Hand soldering 0201

[Rouqueen]

Hi all

In a near future, we will design board with 0201 components. My main
concern is hand soldering as we dont want to subcontract for our
prototype assembly.

I have just finished a 0402 assembly (by hand) and even with the
equipment we have (very small solder tips), it was not a walk in a
park but it was ok. Our board is pretty dense and sometimes solder
tips touch another component while soldering another

What do you use for equipment (soldering iron, solder paste or
wire,....)?

thank you

Caroline

 

[Eeyore]

Hi all

In a near future, we will design board with 0201 components.

Do make sure you don't sneeze when placing them !

Graham

 

[Rouqueen]

Do make sure you don't sneeze when placing them !

Graham

Indeed

 

[Gary Reichlinger]

Hi all

In a near future, we will design board with 0201 components. My main
concern is hand soldering as we dont want to subcontract for our
prototype assembly.

You might look into getting a Zephertronics unit:

http://www.zeph.com/

Also, the Metcal hoof tips work fairly well for small surface mount
parts. Instead of directly soldering each pin, you use the tip to
move a small volume of molten solder around that wicks to the pads.

 

[DJ Delorie]

In a near future, we will design board with 0201 components. My main
concern is hand soldering as we dont want to subcontract for our
prototype assembly.

What do you use for equipment (soldering iron, solder paste or
wire,....)?

Been there
http://www.delorie.com/pcb/smd-challenge/
http://www.delorie.com/pcb/first.html

The first couple of times around, I used a metcal iron with a 20 mil
tip, but the wire solder kept balling up instead of wetting the parts.
Now, what I do is use paste.

Two options for putting the paste down:

1. Use a stencil. You can make your own (brass), or have one made
(mylar, stainless)

2. Use a syringe applicator and dab it down by hand.

Two options for reflowing the paste:

1. Use your iron. A fine tip anywhere near the paste will reflow the
paste, or you can use a hot air pencil or talon.

2. Use a hotplate. http://www.delorie.com/pcb/hotplate/ and see the
tutorials at sparkfun.com.

With the iron, the tricky bit is holding the part in place while you
heat it. Either a sharpened toothpick or fine placement tweezers will
do, but don't trust the iron to not pick the part up once the solder
melts.