Expanding my skills

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I've been an electronics hobbyist for many years (almost 50!... - Oct 26, 2004 by

Hi Mike at least what I know your answers are....... 1. Sol... - Oct 26, 2004 by friend

Hi Mike, Surface mount components arn't difficult to work wi... - Oct 26, 2004 by

No doubt about it, go to ... - Oct 26, 2004 by Matt Kehoe

Look here: ... - Oct 26, 2004 by davef

Mike Arman

#31093

Expanding my skills | 26 October, 2004

I've been an electronics hobbyist for many years (almost 50!, that's scary), and I'd like to expand my "skills set" to include being able to work with SMT components.

I know I'll need some sort of magnifying viewer, 35x has been suggested. I'll also need a heat gun (?) and various hand tools, tweezers, etc.

This is just a hobby, not a business, so I won't need to go into production or anything as ambitious as that.

So my questions are:

1) What items, tools and supplies will I need to practice SMT removal and replacement?

2) What is the best way to practice? What do I *need* to know before I start, versus what can I learn as I practice on various dead PC boards?

Your comments, suggestions and cautions are welcomed.

Best Regards,

Mike Arman

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friend

#31094

Expanding my skills | 26 October, 2004

Hi Mike at least what I know your answers are....... 1. Soldering Iron, solder tips, wire, flux, desoldering solder wicks, pair of tweezers etc.

2. Try Practical component. They have all kinds of dummy components, dummey boards that you can play with.

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Paul_pmd

#31095

Expanding my skills | 26 October, 2004

Hi Mike, Surface mount components arn't difficult to work with at all. They have pretty much the same tolorance to heat degridation as Dip packages. I suggest two Irons when working with two pole resistors and caps. Heating only one end at a time will pull the part that way. With two irons it eleminates having to hold the part in place as it's soldered. Just put one iron on each end and when solder flows seperate the irons away from the ends. Most SMT work can be accomplished without magnification and IPC requires only 5 power for 50 mill QA inspection. Only as pitch increases or when referee is needed then 25 or is it 30 power is then required. If you have been doing thru hole for some time you will have no significant problems. The only caution I would give is LED's and QFP's are sensitive to heat. Dont do a lot of continous adjacent leads without allowing some cooling. Other Items You may want to expermint with are trace repairs. Overheating lands (where the component solders) will sometimes lift them ( cause the pads to seperate from the board )Knowing how to repair these land patterns and traces can come in handy for repairs. Kits are available for most common type of lands and traces.

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Matt Kehoe

#31096

Expanding my skills | 26 October, 2004

No doubt about it, go to http://www.sipad.com and you will find the solution to your endeavor. mk

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