Soldering the parts

Soldering the parts

mtlsguy123 23 Apr 2009 02:03

Hello. I got my Makerbot a couple of days ago. I've been having a heck of a time trying to solder the surface mount components! I have already ruined the extruder controller board. Anyone else having trouble with the soldering?

Re: Soldering the parts

mikevalstar 23 Apr 2009 13:06

I'm probly going to solder on my surface mount components the regular (harder) way and not the hot plate method.

How did you ruin the board btw? is it salvageable mayby?

Re: Soldering the parts

mtlsguy123 23 Apr 2009 13:37

The hardest board to solder is the extruder controller board. It has a chip on there that is sooooo small. I tried the hot plate method and that didn't work. It seems the solder paste dried out by the time the last component was in place. I am going to try the regular way of soldering- with a high quality soldering iron. I don't think the board is salvageable. There's melted solder paste all over the place.

Re: Soldering the parts

mikevalstar 23 Apr 2009 14:31

you should be able to clean that up either with braid or low melt i would think. ( I havent tried myself)

http://www.zeph.com/lowmelt.htm

Re: Soldering the parts

mtlsguy123 24 Apr 2009 12:24

Thanks for the advice! I definitely need some stuff from that website!

Re: Soldering the parts

mikevalstar 24 Apr 2009 15:16

Just remember to use it sparingly; expensive stuff … plus you don't need much :)

Re: Soldering the parts

RandyCutt 02 Jan 2013 04:19

Yeah I agree.

Re: Soldering the parts

Channing45 20 Apr 2015 08:04

Ive had the same set of tips for three years now, They are from china. I use a abrasive metal scouring pad thingy to dip the tip into to clean it. After around 3 months the solder started to stick to the iron tips (I like that), The Iron is used daily for at least 3 hours, I mainly use 3 tips out of the ten different ones. So far I have seen no evidence of any wear and they are as sparkly clean as the day I got them despite me doing everything your told not to. I even use the 3.5mm pointy bit for making holes in plastic for Leds!
They were cheap and Chinese and yet have lasted well, only thing I never ever do is use a wet sponge.
Ok I know its a bit like 'my grandad smoked 100 cigs a day for 89 years and lived to 90' kind of thing, but before I got my station I used a cheap no temp sensor iron and they would last 3-4 months.

Re: Soldering the parts

Santogold 12 Apr 2017 11:10

Ohh. i have the same problem(