Advice Needed Books/Tutorials about working on Surface Mount components

jeallen01

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Afternoon

Later this year, I'm hoping to do a bit more "workbench" stuff, and I can "sort of" do basic soldering/desoldering and I've now got some reasonable kit for that.

OTOH, I never gone anywhere near SMT components as I have neither the knowledge and skills nor the kit for working on those. However, I'd like to "have a go" some time soon, but first I'd like to find out more about what kit to get and how to use it - the "how to use" probably being the most important to begin with as that should teach me something about what kit to then consider buying.

So can anyone give me some pointers towards books (which I would prefer) and/or on-line tutorials to get me "started"?

Thanks in advance.
 

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@Vipersan might have some suggestions next time he is on the forum. (might be a while till he gets to sign in though for one reason and another)
 

jeallen01

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@Vipersan might have some suggestions next time he is on the forum. (might be a while till he gets to sign in though for one reason and another)
Hopefully Evan will be able to get back to the forum sometime soon (as many of us know from past posts, he has a had lot of very serious life-changing issues) and I will look forward to his thoughts.
 

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Good flux is a must and get a silicone work mat.
 

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I dived right into SMD components by building an LED clock that was made up primarily of SMD capacitors, resistors, LEDs and a couple ICs, it was pretty fiddly stuff (not exactly got steady hands myself), and you do need a fine tipped iron if you're soldering by hand (the smart people tend to wave-solder or bake in an oven with solder paste), it's worth it for the "I did this" factor though... :)
 

jeallen01

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Already have the Maplins/Duratool (etc) temp-controlled soldering station with a range of bits, and quite a few other bits and pieces (leaded solder, braid, suction tools, board clamps and so on) but been accumulating various other tools, materials, etc., over the last week or so, e.g:
- TRIXES SMD Testing Tweezers Probe leads for Multimeter
- WINOMO 7pcs ONLYOU Anti Static Stainless Steel Precise Tweezers Repair Tools
- Duratool 6-piece soldering kit
- 8-piece Antistatic brush kit (yet to arrive from Hong Kong!)

- MG Chemicals 8341 No Clean Flux Paste, 10 ml Pneumatic Dispenser (Complete with Plunger & Dispensing Tip)
- Insat Sn63Pb37 Leaded Solder Paste 30g - Melting Point 183°C
- ChipQuik SMD1 Leaded Low Temperature Removal Kit

- Alan Winstanley's "Basic Soldering Guide" (quite useful - most things I knew but a few I didn't)

So, I still need the silicone mat - any specific suggestions?
 
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Already have the Maplins/Duratool (etc) temp-controlled soldering station with a range of bits, and quite a few other bits and pieces (leaded solder, braid, suction tools, board clamps and so on) but been accumulating various other tools, materials, and tools over the last week or so, e.g:
- TRIXES SMD Testing Tweezers Probe leads for Multimeter
- WINOMO 7pcs ONLYOU Anti Static Stainless Steel Precise Tweezers Repair Tools
- Duratool 6-piece soldering kit
- 8-piece Antistatic brush kit (yet to arrive from Hong Kong!)

- MG Chemicals 8341 No Clean Flux Paste, 10 ml Pneumatic Dispenser (Complete with Plunger & Dispensing Tip)
- Insat Sn63Pb37 Leaded Solder Paste 30g - Melting Point 183°C
- ChipQuik SMD1 Leaded Low Temperature Removal Kit

- Alan Wilstanley's "Basic Soldering Guide" (quite useful - most things I knew but a few I didn't)

So, I still need the silicone mat - any specific suggestions?
Just get one with the biggest work space and not silly doors and pockets. Mine just has 2 rows at the top for screws which is actually useful.
Also keep your solder paste in the fridge when you're not using it, once opened that is.
 

jeallen01

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Just get one with the biggest work space and not silly doors and pockets. Mine just has 2 rows at the top for screws which is actually useful......
Thanks and had a look at those shown on ebay & Amazon - as you say, some have far too many pockets/doors etc., and I am space limited and so can't get the largest available.

Ordered this cheap one to start with as it should come quite quickly - will see how that works out, as otherwise I will get this one from China but that would take quite a lot longer
 
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Channel Hopper

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I've repaired quite a few satellite receivers in the past that were the precursor to modern SMD production, designs based on cost saving only.

As of late (in the past three years)I have upgraded a couple of smart home/audio devices that have used components that can really only be seen under a microscope and for that matter I would strongly suggest keeping some funds for a stereo/binocular microscope with a large depth tray and lift.
 

