Homebrew PCBs

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "David C. Partridge" <david.partridge@...> wrote:
>
> And I guess only a very few can do profiles with dwell times (think re-flow oven soak time) or do that all do that? 

Right, many of the units have an extra-cost option to do this.  I got an Omega CN4800 for reflow control, but it has the ramp and soak feature, and I think lists for ~ $800.  I got it on eBay for $60 or so.
So, I have it set to ramp to 180 C, hold for one minute, ramp to 235 or 245 (leaded or lead-free), hold for one minute, then ramp down.

The trick is to poke the thermocouple into a plated through-hole in the board, so you are controlling actual board temperature, not air temp.

Jon