Stuffing boards with pulled QFP chips

[Chuck Guzis]

On 04/01/2017 07:41 PM, John Wilson via cctalk wrote:

> - I do QFPs (0.5mm and 0.4mm) using a cheap eBay binocular
> microscope, Ameritronics solder paste, and a toaster oven controlled
> by an Arduino with a homemade shield on it (with a MAX6675 for a
> K-type Sparkfun thermocouple which I position touching the PCB
> somewhere, START and RESET buttons, a header for LCD status display,
> and terminals for an SSR which turns the toaster oven on/off).  It's
> *fantastic*.  Push the START button and everything's done when you
> come back (it follows the usual temp profile automatically).  I often
> have to do some soder-wicking afterward (maybe I should be using
> thinner stencils, and I always overdo it when I use a syringe
> directly), but the chip stays aligned as the paste melts and the 
> success rate has been excellent.  And solder bridges are
> self-fixing.


That's interesting, John.  I've heard about the toaster oven thing for
several years now, but never tried it.

What do you do about boards with SMT components on *both* sides?  I
can't see how it would work with a toaster oven.

--Chuck