Components - In the Air Challenge

Wow, apart from the TMP112 everything listed here is in QFN or BGA package. If its really a requirement for the challenge this will be fun for everybody. Or will there be evaluation boards available (the LMP910x0 ones look interesting)?

Hi!

I think solder paste will be mandatory as one of the component purchases. Either that, or use evaluation boards. Will be interesting to see what methods people use to solder these. michaelkellett has mentioned using a hot plate to solder these. Another method I've heard is a hot air gun, but that sounds more difficult to get right without toasting the chip, but I could be wrong.

Flux would be another good thing to purchase (and tweezers, and a magnifier and very fine solder, and desoldering braid, and spare chips to experiment with) and then they may be hand-solderable with a fine tipped soldering iron (some youtube videos show a few procedures), if the pads are created with space to place the soldering iron tip right up against the edge of the ic and exposed copper on the pcb.

(There is an SMT discussion here that may help people).

I would agree that it would be too fast.

I'm wondering if a project to alter its characteristics could be worthwhile, using a Hotplate as the interface to the board.

There is a very good profile in the EnOcean specs (TCMxx from memory) which is probably a good starting point.

Regardless it's certainly a very good starting point, and is priced right.

mark

I hadn't thought about controlling the temperature - I have a salvaged temperature controller somewhere - I must dig it out.

You can buy a name brand controller from Farnell for £100 - £150, or one from ebay for £30 - I wonder if you can build one for less, ST Nucleo board, solid state relay, display, box, thermocouple and input amp - it would be very tight and a lot of effort - I'll look for the old one.

MK

MK

I was thinking about interfacing a simple temperature probe, to some form of micro and controlling the heating element.

I haven't opened up the one linked above, so I'm not sure if it has any sort of feedback loop, or the method used to interrupt the element (if at all).

Surely an SSR, Micro and Temperature Probe isn't going to add very much at all to the build, and could even be a standalone device.

I've seen some of the ovens, and while I'm not suggesting this is for large boards or BGA's, its probably suitable for a few one off situations.

Like it or not SMD is here to stay, so we better get the tools to deal with it.

Mark

It's more the time it takes to get such things going. I've found the reclaimed controller - it's a CAL9500 - can work with PTR or thermocouples. One SSR output and two relay outputs. I've often found the least cost route (including the cost of time) is to use an old PC as the controller - I have a PC controlled fridge.

MK

MK

You are quite right, when your time becomes part of the equation.

There are some relay boards that include an Arduino.

http://imall.iteadstudio.com/development-platform/arduino/im140704001.html

This one has 4 relays but extends many more Arduino pins out.

http://imall.iteadstudio.com/development-platform/arduino/im120618001.html

I've found Itead to be very good to deal with.

Mark

MK

You are quite right, when your time becomes part of the equation.

There are some relay boards that include an Arduino.

http://imall.iteadstudio.com/development-platform/arduino/im140704001.html

This one has 4 relays but extends many more Arduino pins out.

http://imall.iteadstudio.com/development-platform/arduino/im120618001.html

I've found Itead to be very good to deal with.

Mark

I received the pre-heater today, it's very compact, which is great. I probably won't get a chance to try it out till the weekend, but will try to see how hard or easy it is to manually control while monitoring the thermocouple to get a random component soldered onto a board. Also I'll open it, to see what the circuit looks like.