<div dir="auto">SMD assy or rework is a skill that can be learned, but some are more adept at it than others and some are so good at it they get paid to do it all day long. One thing I've noticed is those that are best at it always seem to be people of small stature. Maybe smaller hands and fingers are an advantage.<div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">My own skill seems to vary proportionally with my patience, and of course inversely with the amount of caffeine in my system. But really, amazing things can be done w a solid iron, hot air station, stereo microscope, lots of flux, and fine tipped tweezers.<div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">mh</div><div dir="auto"><br><div dir="auto"><br><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto"><br></div></div></div></div></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Jul 18, 2017 5:03 PM, "David G Dixon" <<a href="mailto:dixon@mail.ubc.ca">dixon@mail.ubc.ca</a>> wrote:<br type="attribution"><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><u></u>
<div style="WORD-WRAP:break-word">
<div dir="ltr" align="left"><span class="m_2905230964311689257312215223-18072017"><font color="#0000ff" size="2" face="Arial">Well, the key is WHY it is frustrating. First of all, I
have dropsy -- I drop every component at least once, it seems, on my lap or on
the floor. Drop a TH part, no big deal. Drop an SMD part, and it
winks out of existence in this part of the universe and ends up in Captain
Janeway's minestrone. Second of all, I don't see all that well close up
anymore. Third, I have never ever made what looked like a decent looking
solder joint on an SMD part. My TH joints look like perfect little shiny
volcanoes. Fourth, I have a system for TH work which makes it go extremely
quickly.</font></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" align="left"><span class="m_2905230964311689257312215223-18072017"><font color="#0000ff" size="2" face="Arial"></font></span> </div>
<div dir="ltr" align="left"><span class="m_2905230964311689257312215223-18072017"><font color="#0000ff" size="2" face="Arial">The bottom line is that I can spend more time trying to
install a single SMD resistor on a board than it takes me to stuff the
whole board with TH resistors. And when I'm done, the TH resistors will
look perfect and the SMD resistor will be at an ugly 30-degree angle to its pads
with solder all over it.</font></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" align="left"><span class="m_2905230964311689257312215223-18072017"><font color="#0000ff" size="2" face="Arial"></font></span> </div>
<div dir="ltr" align="left"><span class="m_2905230964311689257312215223-18072017"><font color="#0000ff" size="2" face="Arial">SMD was developed for robots. I don't feel a need to
hone a skill to compete with a robot, thanks.</font></span></div><br>
<blockquote style="BORDER-LEFT:#0000ff 2px solid;PADDING-LEFT:5px;MARGIN-LEFT:5px;MARGIN-RIGHT:0px" dir="ltr">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en-us" class="m_2905230964311689257OutlookMessageHeader" align="left">
<hr>
<font size="2" face="Tahoma"><b>From:</b> Tom Wiltshire
[mailto:<a href="mailto:tom@electricdruid.net" target="_blank">tom@electricdruid.net</a>] <br><b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, July 18, 2017 4:18
PM<br><b>To:</b> David G Dixon<br><b>Cc:</b> 'Elain Klopke'; '*SYNTH
DIY'<br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [sdiy] Need help with a SMD kit
(OT?)<br></font><br></div>
<div></div>It's only frustrating until you get some good at it. then it can be
quite rewarding to do something that you initially thought was impossible.
That's pretty much the definition of learning any new skill, isn't it?
<div>
<div><br></div>
<div>Tom</div>
<div><br>
<div>==================<br>
Electric Druid<br>Synth & Stompbox
DIY<br>==================<br><br></div><br>
<div>
<div>On 18 Jul 2017, at 22:23, David G Dixon <<a href="mailto:dixon@mail.ubc.ca" target="_blank">dixon@mail.ubc.ca</a>> wrote:</div><br class="m_2905230964311689257Apple-interchange-newline">
<blockquote type="cite">
<div>
<div dir="ltr" align="left"><span class="m_2905230964311689257103502221-18072017"><font color="#0000ff" size="2" face="Arial">This post sums up why I simply will not do SMD by
hand. Not... worth... the... frustration.</font></span></div><br>
<blockquote style="BORDER-LEFT:#0000ff 2px solid;PADDING-LEFT:5px;MARGIN-LEFT:5px;MARGIN-RIGHT:0px" dir="ltr">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en-us" class="m_2905230964311689257OutlookMessageHeader" align="left">
<hr>
<font size="2" face="Tahoma"><b>From:</b> Synth-diy [mailto:<a href="mailto:synth-" target="_blank">synth-</a><a href="mailto:diy-bounces@synth-diy.org" target="_blank">diy-bounces@<wbr>synth-diy.org</a>]
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Elain Klopke<br><b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, July 18, 2017
12:16 AM<br><b>To:</b> *SYNTH DIY<br><b>Subject:</b> [sdiy] Need help with
a SMD kit (OT?)<br></font><br></div>
<div></div>
<div dir="ltr">Hey list,
<div><br></div>
<div>I bought the Elements diy kit from Synthcube and managed to get all
the surface mount components attached using solder paste, a tiny syringe,
and a hot plate. Everything melted nicely and I only burnt the solder mask
a bit because I wasn't quick enough getting it off the hot plate, but the
copper traces appear to be still attached to the board so I'm not too
worried.</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>And then the problems started. I let the board cool down and then
started going about eliminating solder bridges on a couple of the ICs. I
cleaned up one side of the microcontroller and then made the other three
worse. I got one chip that was a little crooked seated properly and then
another popped free and I couldn't get it resoldered. </div>
<div><br></div>
<div>I've stepped away from the kit so I don't do more damage or throw it
against the wall in frustration.</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>Is there anyone experienced in surface mount soldering (preferably in
the US) that would be willing to fix this mess for me. I'm way out of my
depth and am willing to pay postage both ways and a fee for your
time.</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>Thanks in
advance.</div></div></blockquote></div>______________________________<wbr>_________________<br>Synth-diy
mailing list<br><a href="mailto:Synth-diy@synth-diy.org" target="_blank">Synth-diy@synth-diy.org</a><br><a href="http://synth-diy.org/mailman/listinfo/synth-diy" target="_blank">http://synth-diy.org/mailman/<wbr>listinfo/synth-diy</a><br></blockquote></div><br></div></div></blockquote></div>
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