Effective Qualification of Soldering Iron Performance Criteria

Quality managers and line supervisors are routinely tasked with the responsibility of ensuring that the hand soldering process is under control. The method most commonly used is to measure the idle tip temperature of the soldering station and to use this reading as a benchmark of system compliance. This method, although popular is now being seriously questioned by many industry professionals as being irrelevant in qualifying true system process control.

This document aims to present a practical view of what factors are important for successful hand soldering and to suggest an alternative procedure for qualification that is simple, repeatable and directly related to the effectiveness of the soldering station....