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

previous by date index next by date
previous in topic topic list next in topic

Subject: RE: [Homebrew_PCBs] Controlled solder paste dispensing

From: "Boman33" <boman33@...>
Date: 2011-05-08

Hi Tom,

I already did that but adding 50 % liquid flux to the solder paste I get a very liquid runny mixture that does not stay on the pads. I am hoping to find paste flux and mix it with the solder paste.

What do other people do?

I know I can remove the extra solder afterwards with solder braid but I rather do it correctly in the first place.

Bertho



From: Tom Biery Sent: Saturday, May 07, 2011 17:29



Why don't you mix a 50%/50% bactch and try it with a smaller needle,

Tom

For those interested in a youtube videos of my Homebrewed Printed Circuit Board
fabrication, PIC chip experiments, High powered LED projects, Arduino
applications, QRP kit builds, and Electronics Tourism, Please take at look and
subscribe to my new improved youtube channel "Hamradio2008"

link...
http://www.youtube.com/user/HamRadio2008

heres a current video; Back from Silicon Valley:
Back from Silicon Valley _ LeCroy WaveAce 112
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQ2-a1oB57Q

________________________________
From: Boman33 <boman33@... <mailto:boman33%40vinland.com> >
To: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com <mailto:Homebrew_PCBs%40yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Sat, May 7, 2011 4:05:41 PM
Subject: [Homebrew_PCBs] Controlled solder paste dispensing


For regular SMT assembly I use commercial stencils to screen print the
solder paste but I am having problems dispensing solder paste by hand in
small amounts for rework or prototypes.

I have seen somewhere that individual stencils are sold but that adds the
requirement to accurately align the stencil which will be very difficult on
a rework board.

Using a syringe and placing a single long bead across all the IC pin pads
work fine on wider pitch ICs but as the pitch is getting smaller I am having
trouble getting the line thin enough. In other words, there is too much
solder so when I reflow there are solder bridging.

If I use a finer tip on the syringe I cannot squeeze it hard enough for the
paste to come out. If I add some flux it gets thinner but too runny. I
like the normal consistency since it helps to keep the ICs in place with its
stickiness. My current smallest bead diameter is 0.5mm (20mils). I like to
be able to get about half of that size.

I am basically looking for a solder paste with less solder and more thick
flux material so I can squeeze out a reasonably sized bead but after reflow
there is less solder than a normal paste.

Any suggestions on a paste like that?

Any other suggestions on how to place a very small amount of solder on the
IC pads?

Thanks in advance for suggestions.

Bertho

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]