Local Circuit Board Assembly

[stgislander]

Does anybody locally have the capability to do soldering of SMT components? My assembler up in Hagerstown is currently quoting a for me job, but it's so small it may not be worth the cost. I'll even provide the stencil if needed.

 

[glhs837]

I've got a message out to a guy that used to do this sort of thing on base, he might know.

 

[stgislander]

I've got a message out to a guy that used to do this sort of thing on base, he might know.

Thanks. My eyes aren't good enough anymore and my magnifier glass is not powerful enough to be hand placing 0402 SMT resistors.

 

[Kyle]

Thanks. My eyes aren't good enough anymore and my magnifier glass is not powerful enough to be hand placing 0402 SMT resistors.

Only time I ever tried my hand at surface mount, 86-87, i think i burned up as much as I completed.

 

[stgislander]

Only time I ever tried my hand at surface mount, 86-87, i think i burned up as much as I completed.

I'm right there with you. Back in the 2000's a former co-worker and I commandeered Gilligan's toaster oven to do re-work on a new design. We were working 36 on/12 off to get that job finished.

Ah... good times, good times.

 

[Clem72]

Only time I ever tried my hand at surface mount, 86-87, i think i burned up as much as I completed.

Were you using a hot-air pencil or a regular iron? I could never do the latter, hands just not steady enough.

 

[Kyle]

Were you using a hot-air pencil or a regular iron? I could never do the latter, hands just not steady enough.

Quick hot soldering iron.

It's definitely a super power to use one and not destroy what youre working on.

 

[Grumpy]

Does anybody locally have the capability to do soldering of SMT components? My assembler up in Hagerstown is currently quoting a for me job, but it's so small it may not be worth the cost. I'll even provide the stencil if needed.

Whats the difference between SMT and SMD?

 

[Ken King]

Whats the difference between SMT and SMD?

Surface Mount Technology is used to mount Surface Mounted Devices.

 

[stgislander]

Were you using a hot-air pencil or a regular iron? I could never do the latter, hands just not steady enough.

My co-worker fabricated one using one of those hot air plastic welding kits. He had to create a new nozzle with a finer tip and add a second port to bleed off most of the hot air away from the board.

 

[Clem72]

My co-worker fabricated one using one of those hot air plastic welding kits. He had to create a new nozzle with a finer tip and add a second port to bleed off most of the hot air away from the board.

Are the plastic welding guns adjustable temp? Probably useful idea back when these systems were $1k or more, but you can find them on Amazon for less than $100 now. And the adjustable temp is nice because you can set it to exactly whats needed to flow your paste and reduce the chance of cooking your parts/boards.

 

[Sneakers]

I could never do the latter, hands just not steady enough.

In my younger days, it wouldn't have been a problem, did a lot of surface soldering. Today, not nearly steady enough for that fine work. Lucky if I can make a weld with a stick welder.

 

[KingFish]

In my younger days, it wouldn't have been a problem, did a lot of surface soldering. Today, not nearly steady enough for that fine work. Lucky if I can make a weld with a stick welder.

I might be able to do it depending on the size of the project. I would have to dig out my MBT-250 solder station. Been ages since I designed and assembled circuit boards.

 

[TPD]

Funny this thread popped up today. I’ve got a bad circuit board on my combine. I asked my wife about fixing it but she doesn’t have the tools to do it in her current job. So I sent it out to an ag electronics place in Nebraska. My video was posted a couple hours ago. Guess I should have asked here first.

 

[stgislander]

Funny this thread popped up today. I’ve got a bad circuit board on my combine. I asked my wife about fixing it but she doesn’t have the tools to do it in her current job. So I sent it out to an ag electronics place in Nebraska. My video was posted a couple hours ago. Guess I should have asked here first.

That'll learn ya.

 

[Sneakers]

That'll learn ya.

I'm thinking he did the right thing.....

 

[stgislander]

I'm thinking he did the right thing.....

Ha! Shows what you know. Gilligan doesn't touch circuit boards.

 

[Sneakers]

Ha! Shows what you know. Gilligan doesn't touch circuit boards.

Good thing. If he solders like he welds......

 

[DaSDGuy]

So I'm guessing duct tape isn't the answer?

 

[GURPS]

Funny this thread popped up today. I’ve got a bad circuit board on my combine. I asked my wife about fixing it but she doesn’t have the tools to do it in her current job. So I sent it out to an ag electronics place in Nebraska. My video was posted a couple hours ago. Guess I should have asked here first.

I miss the Analog Days