Soldering a tiny LED using a Digital Microscope

RE: Soldering a tiny LED using a Digital Microscope

dubbie — Tue, 01 Jun 2021 14:21:00 GMT

Nico,

Thanks for this, these were very helpful videos. It is good to see how clear the video seems to be while actually trying to solder. I still think your soldering is pretty good - compared to mine on some pin through hole components. I'm not too bad with 60:40 solder but I do find anything else just doesn't seem to work as well. Not sure why. I have some 63:37 solder and it just seems so much more difficult to use. Maybe the internal flux is different, or something.

However, the idea of using a magnifying camera system does seem to be something I will have to look into for soldering and maybe other things as well. The magnification and clarity seem just great.

Dubbie

RE: Soldering a tiny LED using a Digital Microscope

colporteur — Tue, 25 May 2021 16:57:53 GMT

Great update. I have soldered the 402 LED freehand. I watched a few Youtube videos to get an idea. Yes, securing the LED is import and your realization of the need for flux.

I use the 402 LED often in HQ scale model railroad. Car lights or vehicle obstruction lights are typical. Using the lacquered winding wire. 0.1mm is what has proven best for me.

RE: Soldering a tiny LED using a Digital Microscope

geralds — Tue, 25 May 2021 16:21:51 GMT

Hi Nico,

fine job.

One idea: fix one tinned copper wire on the board-desk then lay the pin of the LED on this wire and melt them by heating the wire. The LED will sinking into the tin.

Then do the same with the next pin.

If you use a tin wire (<=1mm_dia) with rosin, you do not need extra rosin, because this "explode" and the parts will jumping away.

RE: Soldering a tiny LED using a Digital Microscope

shabaz — Tue, 25 May 2021 12:02:04 GMT

Hi Nico,

The image from the microscope was very clear, it was interesting to see how convenient it made the whole process.

Your hands are more stable than mine, but you had a difficult job because the tweezers caused the LED to move when you placed it on top, if you can find ones with a very square edge, they can be flatter and they can grip the part from the sides without it flying into the air.

I've not tried the pointy soldering iron with surface mount, perhaps the flat tips ones (conical slice) could help, I believe since they may carry more solder that would deposit onto the LED/wire. But you managed it fine with the pointy tip anyway, so maybe flat tip is not necessary at all.

Good work!

RE: Soldering a tiny LED using a Digital Microscope

neilk — Tue, 25 May 2021 11:06:52 GMT

Hi Nico,

Great!

That video was very tense - you were whispering and I was holding my breath in case I blew the LED away!!

Thanks for sharing the enormous difference that the microscope made.

Neil