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SMT re-work tutorials? (also Gordak 952 mini-review) — Parallax Forums

SMT re-work tutorials? (also Gordak 952 mini-review)

Bill HenningBill Henning Posts: 6,445
edited 2010-01-27 23:47 in Propeller 1
I just got my first hot-air rework station, a Gordak 952 off ebay (mcumall_electronics, I've shopped from them a number of times, good seller).

Mini-review:

Looks like a nice unit; comes with four hot-air tips, two tips for the soldering iron.

Nice temp readouts for both the hot air and the soldering iron.

Fan is NOT quiet, especially on high settings, but quite tolerable. Heated up fast, cooled down fast.

Questions:

Does anyone know of any good tutorials and tips for using one to remove parts? solder TQFP packages (props)?

I just ruined a nice SMT uSD socket trying to remove it from one of boards :-(

I have one more board I need to remove the uSD socket from, and I'd prefer not to ruin it.

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www.mikronauts.com E-mail: mikronauts _at_ gmail _dot_ com 5.0" VGA LCD in stock!
Morpheus dual Prop SBC w/ 512KB kit $119.95, Mem+2MB memory/IO kit $89.95, both kits $189.95 SerPlug $9.95
Propteus and Proteus for Propeller prototyping 6.250MHz custom Crystals run Propellers at 100MHz
Las - Large model assembler Largos - upcoming nano operating system

Comments

  • jcwrenjcwren Posts: 44
    edited 2010-01-27 18:59
    Old cellphones and motherboards make for great practice materials.

    --jc
  • jknightandkarrjknightandkarr Posts: 234
    edited 2010-01-27 19:00
    I wouldn't mind seeing some stuff on SMT myself, since I'm just getting into it.

    Joe

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    I'm going insaine. It's SOOOOOO much fun. lol
  • jcwrenjcwren Posts: 44
    edited 2010-01-27 19:01
    I didn't see anything called a 'Gordak 952'. Do you have a link to the auction?

    --jc
  • RaymanRayman Posts: 14,876
    edited 2010-01-27 19:09
    Well, I'm no pro, but will offer this advice: Use the lowest temperature you can (I use a Weller WHA 900 and set it to 600-650 degrees).
    Also, I keep the fan speed as low as possible. But a big chip, like the Prop, needs more air flow to heat it up...

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    My Prop Info&Apps: ·http://www.rayslogic.com/propeller/propeller.htm
  • LeonLeon Posts: 7,620
    edited 2010-01-27 19:28
    I got an Aoyue 852A+ a couple of weeks ago. I checked that everything worked but haven't used it yet. About 50 nozzles are available for different chip packages, you need to get the correct nozzle for that socket to avoid any damage.

    Leon

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    Amateur radio callsign: G1HSM
  • Bill HenningBill Henning Posts: 6,445
    edited 2010-01-27 19:49
    jc: thanks... will do - I have lots of old motherboards, video cards etc

    jknightandkarr: keep an eye on this thread, I think there will be links

    jc: here is the link:
    cgi.ebay.com/SMD-Hot-Air-Rework-Station-952-Welding-Soldering-Iron_W0QQitemZ290382066894

    Ray: thanks, will try those temps and low speed. I think my mistake was using the biggest nozzle, from component side

    Leon: Nice unit - mine has very similar specs, but uses knobs to control soldering iron temp, heater temp, and air flow, but very similar temp readouts. I suspect the nozzles are interchangeable between your unit and mine

    Sparkfun Hot Air Rework Tutorial: www.sparkfun.com/commerce/tutorial_info.php?tutorials_id=36

    TSOP Tutorial: alphazee.webstrikesolutions.com/Leaper/tsoptutorial2.htm

    Make SMD Tutorial: blog.makezine.com/archive/2006/09/how_to_smd_soldering_surf.html

    Please post any good links you find to this thread!

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    www.mikronauts.com E-mail: mikronauts _at_ gmail _dot_ com 5.0" VGA LCD in stock!
    Morpheus dual Prop SBC w/ 512KB kit $119.95, Mem+2MB memory/IO kit $89.95, both kits $189.95 SerPlug $9.95
    Propteus and Proteus for Propeller prototyping 6.250MHz custom Crystals run Propellers at 100MHz
    Las - Large model assembler Largos - upcoming nano operating system
  • jcwrenjcwren Posts: 44
    edited 2010-01-27 20:00
    I have something very similar to this: www.techgsm.com/SMD_rework_station_852A_,88919.html?_set_currency=USD. A number of people seem to private-label them. The best of them (which all these are rip-off's of) are made by Hakko. They're the best quality, but all of them blow hot air, so they'll all pretty much do the job.

