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

----- Original Message -----
From: "Stefan Trethan" <stefan_trethan@...>
To: <homebrew_pcbs@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, January 08, 2004 3:49 PM
Subject: Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] Microscope / smd soldering


> On Thu, 8 Jan 2004 14:23:23 -0000, Leon Heller <leon_heller@...>
> wrote:
>
> > I've just received a cheap (75 GBP) stereo dissecting microscope I
> > ordered
> > for SMD assembly - I use a lot of fine pitch devices with 0.5 mm lead
> > spacing (not on home-made PCBs, of course).
> >
> > Looking at some of my boards through it I can see that my soldering
> > techniques need a lot improvement - it's surprising that I can get
> > anything
> > to work. 8-)
> >
> > Leon
> > --
>
> I'd rather not look at my boards then ;-)
>
> do you solder them with hot air? i suppose that is best?

I recently got a refurbished Metcal soldering station with a 'mini hoof' tip
for drag soldering fine pitch parts. That make it quite easy. The microscope
is for getting the chip correctly positioned and tacked down by the corner
leads.

Leon
--
Leon Heller, G1HSM
Email: aqzf13@...
My low-cost Philips LPC210x ARM development system:
http://www.geocities.com/leon_heller/lpc2104.html