Jerome, Now this is interesting. This is totally opposite of the way most of us were taught to solder. Among the kits I used to put together were Heathkit and Ramsey, both of whom recommended securing the parts in place by spreading the leads, soldering, and then cutting the wires close to the solder blob, checking for shorts. I assume that goes for Elecraft also, but I have not built any of their radios as kits, so not sure.
So how did NASA handle the potential difficulties? Did they have precut parts? Did the tech have to place the part in the board and cut the leads first? If the part was loose, how was it held close to the board, owing to the fact that holding the solder and the iron took two hands? What if the lead length was overestimated and potentially could cause a short? Could the wire be cut and the joint reheated, or did the part have to be removed, recut and reinserted? Just trying to picture the operation. '73 de JIM N2ZZ -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of JEROME SODUS Sent: Saturday, March 24, 2018 11:40 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Resistor and capacitor installation techniques: trim before or after soldering? About Message#15 copied below.... Sorry but cutting wires after soldering is "bad practice"; NASA wanted the soldered connection left undisturbed. If I ever saw an assembler or tech doing that "bad practice", they'd get a verbal warning that first time and a written warning if it ever happened again; but I had good, conscientious people and never had to do that. So, tin the wires if needed; position the part and then trim wires before doing the final soldering. 73 Jerry KM3K Message: 15 Date: Sat, 24 Mar 2018 19:39:47 +0000 From: Bill Johnson <[email protected]> To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, 'Mark Petrovic' <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Resistor and capacitor installation techniques: trim before or after soldering? Message-ID: <ro1p152mb09079615622cf62bbae2b4949c...@ro1p152mb0907.lamp152.prod.OUTLOOK.C OM> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Follow the instructions and solder as directed. There are components on both sides as I recall with the majority on the top. The leads need be spread to hold the components in place on the board. Once done soldering use a flush cut wirecutter to remove the excess. Not a good idea to trim them before soldering. 72 & 73, Bill K9YEQ FT'er for K2, KX1, KX3, KXPA100, KAT500, W2, etc. ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to [email protected] ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to [email protected]
