On Sat, Aug 27, 2005 at 01:45:18PM -0400, Bob Paddock wrote: > > Seems I'm starting an 'at home series'. :-) > > On Aug 22, 2004, at 8:55 PM, Charles Lepple: > > >> But "reflow soldering" is much more practical. I'm gearing up for > >> that here right now. You take "solder paste" (a mix of finely > >> powdered solder and flux) and apply it to SMT pads with a syringe. > > >At least one PCB proto house has a deal on solder stencils-- thin > >sheets of metal (stainless steel, IIRC) which you place over your > >board, and spread the solder paste across with a squeegee. From there, > >it's just as Dave described. > > I believe what Charles was referring to is now: > > http://www.smtstencil.com/ > > as described here: > > http://www.sparkfun.com/tutorial/SMD_Printing/SMD_Printing.htm > > Anyone have experience with the cheap stencils or SMT Reflow Skillet, > described in those pages? > > > Now if I could only find a cheap and easy automated 'drill at home' system > like: > http://freeandeasy.sourceforge.net/ > > Might as well round out this At Home stuff with: > > "Low Cost SMD Soldering Guide" > http://www.avrfreaks.net/index.php?module=dpDocs&func=index&cid=4 > > Anyone else have 'At Home' tips or links good for new-comers to SMT? > > I'm not a new comer to it, but trying to get someone else up to speed, as > well > has getting my own home shop up to date. > >
I have my surface mount soldering page at http://dlharmon.com/smd.html I describe my own style of soldering there. I generally use a large soldering iron tip, lots of flux and no wick. I have not used stencils yet, but I may give it a try now due to the low cost. I have a blank DSPcard that would be a really good test (except for the $120 worth of parts involved). It has a LQFP176 and a FT256 BGA. I have previously soldered the BGA in a toaster oven with no paste and everything else with an iron. I don't see the stencil being too beneficial for the LQFP (takes about 45 seconds to solder by hand), but the 0402 caps are not much fun to solder (there are 57). I tried to order some paste from stencilsunlimited a few months ago, but gave up because getting $16 worth of paste was going to cost $50 because they would only ship next day air in the summer. I can wait for winter. -- Darrell Harmon http://dlharmon.com/dspcard Credit card size DSP/FPGA board