    Now go buy yourself a microscope and a Metcal MX-500 with several tips, and you'll be serious surface-mount capable.

    --jc
  • Bill HenningBill Henning Posts: 6,445
    edited 2010-01-27 20:05
    That Metcal looks really nice...

    A microscope is on the list - right now I am debating between a PC based one or regular optical one.

    I already brought assorted tweezers etc., a 1206 128 value resistor kit, some 1206 capacitor kits, and smaller kits of 805 parts just in case I go nuts and try to use the smaller parts.

    I also got an assortment of SOIC, TSOP and TQFP converter boards.
    jcwren said...
    I have something very similar to this: www.techgsm.com/SMD_rework_station_852A_,88919.html?_set_currency=USD. A number of people seem to private-label them. The best of them (which all these are rip-off's of) are made by Hakko. They're the best quality, but all of them blow hot air, so they'll all pretty much do the job.

    Now go buy yourself a microscope and a Metcal MX-500 with several tips, and you'll be serious surface-mount capable.

    --jc
    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    www.mikronauts.com E-mail: mikronauts _at_ gmail _dot_ com 5.0" VGA LCD in stock!
    Morpheus dual Prop SBC w/ 512KB kit $119.95, Mem+2MB memory/IO kit $89.95, both kits $189.95 SerPlug $9.95
    Propteus and Proteus for Propeller prototyping 6.250MHz custom Crystals run Propellers at 100MHz
    Las - Large model assembler Largos - upcoming nano operating system
  • jcwrenjcwren Posts: 44
    edited 2010-01-27 20:12
    I've been using Metcals since they came out. Anything else is just a compromise. Kinda of like using a wood burning iron to solder with. It'll *work*... But it's not right.

    Definitely optical microscope. Try to get a trinocular one, so you can mount a digital camera at the top. I have a Nikon I picked up from eBay really cheap, and I really like it. Personally, I prefer the fiber optic ring lights instead of the the LED lights. The light just seems to be "cleaner", and while you'll rarely vary the intensity, the control of it is much better. If/when you do get a fiber light, a piece of advice: Never just turn it off. Always turn it down to the lowest intensity for at least 2 minutes, THEN turn it off. The bulb will last longer. I have empiricle proof of this. If your ring light has polarization filter, so much the better. If not, no big deal. At least get a clear glass filter, as this will keep solder smoke and flux spit off the lens. Also rubber eye cups are really nice (and inexpensive).

    Good choice on the kits. Although after a few weeks, you'll start thinking of 1206 as plain freakin' huge, and 0805 as quite large. 0603's will be comfortable, and 0402 will be a minor nuisance [noparse]:)[/noparse] I've only tried 0201 once. That's a real PITA.

    --jc
  • LeonLeon Posts: 7,620
    edited 2010-01-27 20:35
    How about 01005? smile.gif

    Leon

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    Amateur radio callsign: G1HSM
  • Bill HenningBill Henning Posts: 6,445
    edited 2010-01-27 20:38
    Ooooo... that's plain evil....
    Leon said...
    How about 01005? smile.gif

    Leon
    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    www.mikronauts.com E-mail: mikronauts _at_ gmail _dot_ com 5.0" VGA LCD in stock!
    Morpheus dual Prop SBC w/ 512KB kit $119.95, Mem+2MB memory/IO kit $89.95, both kits $189.95 SerPlug $9.95
    Propteus and Proteus for Propeller prototyping 6.250MHz custom Crystals run Propellers at 100MHz
    Las - Large model assembler Largos - upcoming nano operating system
  • Bill HenningBill Henning Posts: 6,445
    edited 2010-01-27 20:39
    I will put a Metcal on my "future shopping list", and start scouring Ebay for trinocular microscopes - thanks for the suggestions!

    Hmm... I am sure you are right, but 0805's look tiny to me right now.
    jcwren said...
    I've been using Metcals since they came out. Anything else is just a compromise. Kinda of like using a wood burning iron to solder with. It'll *work*... But it's not right.

