Surface Mount Soldering Workshop

This course is going to concentrate on skills and techniques rather than building something useful.

Ticket price includes a kit of parts, containing:

• Solder sponge and holder
• Two pairs of tweezers
• Solder (various sizes)
• Solder wick
• Lots of components to practice with.
• Printed circuit board for soldering parts onto.

Kit price for non-members includes the $10 visitor rate. Attendees from the previous SMD workshop are welcome to attend without a ticket - just pay your day rates on the door!

We will start with a review of general soldering technique, and then move to relatively large surface mount components (1206 and 0805 resistors, and SO-8 IC's) for the first week. How far we go each night depends on people's skills In later weeks we will use smaller and smaller components. I have some 0201 capacitors for anyone who is up for a real challenge!

We will look at the best shape of tips on soldering irons, and the advantages (and disadvantages) of different thicknesses of solder.

As we get further into the course we will be trying different types of solders, different methods of applying solder, and different techniques of soldering.

If there is any interest, I can also cover techniques for manufacturing prototype PC boards and stencils using the laser cutter, and general tips for designing boards for surface mount.

Other potential areas include "dead bug", using DIL without drilling holes, "bodge" wiring (also very useful for prototype work with through-hole components)


Things you might require:

Light

The cheapest option is "none at all". For highly portable use, I have one of these: http://www.ikea.com/aa/en/catalog/products/10237262/ at $15. I clip it to a small sheet of 6mm MDF (300x500) which is used as my work surface. At home I use one of thesehttp://www.altronics.com.au/p/x4201-inspect-a-gadget-inspect-a-gadget-led-desk-mount-magnifier-5-diopter/ but this would be a little unwieldy at the space. There are plenty of options in between.

Magnifier

If your eyes are good enough (or if your light has sufficient magnification built in), "none at all". However as we progress to smaller and smaller components you will need something to inspect your solder joints. I use a combination of "reading glasses" from a pharmacy, and a headset magnifier (for really small stuff).

Soldering station

If you have one, bring it along. Otherwise the space provides a number of soldering irons.

Solder

If you have some, bring it along