low-distortion stereoscopic viewing
without having to do the head weave and dance to find the sweet
spot.  I still end up viewing naked at short distances.  I cheaped
out on a desoldering iron for discretes and soic (two-row) parts
and bought a nasty Chinese thing from MPJA that doesn't melt solder.
I've used a 'Chip Quik' smt removal kit once so far and it did
work.

The other thing I want is an '11th finger' tool that can be
rapidly positioned to hold an smt part in place while I do my
handwork.  Something on the end of a gooseneck that lets you
get close and then a precision piece on the end to move into
final position.  Probably another missed patent opportunity on
my part here...

m

--
Monty Brandenberg