+gnusto Posted May 20, 2021 Share Posted May 20, 2021 Behold! These Pace soldering videos are both amusing (with their retro, 1970's earnest presentation) and highly informative. Really pretty much cover everything - certainly everything you would need to know for work on an 8-bit of whatever type. You can skip over the intro minutes in the first one, but don't skip it entirely, as it goes right into dishing out facts still relevant today on mix ratios, melting temps, use of flux, etc. These used to be part of a course that cost substantial money - a very long time ago. It's worth noting that Pace is still in the business and makes a variety of high quality soldering stations. 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atarialoha Posted May 20, 2021 Share Posted May 20, 2021 Oh yeah, I watched them before. They are super good. Just shows old stuff can be better than new stuff! In fact there are many science videos made on film, decades ago, which you can find on YouTube. They explain certain concepts better than the videos made in 4K nowadays. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atarialoha Posted May 20, 2021 Share Posted May 20, 2021 By the way, those exact videos actually have Japanese and Chinese versions! So you can see how invaluable they have been to electronics industries around the world. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidMil Posted May 23, 2021 Share Posted May 23, 2021 I should make a video about soldering surface mount components. A trick I picked up while working for Compaq in one of the manufacturing buildings (CCM4). I NEVER have any solder bridges when soldering multi legged components. It involves a LOT of liquid flux and a lot of 99% Isopropyl Alcohol. If anyone is interested I'll explain it here (or in another thread if anyone wants). DavidMil 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atarialoha Posted May 23, 2021 Share Posted May 23, 2021 1 minute ago, DavidMil said: I should make a video about soldering surface mount components. A trick I picked up while working for Compaq in one of the manufacturing buildings (CCM4). I NEVER have any solder bridges when soldering multi legged components. It involves a LOT of liquid flux and a lot of 99% Isopropyl Alcohol. If anyone is interested I'll explain it here (or in another thread if anyone wants). DavidMil Please explain it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillC Posted May 23, 2021 Share Posted May 23, 2021 1 hour ago, DavidMil said: I should make a video about soldering surface mount components. A trick I picked up while working for Compaq in one of the manufacturing buildings (CCM4). I NEVER have any solder bridges when soldering multi legged components. It involves a LOT of liquid flux and a lot of 99% Isopropyl Alcohol. If anyone is interested I'll explain it here (or in another thread if anyone wants). DavidMil Sounds a lot like the method Louis Rossman uses when repairing Apple Macbooks, though I haven't seen him use IPA, he has a channel on youtube. https://www.youtube.com/user/rossmanngroup Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mclaneinc Posted May 23, 2021 Share Posted May 23, 2021 Yes please David...For what little SMD work I've done I've used a lot of flux but a tutorial from a pro would be excellent.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidMil Posted May 24, 2021 Share Posted May 24, 2021 17 hours ago, Mclaneinc said: Yes please David...For what little SMD work I've done I've used a lot of flux but a tutorial from a pro would be excellent.. As a general rule of thumb I don't usually care for people how like to think of themselves as experts; but 'pro' I can handle. Let me see what I can put together... David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atarialoha Posted May 24, 2021 Share Posted May 24, 2021 Also recommendations for the liquid flux brand would be good. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mclaneinc Posted May 24, 2021 Share Posted May 24, 2021 6 hours ago, DavidMil said: As a general rule of thumb I don't usually care for people how like to think of themselves as experts; but 'pro' I can handle. Let me see what I can put together... David I know what you mean but if you know the work well then I want to learn from that person, that's why I watch the repair video's from people like FJC on here and others, there's always a technique that can be used. I'd never seen the drag soldering method for SMD as most of the very basic work I'd done was before the era of SMD so it looked like a nightmare to work on those small scales. After seeing the various video's out there I tried it and had good results but there's always more room for proper technique.. