Re: [time-nuts] How to open solder-sealed OCXOs?
What's the best way to open an OCXO in the typical solder-sealed tinned steel can? Use a high wattage iron to melt the solder at one point, prise the gap open with a flat screwdriver, then work along the join. Solder is soft. so once you get it started you should be able to roll it open like a can of tuna. You could use a dremmel and a cutting disk, but the vibration might kill the Xtal. Alternatively, a hot air gun might work if you are quick enough not to cook the innards. Zim ___ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there.
Re: [time-nuts] How to open solder-sealed OCXOs?
Hi Graeme, A technique I've found useful is to first remove the corners of the outer can by filling across them. I then rake out as much of the solder along the seams with the back edge of a disposable snap-off craft knife / box cutter. Finally wedging the sharp edge to break the joint. Removing the corners releves the stiffness and allows the edge of the can to be bent back in a straight line rather than a rough set of bumps. On many hermetically sealed aircraft instruments they put a tear wire at the bottom of the solder joint with a tail sticking out. You just grasp this and pull. While the joint geometry on the aircraft instrument is designed for this (typically with a non-metallic packing under the wire) and your OCXO isn't, it is a good idea to leave the case slightly flaired and lay a length of tinned copper wire in it before ligthly soldering over the top. Robert G8RPI. From: Graeme Zimmer gzim...@wideband.net.au To: Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement time-nuts@febo.com Sent: Sunday, 2 February 2014, 8:50 Subject: Re: [time-nuts] How to open solder-sealed OCXOs? What's the best way to open an OCXO in the typical solder-sealed tinned steel can? Use a high wattage iron to melt the solder at one point, prise the gap open with a flat screwdriver, then work along the join. Solder is soft. so once you get it started you should be able to roll it open like a can of tuna. You could use a dremmel and a cutting disk, but the vibration might kill the Xtal. Alternatively, a hot air gun might work if you are quick enough not to cook the innards. Zim ___ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there. ___ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there.
Re: [time-nuts] How to open solder-sealed OCXOs?
You can also take the tip out of a soldering gun and apply the gun's two posts directly to the can for resistance heating. I've used that method a time or two on large items. You need to push firmly to get good contact. The voltage is very low. Bob From: Graeme Zimmer gzim...@wideband.net.au To: Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement time-nuts@febo.com Sent: Sunday, February 2, 2014 2:50 AM Subject: Re: [time-nuts] How to open solder-sealed OCXOs? What's the best way to open an OCXO in the typical solder-sealed tinned steel can? Use a high wattage iron to melt the solder at one point, prise the gap open with a flat screwdriver, then work along the join. Solder is soft. so once you get it started you should be able to roll it open like a can of tuna. You could use a dremmel and a cutting disk, but the vibration might kill the Xtal. Alternatively, a hot air gun might work if you are quick enough not to cook the innards. Zim ___ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there. ___ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there.
Re: [time-nuts] How to open solder-sealed OCXOs?
I've never opened an OCXO but I have opened several sealed HV power supplies used on HP 5061A and 5061B CS Standards. These supplies are mounted by four 6-32 screw studs which make for easy 'holding' in a lightly tightened vise. I used a very focused hand held propane torch to go around the very base of the supply while grabbing the top with a large set of slip joint pliers and applying a gentle lifting/rocking motion. You have to heat up the entire circumference but it doesn't take too long and there was never any internal or external damage. Very easy to reassemble in the original configuration as well. I also remember a thread several months ago about opening a Morion MV89A OCXO to repair a loose solder joint on the output. I don't recall what their method was but you should be able to find it in the archive. I think it, too, was an 'unsoldering' approach. Hope this helps. Good luck. Joe -Original Message- From: time-nuts-boun...@febo.com [mailto:time-nuts-boun...@febo.com] On Behalf Of Stewart Cobb Sent: Sunday, February 02, 2014 1:37 AM To: time-nuts@febo.com Subject: [time-nuts] How to open solder-sealed OCXOs? What's the best way to open an OCXO in the typical solder-sealed tinned steel can? I don't mind destroying the can itself, as long as the innards are not harmed. The goal is to run some experiments with thermal impedance as discussed here last week, and to ovenize parts of the EFC controller for better stability. Cheers! --Stu ___ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there. ___ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there.
