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Discussion Groups | Piclist | SMT Soldering station
A discussion group for the PICMicro microcontroller. Also called the Microchip PIC, this list is dedicated to the use and abuse of this fine, simple, microcontroller. Close to topic posts are welcome, ie. general electronics.
SMT Soldering station - Vic Fraenckel - Nov 10 11:10:00 2004
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I am looking to buy a decent SMT soldering station and would appreciate hearing from anyone with experience in such a critter. I have visited quite a few web sites, found thru Google, that mention them but I would like to get real-world opinions before I buy. I am making small PCBs, on the order of 0.5 inch square with one LCC8 device and several SMT603 size capacitors and resistors. I would consider any good station in the 0 - $300 range. Comments on solder would be nice also. Any enlightenment will be appreciated. TIA Vic ________________________________________________________ Victor Fraenckel - The Windman victorf ATSIGN windreader DOTcom KC2GUI Home of the WindReader Electronic Theodolite Read the WIND "Victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long and hard the road may be; for without victory there is no survival." - Winston [Leonard Spencer] Churchill (1874 - 1965) "Dost thou not know, my son, with how little wisdom the world is governed?" -Count Oxenstierna (ca 1620) to the young King Gustavus Adolphus "People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -George Orwell |
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Re: SMT Soldering station - Leon Heller - Nov 10 12:17:00 2004
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----- Original Message ----- From: "Vic Fraenckel" <> To: "BasicX Maillist" <>; "PICList" <> Sent: Wednesday, November 10, 2004 4:10 PM Subject: [piclist] SMT Soldering station > > I am looking to buy a decent SMT soldering station and would appreciate > hearing from anyone with experience in such a critter. I have visited > quite > a few web sites, found thru Google, that mention them but I would like to > get real-world opinions before I buy. I am making small PCBs, on the order > of 0.5 inch square with one LCC8 device and several SMT603 size capacitors > and resistors. I would consider any good station in the 0 - $300 range. > > Comments on solder would be nice also. Metcal makes the best soldering equipment. It's expensive, but often available used on eBay. I use the older STSS power supply which can take the current handpiece and cartridges, and is often available for about $120 second-hand. New cartridges are also available on eBay Leon |
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Re: SMT Soldering station - Michael Puchol - Nov 10 16:17:00 2004
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Just out of interest, how are you going to handle the 0603 parts? I've tried to do it by hand with tweezers, and it's damn hard - if you have any particular method please let me know, I currently design for 0805, but would like to go 0603. As for soldering, I adapted a tip from an oscilloscope probe to heat up the pads, it sort of works, but I find part placement to be the real killer. Best regards, Mike ----- Original Message ----- From: "Vic Fraenckel" <> To: "BasicX Maillist" <>; "PICList" <> Sent: Wednesday, November 10, 2004 5:10 PM Subject: [piclist] SMT Soldering station > > I am looking to buy a decent SMT soldering station and would appreciate > hearing from anyone with experience in such a critter. I have visited quite > a few web sites, found thru Google, that mention them but I would like to > get real-world opinions before I buy. I am making small PCBs, on the order > of 0.5 inch square with one LCC8 device and several SMT603 size capacitors > and resistors. I would consider any good station in the 0 - $300 range. > > Comments on solder would be nice also. > > Any enlightenment will be appreciated. > > TIA > > Vic > ________________________________________________________ > > Victor Fraenckel - The Windman > victorf ATSIGN windreader DOTcom > KC2GUI > > Home of the WindReader Electronic Theodolite > Read the WIND > > "Victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long > and hard the road may be; for without victory there is no survival." > - Winston [Leonard Spencer] Churchill (1874 - 1965) > > "Dost thou not know, my son, with how little wisdom the world is governed?" > -Count Oxenstierna (ca 1620) to the young King Gustavus Adolphus > > "People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough > men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." > -George Orwell > > to unsubscribe, go to http://www.yahoogroups.com and follow the instructions > Yahoo! Groups Links |
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Re: SMT Soldering station - Leon Heller - Nov 10 17:04:00 2004