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidMil Posted May 25, 2021 Share Posted May 25, 2021 I tried using my cheap little USB camera to get close enough to see the .7mm wide legs with .5mm spacing on a ULN2003A surface mount IC. I had to get the lens of the camera so close to the IC that there was no room for my soldering iron! Anyway I've ordered one of those $50 USB digital microscopes. Should be here by Sunday. I'll get a good video after that! About the flux... You need a liquid flux that is made specifically for electronics or communications. I myself prefer an alcohol based flux. NEVER use a rosin based flux unless you are sure you can get it all off, or in a few weeks to a few months strange things will start happening to your electrical pulses. It's best to avoid rosin flux all together for electronic repairs! And lastly, I've never worked with water based fluxes, but some people swear by them. What ever you get, don't try to use a brush on your board. I'm a diabetic and after they went to the new flex pens, I had about 200 .5cc syringes left over that I now use to draw flux from the 4oz bottle and drip onto the circuit board. You will see that in the video. One more thing... I have seen in several soldering videos, the person doing the video will use the soldering iron to smear the flux or solder around the pad. PLEASE DON"T DO THIS!!! That is the best way to lift a pad that I know of ( well, besides pressing down on the pad to transfer heat to the pad from the soldering iron). Don't be afraid to cover the pad in flux, but it's best to do that after the IC has been placed on the board. Again, you'll see this in the video. DavidMil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atarialoha Posted May 25, 2021 Share Posted May 25, 2021 (edited) Hi David, You say "it's best to avoid rosin flux all together for electronic repairs" but all the solder wire I have has rosin flux core. Is this totally not appropriate for SMD? I have mostly 63/37 solder, in various diameters. Some 60/40. All have rosin core. Edited May 25, 2021 by atarialoha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mclaneinc Posted May 25, 2021 Share Posted May 25, 2021 (edited) I think David means trying to not use any rosin liquid flux on top of that which is in the multi core solder? Edited May 25, 2021 by Mclaneinc 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidMil Posted May 31, 2021 Share Posted May 31, 2021 My digital microscope came yesterday. I can't figure out how to upload videos to the PC yet, (the docs are written by a very poor Chinese translator) and don't make a lot of sense! Plus the docs are missing two pages (page numbering goes from page 4 to page 7). I did manage to get it up and running and wanted to show it off a little. On the red circuit board below is the actual size IC (right at a centimeter long) and the blown up pic at the top. The chip is a Darlington Array (ULN2003A) with Gull Wing legs. This is the chip I'll use for the demo. DavidMil 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atarialoha Posted May 31, 2021 Share Posted May 31, 2021 What is the model # & brand of this made in China microscope? Maybe we can help decrypt the cryptic language somehow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atarialoha Posted May 31, 2021 Share Posted May 31, 2021 I see LINKMICRO as the brand? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atarialoha Posted May 31, 2021 Share Posted May 31, 2021 Model 207? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atarialoha Posted May 31, 2021 Share Posted May 31, 2021 They seem to have a Japanese presence but probably the inside electronics and lenses are the same. Better looking exterior. I was thinking maybe the Japanese instructions (if can be found) might be clearer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mazzspeed Posted May 31, 2021 Share Posted May 31, 2021 (edited) 5 hours ago, DavidMil said: My digital microscope came yesterday. I can't figure out how to upload videos to the PC yet, (the docs are written by a very poor Chinese translator) and don't make a lot of sense! Plus the docs are missing two pages (page numbering goes from page 4 to page 7). I did manage to get it up and running and wanted to show it off a little. On the red circuit board below is the actual size IC (right at a centimeter long) and the blown up pic at the top. The chip is a Darlington Array (ULN2003A) with Gull Wing legs. This is the chip I'll use for the demo. DavidMil I've got an illuminated magnifier, but that seems far better. I need one of those, my eyesight isn't improving as I get older. May I ask how much and where from? Edited May 31, 2021 by Mazzspeed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+selgus Posted May 31, 2021 Share Posted May 