Need surface mount project

[Ken]

I am about to undertake a fairly advanced ham radio project that uses
SMT rather extensively, including several 10mm X 10 mm IC's with 1mm
lead spacing. This would be my first foray into SMT.

Before I screw that up, I would like to try my hand at screwing up
some simpler SMT kits.

Can someone recommend a good starter kit?

I looked at the Ramsey and Rainbow SMT kits, but they look too simple.
Also, they are expensive and useless.

There was a Norcal project for a mini XCVR called the SMK-1, but that
sold out long ago. Something on that level would be good.



Ken
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[Rich Grise]

Get a dead cell phone or something that somebody's tossed, and unsolder
the SMD parts and solder them back in again, until you get it right.

Cheers!
Rich

"Ken" <cprstn54zz@att.net> wrote in message
news:stsq70tt0lmpn1b4jqd0saiabefmup4kdt@4ax.com...

I am about to undertake a fairly advanced ham radio project that uses
SMT rather extensively, including several 10mm X 10 mm IC's with 1mm
lead spacing. This would be my first foray into SMT.

Before I screw that up, I would like to try my hand at screwing up
some simpler SMT kits.

Can someone recommend a good starter kit?

I looked at the Ramsey and Rainbow SMT kits, but they look too simple.
Also, they are expensive and useless.

There was a Norcal project for a mini XCVR called the SMK-1, but that
sold out long ago. Something on that level would be good.



Ken
(to reply via email
remove "zz" from address)

 

[michael turner]

On Thu, 15 Apr 2004 00:19:20 +0000, Rich Grise wrote:

Get a dead cell phone or something that somebody's tossed, and unsolder
the SMD parts and solder them back in again, until you get it right.

Yup I'd certainly concur with that, anything will do...dead CD walkmans,
old PC motherboards and cards, old game-consoles, etc.

Definately not worth spending good money on a proper SMT kit, just to
experiment and cock it up.

"Ken" <cprstn54zz@att.net> wrote in message
news:stsq70tt0lmpn1b4jqd0saiabefmup4kdt@4ax.com...
I am about to undertake a fairly advanced ham radio project that uses
SMT rather extensively, including several 10mm X 10 mm IC's with 1mm
lead spacing. This would be my first foray into SMT.

Before I screw that up, I would like to try my hand at screwing up
some simpler SMT kits.

Can someone recommend a good starter kit?

I looked at the Ramsey and Rainbow SMT kits, but they look too simple.
Also, they are expensive and useless.

There was a Norcal project for a mini XCVR called the SMK-1, but that
sold out long ago. Something on that level would be good.



Ken
(to reply via email
remove "zz" from address)

--
Michael Turner
Email (ROT13)
zvxr.gheare1963@ivetva.arg

 

[Ken]

On Thu, 15 Apr 2004 00:19:20 GMT, "Rich Grise" <null@example.net>
wrote:

Get a dead cell phone or something that somebody's tossed, and unsolder
the SMD parts and solder them back in again, until you get it right.

I guess you are thinking I was going to do this with hot air. No. I
had intended to use a soldering iron with a 0.3mm tip. There is no
way I can unsolder an IC with a soldering iron without destroying it.

Assuming you think that hot air is the way to go, can you recommend an
inexpensive tool that will do OK in light usage?

Ken
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remove "zz" from address)

 

[Ken]

On Thu, 15 Apr 2004 00:19:20 GMT, "Rich Grise" <null@example.net>
wrote:

Get a dead cell phone or something that somebody's tossed, and unsolder
the SMD parts and solder them back in again, until you get it right.

Are the butane soldering/desoldering kits any good? See, e.g.:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=51162&item=3473784095&rd=1


Ken
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remove "zz" from address)

 

[John Miller]

Ken wrote:

Assuming you think that hot air is the way to go, can you recommend an
inexpensive tool that will do OK in light usage?

Instead of hot air, a toaster oven will work fine for desoldering for
purposes of practice.

Be careful.

--
John Miller
Email address: domain, n4vu.com; username, jsm

"An innovation a day keeps the monopolist away"

- Alan Cox when releasing linux-2.4.1ac19

 

[Rich Grise]

"Ken" <cprstn54zz@att.net> wrote in message
news:neus70tqvpqr3pjkuir81llu1clsik9qvf@4ax.com...

On Thu, 15 Apr 2004 00:19:20 GMT, "Rich Grise" <null@example.net
wrote:
Get a dead cell phone or something that somebody's tossed, and unsolder
the SMD parts and solder them back in again, until you get it right.

I guess you are thinking I was going to do this with hot air. No. I
had intended to use a soldering iron with a 0.3mm tip. There is no
way I can unsolder an IC with a soldering iron without destroying it.

Well, maybe not, until you learn how. flat packs can be kind of a
challenge, but they're certainly doable, with the right tools and
maybe a little practice. I've even unsoldered thru-hole DIPs, although
if you don't need to save the chip, it's a lot easier to clip all the
legs and unsolder them individually.

Assuming you think that hot air is the way to go, can you recommend an
inexpensive tool that will do OK in light usage?

Assuming hot air is what you want to use, you could probably get a suitable
heat gun at any electronics shop or even a hobby shop. (they use them to
shrink the skins on model airplaines, I believe.)

Cheers!
Rich