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----- Original Message ----- From: "Michael Puchol" <> To: <> Sent: Wednesday, November 10, 2004 9:17 PM Subject: Re: [piclist] SMT Soldering station > > Just out of interest, how are you going to handle the 0603 parts? I've > tried > to do it by hand with tweezers, and it's damn hard - if you have any > particular method please let me know, I currently design for 0805, but > would > like to go 0603. As for soldering, I adapted a tip from an oscilloscope > probe to heat up the pads, it sort of works, but I find part placement to > be > the real killer. I don't have any problems with 0603 parts, but I do use a lot of magnification. I use a very fine tip on my Metcal soldering station. Leon |
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Re: SMT Soldering station - Phil - Nov 10 17:58:00 2004
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--- In , "Vic Fraenckel" <victorf@w...> wrote: > I am looking to buy a decent SMT soldering station and would appreciate > hearing from anyone with experience in such a critter. I have visited quite > a few web sites, found thru Google, that mention them but I would like to > get real-world opinions before I buy. I am making small PCBs, on the order > of 0.5 inch square with one LCC8 device and several SMT603 size capacitors > and resistors. I would consider any good station in the 0 - $300 range. I use a Hakko 936 with a fine tip for soldering SMD components. It lists for about $100 but you can get the clones for less. ebay often has several of them listed. I am thinking of moving up to a hot air station which will work a lot better for LCC devices (not to mention 25 mil pitch stuff). I've seen several on ebay and at circuit specialists that look like they would work well. Madell and Atten are the two brands I've seen. They have some units that look like private lable Hakkos. Anyone used either of these two brands? |
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Re: SMT Soldering station - gettingalongwouldbenice - Nov 10 18:22:00 2004
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--- In , "Phil" <phil1960us@y...> wrote: > > --- In , "Vic Fraenckel" <victorf@w...> wrote: > > I am looking to buy a decent SMT soldering station and would appreciate > > hearing from anyone with experience in such a critter. I have > visited quite > > a few web sites, found thru Google, that mention them but I would > like to > > get real-world opinions before I buy. I am making small PCBs, on the > order > > of 0.5 inch square with one LCC8 device and several SMT603 size > capacitors > > and resistors. I would consider any good station in the 0 - $300 range. > I use a Hakko 936 with a fine tip for soldering SMD components. It > lists for about $100 but you can get the clones for less. ebay often > has several of them listed. > > I am thinking of moving up to a hot air station which will work a lot > better for LCC devices (not to mention 25 mil pitch stuff). I've seen > several on ebay and at circuit specialists that look like they would > work well. Madell and Atten are the two brands I've seen. They have > some units that look like private lable Hakkos. Anyone used either > of these two brands? I burned up my paint stripper hot air gun, so went looking for a hot air soldering system. STICKER SHOCK!!! This is the cheapest thing I found: http://www.mpja.com/productprint.asp?product=15159+TL You find it under various names, but this is the cheapest I've seen advertised. Anybody tried one of these? Before I took the plunge, I pulled out the ole Weller Portasol butane heat pencil. I was amazed at how well it worked reworking SMT boards. It's a catalytic heater. Hot air flow is low and there's some IR going on too. Doesn't blow the parts off the board. Don't know if there are any chemical issues from the hot combustion products. This is the new version with the piezo lighter. I also have the older version with the flint lighter. It doesn't work nearly as well. mike |
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Re: SMT Soldering station - rtstofer - Nov 10 19:40:00 2004
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> This is the cheapest thing I found: > > http://www.mpja.com/productprint.asp?product=15159+TL > You find it under various names, but this is the cheapest I've > seen advertised. Anybody tried one of these? > > Before I took the plunge, I pulled out the ole Weller Portasol butane > heat pencil. I was amazed at how well it worked reworking SMT boards. > It's a catalytic heater. Hot air flow is low and there's some IR > going on too. Doesn't blow the parts off the board. Don't know > if there are any chemical issues from the hot combustion products. > > This is the new version with the piezo lighter. I also have the > older version with the flint lighter. It doesn't work nearly as well. > mike Did you buy one? If so, how well does it work. I'm looking at smaller components all the time and I certainly don't have a plan for BGA! |
