Archive of the former Yahoo!Groups mailing list: Homebrew PCBs

I want to use a Xilinx Spartan 3A XC3S200AN

It comes in 256-FTBGA.

I've done .5mm pitch SMD parts with my hot air gun but never BGA.

I understand I won't be able to inspect the part but is BGA that difficult?

Can I solder it with a hot air gun?

My current technique is to put the biggest tip on my hot air gun then I just watch until all the solder has reflowed.

For the BGA, I was planning on carefully aligning it under the microscope then just hitting it with hot air from on top. I was going to place some dabs of solder paste around the side and I figure if I heat it a minute or so after the solder dabs have reflowed then it should be ok.

I did some SMD parts with an exposed thermal pad underneath and this seemed to work fine so I guess the BGA parts will be too.

Should I invest in one of those cheap Chinese reflow ovens on ebay or is my hot air gun good enough?

Thanks.