    Definitely optical microscope. Try to get a trinocular one, so you can mount a digital camera at the top. I have a Nikon I picked up from eBay really cheap, and I really like it. Personally, I prefer the fiber optic ring lights instead of the the LED lights. The light just seems to be "cleaner", and while you'll rarely vary the intensity, the control of it is much better. If/when you do get a fiber light, a piece of advice: Never just turn it off. Always turn it down to the lowest intensity for at least 2 minutes, THEN turn it off. The bulb will last longer. I have empiricle proof of this. If your ring light has polarization filter, so much the better. If not, no big deal. At least get a clear glass filter, as this will keep solder smoke and flux spit off the lens. Also rubber eye cups are really nice (and inexpensive).

    Good choice on the kits. Although after a few weeks, you'll start thinking of 1206 as plain freakin' huge, and 0805 as quite large. 0603's will be comfortable, and 0402 will be a minor nuisance [noparse]:)[/noparse] I've only tried 0201 once. That's a real PITA.

    --jc
    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    www.mikronauts.com E-mail: mikronauts _at_ gmail _dot_ com 5.0" VGA LCD in stock!
    Morpheus dual Prop SBC w/ 512KB kit $119.95, Mem+2MB memory/IO kit $89.95, both kits $189.95 SerPlug $9.95
    Propteus and Proteus for Propeller prototyping 6.250MHz custom Crystals run Propellers at 100MHz
    Las - Large model assembler Largos - upcoming nano operating system
  • mynet43mynet43 Posts: 644
    edited 2010-01-27 20:54
    Hi Bill,

    I've had an Aoyue 906 workstation similar to yours for quite a while. It's cheap but I love it.

    I've has no trouble unsoldering parts with the heat gun. I set the heat at 600 deg, and the fan fairly high, about 2/3 up.

    Then I hold the part with a pair of tweezers to put a little upward pressure on it. After this, hold the gun about 1/2 inch above the part and rotate it just fast enough to keep heat on all the pins. After about 10 seconds, the part will usually just pop off.

    I've used this on Prop chips, smt resistors and caps, adc chips, etc. I've reused several of the parts, including the Propeller, and never had a problem.

    Have fun,

    Jim
  • jknightandkarrjknightandkarr Posts: 234
    edited 2010-01-27 21:35
    I found a good one using solder paste & an old toaster oven. So I'll try that one, I just gotta get a toaster oven. Cause I'm not using the one in the kitchen for that.

    Joe

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    I'm going insaine. It's SOOOOOO much fun. lol
  • Bill HenningBill Henning Posts: 6,445
    edited 2010-01-27 21:42
    Thanks for the hints Jim!

    Joe: Make sure you never cook food in an oven used for reflow... I shudder to think of the possible toxic consequences. I also found a nice tutorial using a skillet.

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    www.mikronauts.com E-mail: mikronauts _at_ gmail _dot_ com 5.0" VGA LCD in stock!
    Morpheus dual Prop SBC w/ 512KB kit $119.95, Mem+2MB memory/IO kit $89.95, both kits $189.95 SerPlug $9.95
    Propteus and Proteus for Propeller prototyping 6.250MHz custom Crystals run Propellers at 100MHz
    Las - Large model assembler Largos - upcoming nano operating system
  • RaymanRayman Posts: 14,876
    edited 2010-01-27 21:45
    I find that 0805 is a comfortable size. Better to get Ta caps and some inductors bigger though because they're cheaper (and probably better) that way...

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    My Prop Info&Apps: ·http://www.rayslogic.com/propeller/propeller.htm
  • jknightandkarrjknightandkarr Posts: 234
    edited 2010-01-27 21:54
    Bill Henning said...
    Thanks for the hints Jim!

    Joe: Make sure you never cook food in an oven used for reflow... I shudder to think of the possible toxic consequences. I also found a nice tutorial using a skillet.

    Trust me, I have no intention of trying that one.

    Joe

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    I'm going insaine. It's SOOOOOO much fun. lol
  • Bob Lawrence (VE1RLL)Bob Lawrence (VE1RLL) Posts: 1,720
    edited 2010-01-27 23:47
    @Bill Henning

    A you tube search may provide you lots of interesting SMT Re-work videos.
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