>
> Did you build the temperature control part, then?
Yes i did build it, no i don't have the schematic anymore.
Back engineering would work, it is not too hard.
it used a triac to switch the current, and there is a opamp
/ comparator somewhere. ther is also a led for voltage reference.
it has a display for temperature, which is so wildly inaccurate that
i do not use it (could calibrate it).
it can be built without the display too.
it is a simple control circuit, i could build it from scratch i think.
you have a potentiometer for setting the temperature you like. and a led
that blinks with the heating element. i added a piezo speaker which "ticks"
on each heating, sounds like a geiger counter but it doesn't let me forget
to switch it off (left it 2 times overnight before adding the ticker).
it is also a nice audible feedback if it is hot...
It was made some time ago in school. sorry i didn't keep the schematic.
(stupid i know...)
If one really needs to build one i draw it up from the pcb, it is not
too complicated.
However you need a 24V iron for it, which alone did cost 600ATS when i
built the
unit. (50 eur or so) now you can get complete stations for less (ok they
are bad..)
> I really like the idea of a slide-through oven with a pre-heat chamber.
>
Me too. i think it is the only sensible approach.
even if you have a 3MW heating element ( ;-) ) then you would
still need to heat the air, the heating would take longer.
with a hot oven it is the fastest possible with air.
> Yes, I'd think compressability of air would rule it out.
>
> How about a leadscrew and stepper motor?
maybe a useable idea.
the paste comes filled in a syringe already...
I wonder if it would work on a cnc to automatically dispense the
paste, if one can ensure that the dot comes out and sticks to the
pad, not the needle. with some tweaking it might work....
then add a pick and place ;-)
ST