The boards as we receive them from BatchPCB, are they ready to put SMD parts on it and reflow it on, for example, a skillet? Or do I need to put solderpaste on them before I can do that?
Thanks in advance!
JD
You will need solderpaste.
Thank you very much!
Edit: Wow, solder paste is pretty expensive…
Cash Olsen sells syringes of solder paste for $5. He also has a small hotplate (beverage warmer) and hot-air source (embosser) for SMT work.
You might also consider getting some flux paste or flux pen, fine solder (I like .01"), and a fine tip and SMD hoof tip for your iron. Not only can you build out a circuit board entirely, you can do localized rework without melting an entire PCB, and easily solder double-sided projects without worrying about solders with different melting points. Search YouTube for SMD soldering techniques…there are good videos, the techniques really work. Also consider doing some SMD practice. Electronic Goldmine sells a cell phone PCB with assortment of random ICs that can be soldered on the board (of course it’s not supposed to work). Here: http://www.goldmine-elec-products.com/p … mber=G3114
I’m comfortable down to 0402 passive components, and any IC package that has some kind of access to leads on the side. QFN is still hand solderable, though thermal pads require special care. Anything with hidden pads on the underside will require solder paste…but it might require a stencil too.
Jan,
Don’t forget about our cheap stencils… We ordered the laser and are offering this service to help users just like yourself.
Hi Ryan (long time no talk, what’s up?),
I have been thinking about your stencil service, but a one time project as small as I am working on doesn’t allow the costs for making a stencil.
As soon as I have a ‘real’ project, you will have my order!
Regards,
Jan