SMT at home?!

Is there any way to implement SMT at home? I want to assemble a prototype board of mine. How can I hand-solder a 208-pin 0.5 mm lead pitch PQFP -- lead-by-lead (the usual way), or side-by-side (partial heating method)? Alas, no SMD rework equipment available...

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| Is there any way to implement SMT at home? | I want to assemble a prototype board of mine. | How can I hand-solder a 208-pin 0.5 mm lead | pitch PQFP -- lead-by-lead (the usual way), | or side-by-side (partial heating method)? | Alas, no SMD rework equipment available... You'll need a low wattage, fine tip soldering iron that can be found at a reputable Electronics store that caters to businesses. I'd also recommend working under a X10 power magification. Use a viper to move the part from carrier to board so not to bend leads. Solder one lead at each corner to keep lead/part registration, heating the pad then flowing solder to lead (this takes practice first...). Then start soldering one lead at a time, heat pad - flow to lead. One problem with hand soldering is getting good filets on the heel of the lead but will work. Good luck, Scott

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| Is there any way to implement SMT at home? | I want to assemble a prototype board of mine. | How can I hand-solder a 208-pin 0.5 mm lead | pitch PQFP -- lead-by-lead (the usual way), | or side-by-side (partial heating method)? | Alas, no SMD rework equipment available... I think the soldering equipment from PACE offers everything you would need. With the hand "mini-wave" solder tip you only wipe above the leads for perfect solder joints.

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| Is there any way to implement SMT at home? | I want to assemble a prototype board of mine. | How can I hand-solder a 208-pin 0.5 mm lead | pitch PQFP -- lead-by-lead (the usual way), | or side-by-side (partial heating method)? | Alas, no SMD rework equipment available... I had been useing a PACE mini wave tip irn for reflowing QFP 160 packages with no problems, but the I had to go up to a 250 QFP with a .5 mm lead pitch like you. I was a little worried about the PACE as I was haveing some problems, so I purchased a new METCAL iron which uses RF to heat the tip. It also has what they call a hoof tip which seems to work alot better than the mini wave tip. I am now soldering the 240 pin parts better than I was with the 160 pin parts. I really love this soldering iron! I also think good flux is important. Also add solder to the side of the tip, as then the heat seems to transfer into the pins better. On prototypes I also use a heat shrink gun for reflowing on the small discreet components. I can do a whole PCB full of passives really quickly this way. I would like to get one of those OK electronics ovens though, as they look nice too.... Good luck!! Grant Petty Digital Voodoo.

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