Hi guys,
I'm having a play with solder paste and a homebrew reflow oven --
basically an Argos "Cookworks Mini Oven", 1640W quad-element (two top,
two bottom), onto which I've grafted a Labfacility K-type thermocouple
socket, a West Controls/CAL eCAL E6C PID controller, and a Crydom
EZ480D18 solid-state relay.
Problem is, the squeegee I'm using isn't quite working...
What's happening is that the paste seems to go into the apertures in the
stencil for the first inch or so, then all the paste starts making its
way up the squeegee, towards the handle. The squeegee is a hard plastic
handle, moulded onto a ~2mm thick piece of metal (stainless steel?).
Questions:
1) Am I using the right tool?
2) If not, what do I need? I've seen the squeegees Beta Layout
(PCB-POOL) are selling for a couple of Euros, but I'm not keen on the
idea of spending EUR5 on a squeegee, and EUR20 in postage.
3) If I am using the right tool, what am I doing wrong? I left the
paste out of the fridge overnight to warm up, so it shouldn't have been
excessively cold...
Does anyone have any suggestions? I've seen the Sparkfun tutorials, and
the PCB-POOL video, but haven't found any useful info on debugging the
process...
--
Phil.
ygroups@...http://www.philpem.me.uk/