31, 2021 My experience has been these type of inexpensive digital microscopes seem good in theory, but the form factor doesn't work well with larger boards, the contrast of the images on the display are subpar, and the amount of room between the camera bottom and your work area are extremely tight. This is just my experience, so YMMV. I upgraded to a similar setup to what Louis Rossmann uses, which is more professional, and also more expensive.. but if your have the workbench space, works much better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mazzspeed Posted May 31, 2021 Share Posted May 31, 2021 (edited) 33 minutes ago, selgus said: My experience has been these type of inexpensive digital microscopes seem good in theory, but the form factor doesn't work well with larger boards, the contrast of the images on the display are subpar, and the amount of room between the camera bottom and your work area are extremely tight. This is just my experience, so YMMV. I upgraded to a similar setup to what Louis Rossmann uses, which is more professional, and also more expensive.. but if your have the workbench space, works much better. That is a valid point. I actually find clearance to be an issue regarding my standard illuminated magnifier, as getting the device in focus requires the lens to be close enough to the work that you struggle to squeeze your iron in there. The setup Louis Rossman uses is quite impressive, I'm almost afraid to ask how much? Edited May 31, 2021 by Mazzspeed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+selgus Posted May 31, 2021 Share Posted May 31, 2021 31 minutes ago, Mazzspeed said: The setup Louis Rossman uses is quite impressive, I'm almost afraid to ask how much? Louis setup with a vendor a few years back, to offer a similar setup (not the same exact AmScope that he uses), and was quite reasonable (shipped from China): I'll need to dig up the total costs.. https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32880372287.html?gps-id=pcStoreJustForYou&scm=1007.23125.137358.0&scm_id=1007.23125.137358.0&scm-url=1007.23125.137358.0&pvid=d0116749-e4aa-4134-a451-8e02f5f12384&spm=a2g0o.store_pc_home.smartJustForYou_6000407339303.0 Minsvision 1080P HDMI digital camera 7-45X trinocular stereo microscope LED adjustable light source phone repair US $299.00 Shipping: US $75.48 to United States via AliExpress Premium Shipping 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mazzspeed Posted May 31, 2021 Share Posted May 31, 2021 45 minutes ago, selgus said: Louis setup with a vendor a few years back, to offer a similar setup (not the same exact AmScope that he uses), and was quite reasonable (shipped from China): I'll need to dig up the total costs.. https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32880372287.html?gps-id=pcStoreJustForYou&scm=1007.23125.137358.0&scm_id=1007.23125.137358.0&scm-url=1007.23125.137358.0&pvid=d0116749-e4aa-4134-a451-8e02f5f12384&spm=a2g0o.store_pc_home.smartJustForYou_6000407339303.0 Minsvision 1080P HDMI digital camera 7-45X trinocular stereo microscope LED adjustable light source phone repair US $299.00 Shipping: US $75.48 to United States via AliExpress Premium Shipping Meh, that's not as bad as I thought and I can claim it on tax. I might have to look into one as this eyesight is becoming a hindrance. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidMil Posted May 31, 2021 Share Posted May 31, 2021 The one I ended up getting was a LM-208. It can focus as close as 1 inch and as distant as 5 inches. I also like the ability to twist it right or left 60 degrees and forward or back 45 degrees. I paid $144.00 through Amazon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atarialoha Posted May 31, 2021 Share Posted May 31, 2021 (edited) 6 hours ago, DavidMil said: The one I ended up getting was a LM-208. It can focus as close as 1 inch and as distant as 5 inches. I also like the ability to twist it right or left 60 degrees and forward or back 45 degrees. I paid $144.00 through Amazon. So, after quite a bit Google detective work, I found what looks like a VERY SIMILAR direct China no-name model; probably uses the same electronics/firmware: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32825792006.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.4a267fd2cqCZV0&algo_pvid=null&algo_expid=null&btsid=0b0a555316224921090282987eae0d&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_,searchweb201603_ and it says you can use the SD card for photo/video. Are you plugging it into the computer via USB? It might not transfer video that way, maybe just use the SD card and record on it? Edited May 31, 2021 by atarialoha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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