In The Air: Episode 2 - Preparing for Surface Mount Work

RE: In The Air: Episode 2 - Preparing for Surface Mount Work

vsluiter — Thu, 30 Oct 2014 08:33:48 GMT

I've got the Atten 858D+ hot air soldering station. Very cheap, and in my experience very reliable. http://www.ebay.com/bhp/atten-858d

Here's a post and a video of soldering one of the tiny parts for the Wireless Power Solution Challenge ⇒ Soldering the bq51013

Regarding the flux: I have both liquid stuff which works great, and the gooey stuff which works but leaves a lot of sticky residue. I'm using solder paste I bought at dealextreme, and the top gets rock hard, thereby sealing the lower regions [View:/resized-image/__size/16x16/__key/commentfiles/f7d226abd59f475c9d224a79e3f0ec07-62b8dd16-4982-4700-92de-abbcca542009/4848.contentimage_5F00_1.png:16:16] Every time I start doing stuff with small parts it's like "cracking" a creme brulee! I'm using the toothpick method to apply the solder paste.

RE: In The Air: Episode 2 - Preparing for Surface Mount Work

shabaz — Wed, 29 Oct 2014 17:55:11 GMT

Hi Michael,

Good info!

This has become a great post to exchange tips on the products we find. I went with this flux (Circuitworks CW8500)this flux (Circuitworks CW8500) I've not used it before, I'll report back when I know what it's like. The solder paste is 18 months old : ( so I may re-purchase if it fails on me.

RE: In The Air: Episode 2 - Preparing for Surface Mount Work

ravi_butani — Wed, 29 Oct 2014 09:31:08 GMT

As my experience with SMD soldering, Other than BGA and other very very small components, I would prefer normal soldering iron with temperature control and fine tip with 0.5mm or 0.1mm

Hot air soldering station is useful for me only for desoldering of SMD ICs...

RE: In The Air: Episode 2 - Preparing for Surface Mount Work

mcb1 — Wed, 29 Oct 2014 08:50:46 GMT

Very good post Michael

There is another option for the Hot Air rework that includes a temperature controllable iron

[View:/resized-image/__size/506x204/__key/commentfiles/f7d226abd59f475c9d224a79e3f0ec07-62b8dd16-4982-4700-92de-abbcca542009/contentimage_5F00_177507.png:506:204]

Out here it comes with a number of tips but NOT the 2.5mm one that might be worth ordering at the same time.

[View:/resized-image/__size/454x176/__key/commentfiles/f7d226abd59f475c9d224a79e3f0ec07-62b8dd16-4982-4700-92de-abbcca542009/contentimage_5F00_177508.png:454:176]

Unfortunately like Inderpreet, the soldering iron tip prices are expensive, and only available in packets of 10.

Mark

RE: In The Air: Episode 2 - Preparing for Surface Mount Work

fvan — Wed, 29 Oct 2014 07:23:42 GMT

Excellent post for us starters.

I've only worked with basic through hole components, so this will be a challenge on its own.

I'm not the very patient and steady hand kind of guy, so I hope I don't get frustrated with it too quickly.

Do you know of any surface mount practice kits ? (like a small PCB with some footprints and a set of different components)

Thank you for this post [View:/resized-image/__size/16x16/__key/commentfiles/f7d226abd59f475c9d224a79e3f0ec07-62b8dd16-4982-4700-92de-abbcca542009/contentimage_5F00_1.png:16:16]

RE: In The Air: Episode 2 - Preparing for Surface Mount Work

ipv1 — Wed, 29 Oct 2014 05:54:50 GMT

Sir!

My thanks for this post as selecting stuff is an issue.

Also can someone suggest a soldering system with a conical bit. 0.6mm? These come in handy.