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 5:36 PM
Subject: Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] Microscope / smd soldering


>
> >
> > 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
> > --
>
> The trick with hot air or ovens is that it aligns the part itself.
> you just need to place it in about the right spot and the surface tension
> of the solder will align it properly.


I've thought of doing that, but the Metcal tip makes it much quicker. They
have an tech note on the technique:

http://www.metcal.com/tips/minihoof.html

I've used a similar technique in the past with an ordinary soldering station
and tip, using lots of flux and solder, then cleaning up with desoldering
braid.

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