Hey there diyaudio community,
my fine motor skills lately just aren't what they used to be. However, I have some unpopulated PCB's and all needed parts laying around for quite some time now and would really like to at least have the DAC finished, but it would take me forever with my shaky hands right now. They are good enough for soldering point-to-point or trough-hole, but just not for those teeny-tiny smd parts.
Does anyone have experience with a PCB assembly ~smd-soldering~ service in the EU?
Or better, would maybe a member on here be so kind and do the smd soldering job? Against payment of course or maybe a payment plus NOS tubes, chokes, transformers or other parts I intend to sell somewhen anyhow.
Any help is greatly appreciated and I hope this is the right sector -otherwise please move it to the correct one.
Thanks,
Brzzl
my fine motor skills lately just aren't what they used to be. However, I have some unpopulated PCB's and all needed parts laying around for quite some time now and would really like to at least have the DAC finished, but it would take me forever with my shaky hands right now. They are good enough for soldering point-to-point or trough-hole, but just not for those teeny-tiny smd parts.
Does anyone have experience with a PCB assembly ~smd-soldering~ service in the EU?
Or better, would maybe a member on here be so kind and do the smd soldering job? Against payment of course or maybe a payment plus NOS tubes, chokes, transformers or other parts I intend to sell somewhen anyhow.
Any help is greatly appreciated and I hope this is the right sector -otherwise please move it to the correct one.
Thanks,
Brzzl
There will be many, like me, who work with SMD all of the time in your part of the world.
If you get stuck though, pm me and I can do them for you from the UK.
If you get stuck though, pm me and I can do them for you from the UK.
Thank you for the offer!
I may have to get back to you about that, but I will let some time pass first since I just opened this thread and would prefer someone inside the EU.
I may have to get back to you about that, but I will let some time pass first since I just opened this thread and would prefer someone inside the EU.
Hmm, I am relatively nearby to Austria. If they are 0603 or smaller i am not super keen though. Can you post (in PM if you dont want public) the amount of components we're talking about here? Maybe we can arrange something.
Thank you for the reply! -You've got a pm.
For anyone else: the part count is arround 200 inclunding some connectors and various through-hole parts.
For anyone else: the part count is arround 200 inclunding some connectors and various through-hole parts.
I'm in Bruges, close to both Belgian and Dutch postal services. I can offer to help too - and that's valid for anyone else reading this post that might need assembly or soldering of high quality (even on big parts like stupidly large heatsink tabs lol)
Oh, how the tables turn...
A lot of it technique in SMD soldering.
Apply plenty of SMD solder flux to the area.
It will also help keep IC in place.
Carefully solder one corner.
Then drag solder along pins on opposite side.
If you get bridges apply solder flux, remove all solder from iron and draw iron away from solder bridge and solder should come away.
For really stubborn bridges use copper braid.
You need good quality low melting point solder and a good magnifying glass to check alignment and for bridges.
Apply plenty of SMD solder flux to the area.
It will also help keep IC in place.
Carefully solder one corner.
Then drag solder along pins on opposite side.
If you get bridges apply solder flux, remove all solder from iron and draw iron away from solder bridge and solder should come away.
For really stubborn bridges use copper braid.
You need good quality low melting point solder and a good magnifying glass to check alignment and for bridges.
Thank you for the how-to!
However, I already have some experience with smd soldering. I am just not capable of it right now and maybe for a while longer. Nonetheless, it would be interesting which SMD solder flux works for you. In the past I just used the one that my local electronics store had and always achieved acceptable results with only a few solder bridges.
However, I already have some experience with smd soldering. I am just not capable of it right now and maybe for a while longer. Nonetheless, it would be interesting which SMD solder flux works for you. In the past I just used the one that my local electronics store had and always achieved acceptable results with only a few solder bridges.
I use Termopasty solder paste. Without it the job is a disaster.
I just soldered a couple of SMD IC's today.
One was on 1.27mm pitch which wasnt too bad.
The other was on 0.55 pitch which wasnt quite so easy but got there with a little patience and plenty of flux.
I just soldered a couple of SMD IC's today.
One was on 1.27mm pitch which wasnt too bad.
The other was on 0.55 pitch which wasnt quite so easy but got there with a little patience and plenty of flux.
I'm sure I can make this work 😛
I personally use a paste flux from a little tub that I transfered to a syringe. I don't use solder paste because I don't have any. I am relatively okay with my hand steadiness though.
I also often use a small amount of SMD part glue to tack the things into place. It's dissolved in alcohol.
I personally use a paste flux from a little tub that I transfered to a syringe. I don't use solder paste because I don't have any. I am relatively okay with my hand steadiness though.
I also often use a small amount of SMD part glue to tack the things into place. It's dissolved in alcohol.