4 Nov
2012
4 Nov
'12
6:19 p.m.
On Nov 4, 2012, at 5:55 AM, Philip Pemberton <classiccmp at philpem.me.uk> wrote:
On 02/11/12 00:10, Jochen Kunz wrote:
I have a SP200. What cartridges do you suggest for through-hole and SMT soldering? I think
the cartridges you mention above must be for a more expensive Metcal station.
Any special recommendations for cartridge
geometries?
As a start I think I'll get a 1 mm and a 2.5 mm chisel cartridge for
through hole and biger stuff. For SMT touch up perhaps a 0.4 mm conical.
Here's what I have --
SFP-CH50 - 5mm chisel. Used for power connector and heatsink tabs.
SFP-CH25 - 2.5mm chisel. Standard tip for through-hole (I also have a
2mm chisel, the SFP-CH20, which I use for 0805 and 0603 SMDs)
SFP-DRH35 - 3.5mm drag-hoof / half-round (what PACE call a MiniWave
tip). Used for soldering SMD ICs, especially QFPs using "drag soldering"
techniques.
I also have the 0.4mm Conical (CN04) and Long Reach Conical (CNL04) but
almost never use them - soldering single SMD pins with them is, quite
honestly, an exercise in masochism and time-wasting. What they *are*
good for is repairing thin PCB tracks! They have just enough thermal
capacity to melt the solder at the tip of a piece of 40AWG wirewrap wire
without melting the other end too. A 1mm chisel tip would probably work
just as well.
As far as tip plating goes, my "standard" lead free solder eats Antex
tips for dinner - and that's the standard 505-flux Multicore stuff.
Swapped to Metcal, haven't had to change a tip out since.
--
Phil.
classiccmp at philpem.me.uk
http://www.philpem.me.uk/