Re: [time-nuts] How to open solder-sealed OCXOs?
Hi If you are tossing the can, a mill is by far the best way to open up an OCXO. That of course assumes you have a mill… It’s not a chip intensive process. You can easily do it with an X/Y table on a drill press. Of course that assumes you have all of that stuff…. Bob On Feb 2, 2014, at 2:37 AM, Stewart Cobb stewart.c...@gmail.com wrote: What's the best way to open an OCXO in the typical solder-sealed tinned steel can? I don't mind destroying the can itself, as long as the innards are not harmed. The goal is to run some experiments with thermal impedance as discussed here last week, and to ovenize parts of the EFC controller for better stability. Cheers! --Stu ___ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there. ___ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there.
Re: [time-nuts] How to open solder-sealed OCXOs?
IMO, the easiest way (non-destructive too!0 is with a high wattage iron or 250 W gun, solder wick or a solder sucker, and an X-Acto knife. Start in the middle of one side. Heat the joint area and suck out as much of the solder from the joint area as you can. Slip the knife in the joint and pry gently after sucking to prevent any residual solder from bridging the gap. when that area has cooled, move left or right and work your way around the can. Eventually, when almost all the solder is out, gentle prying at the joint will pop the top off. Work slowly and patriently and you'll be able to resolder the can just about as new. -John == What's the best way to open an OCXO in the typical solder-sealed tinned steel can? I don't mind destroying the can itself, as long as the innards are not harmed. The goal is to run some experiments with thermal impedance as discussed here last week, and to ovenize parts of the EFC controller for better stability. Cheers! --Stu ___ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there. ___ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there.
Re: [time-nuts] How to open solder-sealed OCXOs?
Hi I use wire cutters like on a Morion I find a small lip and start pealing it away. No trauma for the OCXO and simple. Bert Kehren In a message dated 2/2/2014 10:07:36 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, li...@rtty.us writes: Hi If you are tossing the can, a mill is by far the best way to open up an OCXO. That of course assumes you have a mill… It’s not a chip intensive process. You can easily do it with an X/Y table on a drill press. Of course that assumes you have all of that stuff…. Bob On Feb 2, 2014, at 2:37 AM, Stewart Cobb stewart.c...@gmail.com wrote: What's the best way to open an OCXO in the typical solder-sealed tinned steel can? I don't mind destroying the can itself, as long as the innards are not harmed. The goal is to run some experiments with thermal impedance as discussed here last week, and to ovenize parts of the EFC controller for better stability. Cheers! --Stu ___ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there. ___ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there. ___ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there.
Re: [time-nuts] How to open solder-sealed OCXOs?
One thing about soldering that many people don't know is that the solder is attracted to the hottest part of the joint. If you apply the soldering iron to the side of the can, the solder will be sucked down into the can, leaving a gap where the lid meets the can... So, if you want to solder a can shut neatly, apply the soldering iron so that it bridges the gap between the lid and the can, and apply the solder to the leading edge of the soldering iron just where the iron meets the can/lid. Also, avoid using eutectic solders (63/37) for any soldering job where you want to make a smooth fillet. Eutectic solders have a single melt temperature, with no slush zone, and as such they are either fully melted, or not. They don't thicken and build like non-eutectic solder (60/40) -Chuck Harris J. Forster wrote: IMO, the easiest way (non-destructive too!0 is with a high wattage iron or 250 W gun, solder wick or a solder sucker, and an X-Acto knife. Start in the middle of one side. Heat the joint area and suck out as much of the solder from the joint area as you can. Slip the knife in the joint and pry gently after sucking to prevent any residual solder from bridging the gap. when that area has cooled, move left or right and work your way around the can. Eventually, when almost all the solder is out, gentle prying at the joint will pop the top off. Work slowly and patriently and you'll be able to resolder the can just about as new. -John ___ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there.