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jeallen01

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...As of late (in the past three years)I have upgraded a couple of smart home/audio devices that have used components that can really only be seen under a microscope and for that matter I would strongly suggest keeping some funds for a stereo/binocular microscope with a large depth tray and lift.
Good advice, but I think it will be a loo.....ng time before I get anywhere near working on anything like that as my fingers are too clumsy by half, and astigmatism makes it difficult seeing clearly at short distances,

However, just dug out one of these Clarke "Swing Arm Magnifying Lamp" ("SAM 75") from the cupboard. It was bought years ago for SWMBO to help with close tasks but she never ever used it. Not a high degree of magnification but has quite a wide field of view for both eyes, and doubles as a general purpose desk lamp when you slide the cover over the lens.:)
 

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Theyve got smaller in the past year.
 

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jeallen01

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Theyve got smaller in the past year.
Don't we all know it! :rolleyes:
Interesting couple of articles in the June & July issues of EPE comparing the repairabilty of old designs (generally discrete components, so pretty good) versus new designs (high density integration, small SMD components, etc., so far less repairable). I'll be trying stick to stuff that is not too smallo_O
 

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Theyve got smaller in the past year.
That's what she said...

Good advice, but I think it will be a loo.....ng time before I get anywhere near working on anything like that as my fingers are too clumsy by half, and astigmatism makes it difficult seeing clearly at short distances,

However, just dug out one of these Clarke "Swing Arm Magnifying Lamp" ("SAM 75") from the cupboard. It was bought years ago for SWMBO to help with close tasks but she never ever used it. Not a high degree of magnification but has quite a wide field of view for both eyes, and doubles as a general purpose desk lamp when you slide the cover over the lens.:)

I did have a lamp with a magnifying glass but doing SMD stuff your coordination will be way off and it will just get in the way.
I use this:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Magnifier-...r=8-3&keywords=magnifying+glasses+for+hobbies

And sometimes a loupe like this:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Piece-Jewe...d=1537376762&sr=8-20&keywords=jewellers+loupe
 

jeallen01

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Thanks

I already have a very old (non-LED!) headband-type magnifier but it's cumbersome. and so something new like that would be useful - unfortunately I wear glasses all the time and so the linked one won't work for me. However, the list of alternatives shown at the bottom of that page lead to several with full headbands - will take a closer look later on.
 

RustySpoons

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Good advice, but I think it will be a loo.....ng time before I get anywhere near working on anything like that as my fingers are too clumsy by half, and astigmatism makes it difficult seeing clearly at short distances,

However, just dug out one of these Clarke "Swing Arm Magnifying Lamp" ("SAM 75") from the cupboard. It was bought years ago for SWMBO to help with close tasks but she never ever used it. Not a high degree of magnification but has quite a wide field of view for both eyes, and doubles as a general purpose desk lamp when you slide the cover over the lens.:)
Thanks

I already have a very old (non-LED!) headband-type magnifier but it's cumbersome. and so something new like that would be useful - unfortunately I wear glasses all the time and so the linked one won't work for me. However, the list of alternatives shown at the bottom of that page lead to several with full headbands - will take a closer look later on.
I wear glasses and it comes with a headband as well. The arms clip off and the elasticated strap clicks in.
I tried a few different types, but that worked the best. The "Visor" type one was useless and uncomfortable.
 

jeallen01

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I wear glasses and it comes with a headband as well. The arms clip off and the elasticated strap clicks in.
I tried a few different types, but that worked the best. The "Visor" type one was useless and uncomfortable.
It has a headband - Very interesting! Will take another look:Y
(and I agree with you about the problems caused by a visor)
 

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That's what she said...



I did have a lamp with a magnifying glass but doing SMD stuff your coordination will be way off and it will just get in the way.
I use this:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Magnifier-...r=8-3&keywords=magnifying+glasses+for+hobbies
Could never get on with loupes (is there a plural ?), but I do have the Kurtzy version with differing lenses in the link.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00BEVI...&pd_rd_r=0b4b6335-bc47-11e8-810b-b50b002d3296

It has its own issues with weight after a couple of hours and the continuous need to turn on and off the LED, plus the plastic in the lens is I believe perspex so they frost up after a short while because of finger contamination, probably owing to cyanoacrilate in the Q Bond I use for repairs.
 

jeallen01

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@Channel Hopper
Thanks for the info as it is useful - OTOH, somehow I don't see my using "that much" cyanoacryilate.
 

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Could never get on with loupes (is there a plural ?), but I do have the Kurtzy version with differing lenses in the link.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00BEVI...&pd_rd_r=0b4b6335-bc47-11e8-810b-b50b002d3296

It has its own issues with weight after a couple of hours and the continuous need to turn on and off the LED, plus the plastic in the lens is I believe perspex so they frost up after a short while because of finger contamination, probably owing to cyanoacrilate in the Q Bond I use for repairs.
That looks a better design to the "Visor" I had, it seems to use the same lenses as the Glasses/headband type I have, the Visor one I had used flip down lenses and was very heavy, it also made my head sweat and felt like a torture device.
 
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