Benchtop IR Reflow Ovens

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1

I’m wondering if anyone has any opinions or experience with small benchtop IR reflow ovens like these:

http://www.ntscope.com/MD5001.html

http://cgi.ebay.com/SMT-SMD-BGA-IC-refl … dZViewItem

The one on ebay appears to be a clone of the maddel model.

I’ve been trying to decide whether its better to get one of these small IR ovens or a good hot air rework station. Anyone have experience with both? Comments or opinions?

Thanks

2

Isn’t that the one that nathan had such fun with? Look in the tutorials section.

3

It’s the mini clone… I haven’t used one, but the big brother really didn’t work for us. I’ve also heard from a SFE customer that his mini was DOA from Hong Kong.

-Nathan

4

heh I had my money saved up for one of those mini infrared reflow ovens, but since it sounds like they don’t work very well, I bought a convection toaster oven, hot air rework station, and a nice oscilloscope instead.

Now I have two other questions:

  1. Can toaster ovens be used for soldering both sides of a board? It would seem they would only work for single sided, or am I wrong?

  2. Can a hot air station be used for soldering those tiny chip capacitors and resistors? Doesn’t the air blow them around?

Thanks,

Doug

5

wearable:
…

  1. Can a hot air station be used for soldering those tiny chip capacitors and resistors? Doesn’t the air blow them around?

Thanks,

Doug

I turn the air down when soldering 1206s, 805s, sot23s and such. You might want to be a little careful with how fast you heat with hot air. Could cause thermal shock or over temp. I’ve broken ceramic chip caps.

However, I find that the little stuff goes pretty fast with an iron so usually don’t bother with paste. Just tin a pad, hold the part in place with forceps and touch the iron to it. a little flux on the part helps a bit. Then finish the rest of pads with solder and iron.