nanogui: SetTop box Development [sorta an advert]
Subject:
RE: [nanogui] SetTop box Development [sorta an advert]
From:
"Gray, Tim" ####@####.####
Date:
29 Jan 2002 14:07:19 -0000
Message-Id: <AB6EA0602143D51192DD00508BCF8B8F33130A@entcoexch03.tci.com>
Actually you can get excellent tools for surface mount work from Jameco.com
they have hot tweezers, and small irons and other SMT tools for really low
prices.. $59.00 for hot tweezers is insanely low.. as work paid $1200.00
for the ones I use daily. and SMT work is really easy if you get a liquid
flux pen. the secret is to use flux and alot of it. I was intimidated by SMT
work 2 years ago.. today I only prototype with SMT as regular DIP chips are
awkward and bulky.... Now if I could figure out how to solder a BGA chip
onto a board... I really want to prototype with the ZFMicro MachZ Computer
on a chip.
-----Original Message-----
From: Simon Wood ####@####.####
Sent: Tuesday, January 29, 2002 8:50 AM
Cc: nano X
Subject: RE: [nanogui] SetTop box Development [sorta an advert]
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Darran D. Rimron-Molloy ####@####.####
> Sent: Tuesday, January 29, 2002 1:33 PM
> To: Alan Cox
> Cc: nano X
> Subject: RE: [nanogui] SetTop box Development [sorta an advert]
>
>
> > The box I took apart you would need to be very very good at
> > soldering to fit those connectors.
>
> Standard surface mount chips. All very unpleasent. Running solder down
> bent paperclips is my prefered method of mangling the board - although,
> upon investigation with a mag.glass and half an ounce of clue, there
> does seem to be jump-pads for a double-decker PS2 socket. - labeled
> SK1 - although mine were under a little round yellow sticker :)
>
[Simon Wood]
The real trick with surface mount is to let the solder do the work.
You don't need a small iron, I use on with a 4mm wide tip.
For chip caps/resistor put a small blob on one end and then hold the
chip with a pair of tweezers lightly touch the solder blob with the iron and
the solder will pull the chip into place. Then solder the other end.
For bigger components (i.e. chips) tack them in place at the
corners, then use lots (!!) of liquid flux and create a ball of solder
between the pins and the iron. You can drag the ball of solder along the
pins without the iron touching them. Remove excess solder by cleaning you
iron and then dragging it down the length of a pin, this removes a little
solder each time.
It does take a little practice at getting the right amount of solder
(so you don't have to remove too much), but it really isn't that hard.
That said I am still in awe of a technician who put a 208 pin BGA
down with a hot air gun!!!
Simon.
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