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

>
> 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
> --

----- 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

>
> 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