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RE: SMT Soldering station - Charles Douvier - Nov 10 20:11:00 2004
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I used to sell Metcal and had one of my own for a while. I loved it but I think for your price range it way out of the ballpark.. I think it's well worth it though. I don't do any selling of any sort these days, but if you can find a used one that was taken care of I think you'll be very happy with the investment. Ebay? I had a friend with a pace? I think it was.. He liked it.. But under 300$/new is kind of hard to find? Chas -----Original Message----- From: Vic Fraenckel [mailto:] Sent: Wednesday, November 10, 2004 9:10 AM To: BasicX Maillist; PICList Subject: [piclist] SMT Soldering station I am looking to buy a decent SMT soldering station and would appreciate hearing from anyone with experience in such a critter. I have visited quite a few web sites, found thru Google, that mention them but I would like to get real-world opinions before I buy. I am making small PCBs, on the order of 0.5 inch square with one LCC8 device and several SMT603 size capacitors and resistors. I would consider any good station in the 0 - $300 range. Comments on solder would be nice also. Any enlightenment will be appreciated. TIA Vic ________________________________________________________ Victor Fraenckel - The Windman victorf ATSIGN windreader DOTcom KC2GUI Home of the WindReader Electronic Theodolite Read the WIND "Victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long and hard the road may be; for without victory there is no survival." - Winston [Leonard Spencer] Churchill (1874 - 1965) "Dost thou not know, my son, with how little wisdom the world is governed?" -Count Oxenstierna (ca 1620) to the young King Gustavus Adolphus "People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -George Orwell ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> $9.95 domain names from Yahoo!. Register anything. http://us.click.yahoo.com/J8kdrA/y20IAA/yQLSAA/dN_tlB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> to unsubscribe, go to http://www.yahoogroups.com and follow the instructions Yahoo! Groups Links -- Incoming mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 7.0.279 / Virus Database: 265.1.0 - Release Date: 11/9/2004 -- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 7.0.279 / Virus Database: 265.1.0 - Release Date: 11/9/2004 |
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Re: SMT Soldering station - Daryl Berryhill - Nov 10 22:26:00 2004
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you may be interested in a Hakco look-a-like ITEM# 15143 TL http://www.mpja.com/category/Solder_Equipment/SMD-THRU-HOLE_REWORK_STATION_15143_TL.asp it comes with a hot air nozzle with 4 heads. for $169 its worth the price. It is just the thing to do SMT resistors 0603, 0402 and yes even 0201 chip resistors. Of course you will need at least a 10X microscope or eye-loop. I have soldered many 0402 and 0201 on the job and in my garage. The key to soldering SMT components is having the right equipment. It make the job a whole lot easier. just my 2 cents Daryl At 10:10 AM 11/10/2004, you wrote: >I am looking to buy a decent SMT soldering station and would appreciate >hearing from anyone with experience in such a critter. I have visited quite >a few web sites, found thru Google, that mention them but I would like to >get real-world opinions before I buy. I am making small PCBs, on the order >of 0.5 inch square with one LCC8 device and several SMT603 size capacitors >and resistors. I would consider any good station in the 0 - $300 range. > >Comments on solder would be nice also. > >Any enlightenment will be appreciated. > >TIA > >Vic >________________________________________________________ > >Victor Fraenckel - The Windman >victorf ATSIGN windreader DOTcom >KC2GUI > > Home of the WindReader Electronic Theodolite > Read the WIND > >"Victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long >and hard the road may be; for without victory there is no survival." >- Winston [Leonard Spencer] Churchill (1874 - 1965) > >"Dost thou not know, my son, with how little wisdom the world is governed?" >-Count Oxenstierna (ca 1620) to the young King Gustavus Adolphus > >"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough >men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." >-George Orwell > >to unsubscribe, go to http://www.yahoogroups.com and follow the instructions >Yahoo! Groups Links |
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Re: Re: SMT Soldering station - Daryl Berryhill - Nov 10 22:34:00 2004
