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I'm starting to build circuit boards and running into a problem that many components are SMD and I can’t buy them in SIP or DIP format. I’ve seen online that you can actually solder SMD by reflowing. Now my question is, can I buy hobby tools capable of this kind of work? I don’t want to buy a reflow oven and a microscope for hundreds or thousands of dollars and so on. I will probably build under 10 boards a year. They will generally be two layer boards with components on one side and pretty small (4”x 4”) for the most part.

What things do I need? I realize that I need some kind of solder paste. Is there a specific kind I need? It looks like a syringe is good to have. It looks like I need a solder wick to lift excess solder. I’m not sure if I need a bottle of rosin since it’s generally in the paste and solder wire.

Thanks!

I'm starting to build circuit boards and running into a problem that many components are SMD and I can’t buy them in SIP or DIP format. I’ve seen online that you can actually solder SMD by reflowing. Now my question is, can I buy hobby tools capable of this kind of work? I don’t want to buy a reflow oven and a microscope for hundreds or thousands of dollars and so on. I will probably build under 10 boards a year. They will generally be two layer boards with components on one side and pretty small (4”x 4”) for the most part. What things do I need? I realize that I need some kind of solder paste. Is there a specific kind I need? It looks like a syringe is good to have. It looks like I need a solder wick to lift excess solder. I’m not sure if I need a bottle of rosin since it’s generally in the paste and solder wire. Thanks!

(post is archived)

[–] • 1 pt

I use thin solder, an iron with a thin tip, and a high-power magnifier.

Some tools are going to be essential, a good iron and good tweezers. If you want a nice clean board and have access to an air hose with a blow nozzle, water soluble flux solder is idea. Clean with mild soap and hot water, and blow the water off.

My iron is a Hakko FX888D along side some specialty irons I've collected over the years.

[–] • 1 pt

I ordered that iron. It looks real nice. Can't wait to try it out!

Thanks!

[–] • 1 pt

They generally do a good job, I had a former employer purchase some as well and they're still in use.

[–] • 1 pt

Thank you for the "tip"... sorry.

[–] • 1 pt

Just the tip, my friend, just the tip.

[–] • 1 pt

depends on the density, the smallest that is reasonable to handle is half mm space between pins and obviously no BGA

so components 0306 (look that up on SMD capacitors and/or resistors, it is in subunit of inches (2.4cm)) are very much preferrable (but few mcu have such wide pins)

Normally, what happens is that you build at least two boards each prototype, since one is a "reference", the other is to be "adjusted", so, my humble experience is, have a service solder it for you.

clean, reliable soldering is really difficult and you have to deal with solder to clean everywhere

Use kicad to produce solder mask, also stencil (this is VERY useful) and learn what it is a good groundplane

[–] • 0 pt

I downloaded it last night and started playing with it. It's definitely a capable platform, much more so than what I was using. Yes, the learning curve is higher, but not too difficult. Building components is actually easier than I expected. Thanks!

[–] • 0 pt

Hey, thanks for the referral of KiCad. I'm using Fritzing now and it's barely adequate. KICad actually looks pretty good! I haven't had time to DL it yet but I will later today. I tried a few others and they weren't so satisfactory. Many design apps for schematics and board design use proprietary file formats.

[–] • 1 pt

Do not be afraid to learn how to make components footprint, it is actually a very good way to actually learn the logic of life

A key think to learn is the netlist concept, it is not difficult, but you need to have it clear on back and forth of netlist between schematics and pcb layout. The key point is that it happens often to change components and/or schematics due to pcb constraints.

it is not a one way process schematcs -> pcb it is more bidirectional

Also, put INTO the schematics the part code of the component eg MOUSER 650-DK-621-0940-4S This is one of the reasons to make your own library, you put extra info in the "component"

Have fun, there is lots to learn

[–] • 0 pt

My wife will thank you. LOL.

[–] • 1 pt

Tweezers, solder, flux, an iron, and a reflow heat gun. Flow your solder beads on the board with the iron. Hold your component where it goes with the tweezers, and shoot hot air at it until it flows again, and that's it. You can even do that with just the iron, but it's really hard to do two or more joints like that. Chips are a lot easier if the pins are out the sides, but if the contacts are underneath it you'll need the heat gun.

[–] • 1 pt

Won't the heat gun blow the parts around?

[–] • 1 pt

Tweezers my dude, and reflow stations have fan settings so you can turn it way down.

[–] [deleted] • 1 pt

I hand solder SMD boards with a soldering iron and a small tip and an eye loupe.

[–] • 0 pt

Sounds like surgery. You probably need a very small tip on the iron.