> I am wondering why the need for the high temp solder? A specified requirement? Since gold solders quite easily I can't picture the need for the special solder.
It could be the new "lead-free" solders. All of these I have heard of have higher melting points than lead-tin. Lead is THE best substance to use in solder. All others I have heard of have problems with embrittlement. I shudder to think of the equipment failures that will arise after boards built with lead-free solder have been in use for 2-3 years. What's worse is that since much of it is consumer electronics, most folks will just take it in stride and throw it away and buy a new one. The EU has a requirement for lead-free solder starting in 2005, I think. Some consumer electronics companies are already doing it. I guess we will have to get an exemption for industrial equipment, or stop selling to EU countries - we will not compromise the reliability of our products for any "feel-good" initiatives. Now if it can be shown that there are no long-term reliability problems with lead-free, we will consider it. Problem is, this is a tough thing to fight against, because these groups stand to benefit: 1) Electronics companies: they get to sell more stuff, because it doesn't last as long. They also get the PR benefit from appearing to look good to environmentalist concerns. 2) Solder manufacturers: they get to patent new types of solder and charge more $$$ for them 3) Gov't bureaucrats: they get to accept bribes, er, I mean, campaign contributions, from #2 to pass lead-free legislation, and they get votes from the environmentalists. 4) EU: they get to lock out competing products by erecting a non-tariff trade barrier to foreign goods, at least until foreign suppliers make the switch Ironically, the groups that take it in the shorts are: 1) Consumers: paying more for less reliable electronics 2) The environmentalists: landfills taking in more electronics refuse betrays their cause. Filling up the landfill with lead-free electronics - that doesn't sound too environmentally friendly to me. I'd rather use lead in my electronics and have them last longer, than throw out lead-free electronics every couple of years. I've got a TV from 1989 and stereo equipment from the early 80's that still work. They've got lead in them, but they aren't in the landfill... Best regards, Ivan Baggett Bagotronix Inc. website: www.bagotronix.com * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * To post a message: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] * * To leave this list visit: * http://www.techservinc.com/protelusers/leave.html * * Contact the list manager: * mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] * * Forum Guidelines Rules: * http://www.techservinc.com/protelusers/forumrules.html * * Browse or Search previous postings: * http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED] * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