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thanks for the tip. That looks like a fancy heat gun with a lot more control. Think I'll pick up one to to solder micro-BGA chips. also looks like would do good for heat shrinking >>At 05:22 PM 11/10/2004, <> wrote: >I burned up my paint stripper hot air gun, so went looking for a >hot air soldering system. STICKER SHOCK!!! > >This is the cheapest thing I found: > >http://www.mpja.com/productprint.asp?product=15159+TL >You find it under various names, but this is the cheapest I've >seen advertised. Anybody tried one of these? > >Before I took the plunge, I pulled out the ole Weller Portasol butane >heat pencil. I was amazed at how well it worked reworking SMT boards. >It's a catalytic heater. Hot air flow is low and there's some IR >going on too. Doesn't blow the parts off the board. Don't know >if there are any chemical issues from the hot combustion products. > >This is the new version with the piezo lighter. I also have the >older version with the flint lighter. It doesn't work nearly as well. >mike |
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Re: SMT Soldering station - gettingalongwouldbenice - Nov 11 6:07:00 2004
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--- In , "rtstofer" <rstofer@p...> wrote: > > > This is the cheapest thing I found: > > > > http://www.mpja.com/productprint.asp?product=15159+TL > > You find it under various names, but this is the cheapest I've > > seen advertised. Anybody tried one of these? > > > > Before I took the plunge, I pulled out the ole Weller Portasol > butane > > heat pencil. I was amazed at how well it worked reworking SMT > boards. > > It's a catalytic heater. Hot air flow is low and there's some IR > > going on too. Doesn't blow the parts off the board. Don't know > > if there are any chemical issues from the hot combustion products. > > > > This is the new version with the piezo lighter. I also have the > > older version with the flint lighter. It doesn't work nearly as > well. > > mike > > Did you buy one? If so, how well does it work. I'm looking at > smaller components all the time and I certainly don't have a plan > for BGA! Nope, I was all set to hit the "add to cart" button when I remembered I had the Weller Portasol. It worked so well, I decided to put off the purchase. Everything I've done so far has accessible leads and will work fine with the portasol. Don't think I'll ever try BGA. Just to be clear...I had very low expectations that a tiny butane hot air tool would be of any use. I was VERY impressed with its capability. You wouldn't want to reflow a whole board with it, but for one part at a time, it's great. I would also like to see an evaluation report on the hot air gun. May buy one yet. mike |
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Re: SMT Soldering station - Vic Fraenckel - Nov 12 7:06:00 2004
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I guess that I do not understand the idea of the hot air soldering gun. What keeps the tiny SMT critters from blowing off the board before they are soldered? How is the air flow confined to the tiny area around the part being soldered? What am I missing here? Any enlightenment will be appreciated. TIA Vic ________________________________________________________ Victor Fraenckel - The Windman victorf ATSIGN windreader DOTcom KC2GUI Home of the WindReader Electronic Theodolite Read the WIND "Victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long and hard the road may be; for without victory there is no survival." - Winston [Leonard Spencer] Churchill (1874 - 1965) "Dost thou not know, my son, with how little wisdom the world is governed?" -Count Oxenstierna (ca 1620) to the young King Gustavus Adolphus "People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -George Orwell |
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Re: Re: SMT Soldering station - Leon Heller - Nov 12 8:09:00 2004
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----- Original Message ----- From: "Vic Fraenckel" <> To: "PICList" <> Sent: Friday, November 12, 2004 12:06 PM Subject: [piclist] Re: SMT Soldering station > > I guess that I do not understand the idea of the hot air soldering gun. > What > keeps the tiny SMT critters from blowing off the board before they are > soldered? How is the air flow confined to the tiny area around the part > being soldered? What am I missing here? It depends on the air flow, but it's usually OK in my experience. The solder paste is sticky and tends to hold the parts in position, then they get pulled into alignment when the paste melts, by surface tension. Adhesive is often used in commercial assembly operations. Leon |
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Re: SMT Soldering station - randy ram - Nov 12 10:36:00 2004
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Here is what I use. Hozan HS400(US365). I use it for both 0402 and anything above that like 0603 with no problem. Also have the Metcal MX500 handy to put on solder on the pads. You should take a look at the Hozan unit. Very easy to use. Hope that helps. -- ___________________________________________________________ |
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