Re: [time-nuts] How to open solder-sealed OCXOs?
In general, I sandwich the solder wick between the joint and the iron. In such a joint, the solder is mostly at the edge of the joint: ==OO --- Solder bead === You don't really want to heat the thing so the solder flows into the joint more deeply. -John One thing about soldering that many people don't know is that the solder is attracted to the hottest part of the joint. If you apply the soldering iron to the side of the can, the solder will be sucked down into the can, leaving a gap where the lid meets the can... So, if you want to solder a can shut neatly, apply the soldering iron so that it bridges the gap between the lid and the can, and apply the solder to the leading edge of the soldering iron just where the iron meets the can/lid. Also, avoid using eutectic solders (63/37) for any soldering job where you want to make a smooth fillet. Eutectic solders have a single melt temperature, with no slush zone, and as such they are either fully melted, or not. They don't thicken and build like non-eutectic solder (60/40) -Chuck Harris J. Forster wrote: IMO, the easiest way (non-destructive too!0 is with a high wattage iron or 250 W gun, solder wick or a solder sucker, and an X-Acto knife. Start in the middle of one side. Heat the joint area and suck out as much of the solder from the joint area as you can. Slip the knife in the joint and pry gently after sucking to prevent any residual solder from bridging the gap. when that area has cooled, move left or right and work your way around the can. Eventually, when almost all the solder is out, gentle prying at the joint will pop the top off. Work slowly and patriently and you'll be able to resolder the can just about as new. -John ___ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there. ___ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there.
Re: [time-nuts] How to open solder-sealed OCXOs?
I've not opened on of these cans but I have opened some shield audio transmitters. I just use my Hakko temperature controlled solder station at a high setting and work my way around the edge. It can be done non-detructivly. Solder wick helps a lot, use a bunch of it to get rid of the excess solder. The tiny tip on a temperature controlled solder pencil does not look very powerful but the temperer controller will crank up the watts to whatever is required for the job. I think mine limits out at 80W. So just a normal solder station can work. It works for both the muMetal cans and the steel cans On Sun, Feb 2, 2014 at 8:53 AM, ewkeh...@aol.com wrote: Hi I use wire cutters like on a Morion I find a small lip and start pealing it away. No trauma for the OCXO and simple. Bert Kehren In a message dated 2/2/2014 10:07:36 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, li...@rtty.us writes: Hi If you are tossing the can, a mill is by far the best way to open up an OCXO. That of course assumes you have a mill... It's not a chip intensive process. You can easily do it with an X/Y table on a drill press. Of course that assumes you have all of that stuff Bob On Feb 2, 2014, at 2:37 AM, Stewart Cobb stewart.c...@gmail.com wrote: What's the best way to open an OCXO in the typical solder-sealed tinned steel can? I don't mind destroying the can itself, as long as the innards are not harmed. The goal is to run some experiments with thermal impedance as discussed here last week, and to ovenize parts of the EFC controller for better stability. Cheers! --Stu ___ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there. ___ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there. ___ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there. -- Chris Albertson Redondo Beach, California ___ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there.
Re: [time-nuts] How to open solder-sealed OCXOs?
