Shop OBEX P1 Docs P2 Docs Learn Events
Surface Mounting questions — Parallax Forums

Surface Mounting questions

Chris DrzewieckiChris Drzewiecki Posts: 26
edited 2006-03-01 19:30 in General Discussion
I want to eventually dibble and dabble with SMT and trying to do some research on the net with some vague answers as to what tools I would need and the complete process.· I want to do it at a Hobby level so I really don't want to buy elaborate expensive equipment to do so.

THanks,

Chris

▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
-Chris

Comments

  • BeanBean Posts: 8,129
    edited 2006-02-27 22:30
    Chris,
    There are several posts about this. But almost all SMT componets can be soldered by hand (except BGA parts and the like).
    With a little practice you can even solder fine pitch parts like the SX48.

    Are you asking about make baord or assembling boards ?

    Bean.

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    "SX-Video·Module" Now available from Parallax for only $28.95

    http://www.parallax.com/detail.asp?product_id=30012

    "SX-Video OSD module" Now available from Parallax for only·$49.95
    http://www.parallax.com/detail.asp?product_id=30015

    Product web site: www.sxvm.com

    "Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there."
    ·
  • Chris DrzewieckiChris Drzewiecki Posts: 26
    edited 2006-02-27 22:54
    Eventually I would like to learn to make boards (Which I used a radioshack etching kit a long time ago). I looked for suppliers of making boards and fell short of specific details of what I would need for that too. Mainly for now I want to be able to solder SSOP, SOG, and the like to DIP adapter boards so I can use them on breadboards. Then eventually transfer everything to PCBs.

    Thanks,

    Chris

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    -Chris
  • TigerTiger Posts: 105
    edited 2006-02-27 23:35
    Chris - Check out the SparFun site. They have everything you are wanting to know about SMT, making boards, etc. You will want to poke around the entire site, but a good place to start is here:

    http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/hdr.php?p=tutorials

    ...TIGER
  • Chris DrzewieckiChris Drzewiecki Posts: 26
    edited 2006-02-28 00:13
    Tiger,
    Thanks. I've already been there. Actually that's probably where I'm going to get adapters from.

    -Chris

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    -Chris
  • Paul BakerPaul Baker Posts: 6,351
    edited 2006-02-28 00:45
    Here's a video of the method I use to solder http://www.howardelectronics.com/xytronic/Images/Drag%20Soldering%20107.wmv

    I also use the iron and tip shown in the video, they are reasonable priced and the staff is friendly and helpful.

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    ·1+1=10
  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2006-02-28 16:01
    I have been thinking of getting into SMT as it is a reality, so I bought some 0.1mf capacitors as a starting point. I figure that all my boards need these and I could at least eliminate drilling a couple of holes.

    Well, these are not much bigger than a bit of broken pencil lead. I was a bit surprised, but I do plan to use them.

    I strongly suspect that the 2-wire components [noparse][[/noparse]resistors and capacitors] are the biggest headache.

    Can I use a bit of beeswax to hold them in place? I can easily dissolve it when I clean up the flux with solvent.

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    "When all think alike, no one is thinking very much.' - Walter Lippmann (1889-1974)

    ······································································ Warm regards,····· G. Herzog [noparse][[/noparse]·黃鶴 ]·in Taiwan
  • NewzedNewzed Posts: 2,503
    edited 2006-02-28 16:16
    George, stick to case size 1206 or 1210.· The 0805 is really a pain to solder.· And keep your paste refrigerated when you are not using it.· I have paste that is over two years old and still works great.· Over a long period of time the paste seems to lose a bit of its fluidity, which makes it hard to push it out of a syringe with a 20 gauge needle.

    Sid
  • BeanBean Posts: 8,129
    edited 2006-02-28 16:29
    Chris,
    I have the kit from pulsar. All you need is a laser printer and etchant. I have made some boards that use the SX48 (0.5mm lead pitch) and they have worked fine. I'm really happy with this method. Send me·a PM if you have questions about it.
    http://www.pulsar.gs/PCB/a_Pages/4_Products/5f_Starter_Kit/Starter_Kit.html
    Bean.

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    "SX-Video·Module" Now available from Parallax for only $28.95

    http://www.parallax.com/detail.asp?product_id=30012

    "SX-Video OSD module" Now available from Parallax for only·$49.95
    http://www.parallax.com/detail.asp?product_id=30015

    Product web site: www.sxvm.com

    "Never under estimate the importance of being nice when you don't have to be."
    ·
  • Paul BakerPaul Baker Posts: 6,351
    edited 2006-02-28 16:56
    Newzed said...

    George, stick to case size 1206 or 1210.· The 0805 is really a pain to solder.·

    Sid

    Ahh, where's your sense of adventure smilewinkgrin.gif , I actually have a blast working with 0402's now. Nothing like trying to solder two sides of a part that is smaller·than a grain of sea salt. Nice thing is if you mess up, they come off real easy by just gently pushing it off the pads with the iron. Of course if you do it with two much force the 0402 goes flying across the room. Good thing you get them in packs of 10 tongue.gif . Also you have to make sure you're not suffering from a cold or allergies, one sneeze and those tiny 0402s on your bench go flying.

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    ·1+1=10

    Post Edited (Paul Baker) : 2/28/2006 5:08:38 PM GMT
  • BeanBean Posts: 8,129
    edited 2006-02-28 17:56
    Paul, 0402's are childs play. Our assemblers regularly solder 0201 parts (these look like pepper flakes) because they are too small for the pick-n-place machine.
    Bean.

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    "SX-Video·Module" Now available from Parallax for only $28.95

    http://www.parallax.com/detail.asp?product_id=30012

    "SX-Video OSD module" Now available from Parallax for only·$49.95
    http://www.parallax.com/detail.asp?product_id=30015

    Product web site: www.sxvm.com

    "Never under estimate the importance of being nice when you don't have to be."
    ·
  • SN96SN96 Posts: 318
    edited 2006-02-28 18:10
    Hey Paul,

    That was a good video showing how to solder ICs. In the video, they cheated however. They had the IC already tacked to the board. They did not show how to put a fresh part on a board. What I do is line up the part on the pads to near perfect, and then apply flux to one of the out side pins, and with out touching the pin, put the soldering tip with solder to the tip of the landing (pad or also known as a foot print). The flux will allow the solder to flow all around the lead. the trick is not to use to much solder for tacking. After one pin is tacked, the opposite side of the ic (outside pin) can be tacked in the same manor. there should be two outside pins tacked in a diagonal fashion. This is especially important for fine pitch QFPs.

    Liquid flux is the key, no liquid flux, then forget it.

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    Mike

    ·
  • Paul BakerPaul Baker Posts: 6,351
    edited 2006-02-28 18:21
    Bean, I think Ill stick with 0402, I moved down from 0603s because the footprint is just too big for really tight packing. But the 0402 can be placed in really tiny spots, I see no need to go smaller with the designs I am making.

    Mike, I do what you describe for chips. But I use a set of fine pitch tweezers for 0402s since they dont have the weight to hold themselves down when soldering, and you'll burn you finger if you try to hold it manually. I too find flux an absolute nessesity when working with SMT, but I dont like paste for hand soldering, there is too much flux in the composition, and I find myself having to frequently reapply paste to get enough solder to make a good joint.

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    ·1+1=10
  • SN96SN96 Posts: 318
    edited 2006-03-01 19:30
    Smallest I have hand soldered at my work is 0603s and even soldering these I use tweezers.

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    Mike

    ·
Sign In or Register to comment.