Soldering surface mount components

[keith]

On Mon, 06 Dec 2004 13:46:33 +0000, Bob Masta wrote:

On Mon, 06 Dec 2004 17:05:55 +1300, Terry Given <my_name@ieee.org
wrote:


I think the problem with mechanics is that it initially is more
accessible than electronics. By that I mean it is easy to get a handle
on say torque - lean on a bar, whereas getting a handle on an electron
is a bit trickier - you cant see it, feel it etc. most of the
electronics people I meet have a fair understanding of second order
systems, stuff like that. but few so-called mechanical engineers do. I
have been fortunate enough to work with some brilliant mechanical
engineers, people who are every bit as clever and creative as the
smartest electronics guys I know (some guys I very briefly worked with
at Penn State were incredible), but most seem a bit thick. Hell, try
getting a sheet metal shop to fold up a box accurately.

Then when you really get into it, mechanics is a lot more complex than
(most) electronics - nothing is isotropic, or homogeneous, or perhaps
even well characterised. Everything is as non-linear as all hell, and
the measurements are a lot harder. I suspect all the clever mech
engineers go work on the really tricky stuff, and leave the rest of the
work to the metal-shop dropouts.


When I was in engineering school, everyone took pretty much
the same core curriculum for the first 2 years. Then you got
to select whether you were going to be an EE, ME, or IE
(Industrial Engineer). The administration tried to steer you
into one of these based on your grade average: EE if you got
good grades, ME if mediocre, else IE. (With my average, I
had to *fight* for an EE slot!)

WIWIES, people were accepted into the cirriculum they wanted, up front.
It *may* have been easier to get accepted into ME than EE, and ChemE than
ME, but the selection was on entrance. Once one was *in* one could
transfer, but that took grades. Transferring in from another college was
almost impossible (it did happen, though only a few percent a year).

Once one was an EE, one could further specialize into
power/RF/microwave/digital/analog/computers/whatever. There were
advantages to having a large class (~450 EEs, IIRC). Even in the first
two years EEs took quite different courses than the rest.

--
Keith

 

[Rich Grise]

On Tue, 28 Dec 2004 17:00:46 +0000, dd wrote:

2 further items to assist a good light source and a magnifierliquid flux
helps too

I once actually found a use for liquid rosin - I used it to make my
hands sticky so I could get a grip on some cable-bundling tape in a
piece of equipment that was all covered with hydraulic fluid.
All I've ever been able to accomplish with it in electronics is gum
up the board and make it harder to clean.

But I do recommend a good magnifier, and a good source of light.

Good Luck!
Rich

In message <jmfAd.86$By2.50@newsfe6-win.ntli.net>, Steven McGahey
steve.shirt.mcgahey@virgin.shorts.net> writes

On 27-Dec-2004, "Steven McGahey" <steve.shirt.mcgahey@virgin.shorts.net
(remove two items of clothing)> wrote:

Plus, I can't imagine using a soldering iron with such small
components and gaps.

I meant "desoldering iron", not "soldering iron".

- Steve.

 

[Tom MacIntyre]

On Tue, 28 Dec 2004 20:02:45 GMT, Rich Grise <richgrise@example.net>
wrote:

On Tue, 28 Dec 2004 17:00:46 +0000, dd wrote:

2 further items to assist a good light source and a magnifierliquid flux
helps too

I once actually found a use for liquid rosin - I used it to make my
hands sticky so I could get a grip on some cable-bundling tape in a
piece of equipment that was all covered with hydraulic fluid.

Hmmm...the solid stuff is put to good use by violinists, and baseball
pitchers use the powdered version. I wonder how much stickier liquid
rosin is than pine tar, or is it?

Tom

All I've ever been able to accomplish with it in electronics is gum
up the board and make it harder to clean.

But I do recommend a good magnifier, and a good source of light.

Good Luck!
Rich


In message <jmfAd.86$By2.50@newsfe6-win.ntli.net>, Steven McGahey
steve.shirt.mcgahey@virgin.shorts.net> writes

On 27-Dec-2004, "Steven McGahey" <steve.shirt.mcgahey@virgin.shorts.net
(remove two items of clothing)> wrote:

Plus, I can't imagine using a soldering iron with such small
components and gaps.

I meant "desoldering iron", not "soldering iron".

- Steve.

 

[Watson A.Name - \"Watt Su]

"Rich Grise" <richgrise@example.net> wrote in message
newsan.2004.12.28.20.07.37.121408@example.net...

On Tue, 28 Dec 2004 17:00:46 +0000, dd wrote:

2 further items to assist a good light source and a magnifierliquid
flux helps too

I once actually found a use for liquid rosin - I used it to make my
hands sticky so I could get a grip on some cable-bundling tape in a
piece of equipment that was all covered with hydraulic fluid.
All I've ever been able to accomplish with it in electronics is gum
up the board and make it harder to clean.

That's what the cleaning tank is for. However, I've read that the stuff
they use now is soluble in hot water so it's easier to clean.

But I do recommend a good magnifier, and a good source of light.

Good Luck!
Rich


In message <jmfAd.86$By2.50@newsfe6-win.ntli.net>, Steven McGahey
steve.shirt.mcgahey@virgin.shorts.net> writes

On 27-Dec-2004, "Steven McGahey"
steve.shirt.mcgahey@virgin.shorts.net
(remove two items of clothing)> wrote:

Plus, I can't imagine using a soldering iron with such small
components and gaps.

I meant "desoldering iron", not "soldering iron".

- Steve.

 

[Rich Grise]

On Tue, 28 Dec 2004 21:05:02 +0000, Tom MacIntyre wrote:

On Tue, 28 Dec 2004 20:02:45 GMT, Rich Grise <richgrise@example.net
wrote:

On Tue, 28 Dec 2004 17:00:46 +0000, dd wrote:

2 further items to assist a good light source and a magnifierliquid flux
helps too

I once actually found a use for liquid rosin - I used it to make my
hands sticky so I could get a grip on some cable-bundling tape in a
piece of equipment that was all covered with hydraulic fluid.

Hmmm...the solid stuff is put to good use by violinists, and baseball
pitchers use the powdered version. I wonder how much stickier liquid
rosin is than pine tar, or is it?

It's not as tacky-gluey sticky, it's more like dry traction; you
can lift your hand away without ripping your skin off. ;-)

Cheers!
Rich