It has been a long time since I opened one of these, but at the time I remember thinking it must be possible to open one of these without deforming it. Like anything correct technique must be the key. Companies like Wenzel do this on a daily basis and I would guess their technique would include a hotplate or hot air reflow. I think it is possible open with minimal deforming of the metal case even with a regular solder station by wicking one side and and sliding paper or other thin material to keep the solder from re-tacking when you heat the next side. Thomas Knox From: albertson.ch...@gmail.com Date: Sun, 2 Feb 2014 09:28:28 -0800 To: time-nuts@febo.com Subject: Re: [time-nuts] How to open solder-sealed OCXOs? I've not opened on of these cans but I have opened some shield audio transmitters. I just use my Hakko temperature controlled solder station at a high setting and work my way around the edge. It can be done non-detructivly. Solder wick helps a lot, use a bunch of it to get rid of the excess solder. The tiny tip on a temperature controlled solder pencil does not look very powerful but the temperer controller will crank up the watts to whatever is required for the job. I think mine limits out at 80W. So just a normal solder station can work. It works for both the muMetal cans and the steel cans On Sun, Feb 2, 2014 at 8:53 AM, ewkeh...@aol.com wrote: Hi I use wire cutters like on a Morion I find a small lip and start pealing it away. No trauma for the OCXO and simple. Bert Kehren In a message dated 2/2/2014 10:07:36 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, li...@rtty.us writes: Hi If you are tossing the can, a mill is by far the best way to open up an OCXO. That of course assumes you have a mill... It's not a chip intensive process. You can easily do it with an X/Y table on a drill press. Of course that assumes you have all of that stuff Bob On Feb 2, 2014, at 2:37 AM, Stewart Cobb stewart.c...@gmail.com wrote: What's the best way to open an OCXO in the typical solder-sealed tinned steel can? I don't mind destroying the can itself, as long as the innards are not harmed. The goal is to run some experiments with thermal impedance as discussed here last week, and to ovenize parts of the EFC controller for better stability. Cheers! --Stu ___ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there. ___ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there. ___ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there. -- Chris Albertson Redondo Beach, California ___ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there. ___ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there.
Re: [time-nuts] How to open solder-sealed OCXOs?
If I want to reuse the can I use a torch, very fast several HP 5061 HV cans mainly Bert Kehren In a message dated 2/2/2014 1:52:06 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, act...@hotmail.com writes: It has been a long time since I opened one of these, but at the time I remember thinking it must be possible to open one of these without deforming it. Like anything correct technique must be the key. Companies like Wenzel do this on a daily basis and I would guess their technique would include a hotplate or hot air reflow. I think it is possible open with minimal deforming of the metal case even with a regular solder station by wicking one side and and sliding paper or other thin material to keep the solder from re-tacking when you heat the next side. Thomas Knox From: albertson.ch...@gmail.com Date: Sun, 2 Feb 2014 09:28:28 -0800 To: time-nuts@febo.com Subject: Re: [time-nuts] How to open solder-sealed OCXOs? I've not opened on of these cans but I have opened some shield audio transmitters. I just use my Hakko temperature controlled solder station at a high setting and work my way around the edge. It can be done non-detructivly. Solder wick helps a lot, use a bunch of it to get rid of the excess solder. The tiny tip on a temperature controlled solder pencil does not look very powerful but the temperer controller will crank up the watts to whatever is required for the job. I think mine limits out at 80W. So just a normal solder station can work. It works for both the muMetal cans and the steel cans On Sun, Feb 2, 2014 at 8:53 AM, ewkeh...@aol.com wrote: Hi I use wire cutters like on a Morion I find a small lip and start pealing it away. No trauma for the OCXO and simple. Bert Kehren In a message dated 2/2/2014 10:07:36 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, li...@rtty.us writes: Hi If you are tossing the can, a mill is by far the best way to open up an OCXO. That of course assumes you have a mill... It's not a chip intensive process. You can easily do it with an X/Y table on a drill press. Of course that assumes you have all of that stuff Bob On Feb 2, 2014, at 2:37 AM, Stewart Cobb stewart.c...@gmail.com wrote: What's the best way to open an OCXO in the typical solder-sealed tinned steel can? I don't mind destroying the can itself, as long as the innards are not harmed. The goal is to run some experiments with thermal impedance as discussed here last week, and to ovenize parts of the EFC controller for better stability. Cheers! --Stu ___ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there. ___ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there. ___ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there. -- Chris Albertson Redondo Beach, California ___ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there. ___ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there. ___ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there.
[time-nuts] How to open solder-sealed OCXOs?
What's the best way to open an OCXO in the typical solder-sealed tinned steel can? I don't mind destroying the can itself, as long as the innards are not harmed. The goal is to run some experiments with thermal impedance as discussed here last week, and to ovenize parts of the EFC controller for better stability. Cheers! --Stu ___ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there.
