abechap024
Well-known member
Good Stuff. I'm going to keep this in the back of my mind when I get my SMD setup one of these days...
Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for sharing!
Interest in DIY SMD Tools?
- Thread starter Rochey
- Start date
Help Support GroupDIY Audio Forum:
this is starting to feel like a confessional!
Forgive me father, for I have worked a little more on this project.
system now works quite well. sorry for the bad picture, my bberry sucks, and it's all i had with me in a jam to take a picture.
Hopefully you can see the 3 solenoid valves, covering pressurized air, vacuum and atmosphere. This is controlled by an expat audio 3 button controller board, where teh switches have been replaced with pin headers.
One switch has been replaced by an out of picture footpedal/switch. The one I got was $8 on ebay, designed for tattoo machines. works just fine
An extra daughtercard has the transistors to switch the 12V into the solenoid valves.
Everything works quite well, both solder dispense and vacuum are working, but for some reason, the vacuum really isnt quite as good as it used to be. (when it was a manual valve - not electromechanical)
Anyway, almost there now
more on the solder paste etc tommorrow.
till then
ciao for now.
Forgive me father, for I have worked a little more on this project.
system now works quite well. sorry for the bad picture, my bberry sucks, and it's all i had with me in a jam to take a picture.
Hopefully you can see the 3 solenoid valves, covering pressurized air, vacuum and atmosphere. This is controlled by an expat audio 3 button controller board, where teh switches have been replaced with pin headers.
One switch has been replaced by an out of picture footpedal/switch. The one I got was $8 on ebay, designed for tattoo machines. works just fine
An extra daughtercard has the transistors to switch the 12V into the solenoid valves.
Everything works quite well, both solder dispense and vacuum are working, but for some reason, the vacuum really isnt quite as good as it used to be. (when it was a manual valve - not electromechanical)
Anyway, almost there now
more on the solder paste etc tommorrow.
till then
ciao for now.
Attachments
dissonantstring
Well-known member
very nice rochey! looking like some kind bio-med device with all the tubing and electro-mechanical parts.
Short Solder paste update.
I ordered solder paste from dealextreme - $4 for http://www.dealextreme.com/p/lodestar-soldering-paste-50g-4711
is an AWSOME price and a good product. In fact, I ordered 4 of them.
Took 3 weeks for delivery with free shipping. I may start ordering monthly - it's so cheap, I may as well.
It's pretty dense stuff, and as it's mailed in a bag, it's not really temperature controlled (the ways the pro's like it).
I put some directly into a syringe, but it was so thick that even with 40PSI, my air connections failed before it would dispense.
I mixed in a little flux (http://www.dealextreme.com/p/amt-amtech-professional-soldering-flux-10ml-20583) $4.
And this time, it dispensed beautifully.
The dispense is actually awesome. The single shot dispenser opens the pressure valve, closes it, and opens the "atmosphere" valve all in the space of about 0.25 seconds. I can control the amount that is dispensed by varying the air pressure on my air compressor.
I can put paste on a small 2"x2" board that has about a dozen 0805's and a TSSOP14 in less than 20 seconds.
More pictures/video's soon.
I ordered solder paste from dealextreme - $4 for http://www.dealextreme.com/p/lodestar-soldering-paste-50g-4711
is an AWSOME price and a good product. In fact, I ordered 4 of them.
Took 3 weeks for delivery with free shipping. I may start ordering monthly - it's so cheap, I may as well.
It's pretty dense stuff, and as it's mailed in a bag, it's not really temperature controlled (the ways the pro's like it).
I put some directly into a syringe, but it was so thick that even with 40PSI, my air connections failed before it would dispense.
I mixed in a little flux (http://www.dealextreme.com/p/amt-amtech-professional-soldering-flux-10ml-20583) $4.
And this time, it dispensed beautifully.
The dispense is actually awesome. The single shot dispenser opens the pressure valve, closes it, and opens the "atmosphere" valve all in the space of about 0.25 seconds. I can control the amount that is dispensed by varying the air pressure on my air compressor.
I can put paste on a small 2"x2" board that has about a dozen 0805's and a TSSOP14 in less than 20 seconds.
More pictures/video's soon.
Project is complete, and in an makedo enclosure.
software is working beautifully. I will post video's soon, but in the mean time post "howto's" in this thread.
Now that the kinks are worked out - I suspect that the whole thing can be made for about $200, including the purchase of the air compressor from your local hardware store (in my case, harbor freight).
Here's the shopping list so far:
software is working beautifully. I will post video's soon, but in the mean time post "howto's" in this thread.
Now that the kinks are worked out - I suspect that the whole thing can be made for about $200, including the purchase of the air compressor from your local hardware store (in my case, harbor freight).
Here's the shopping list so far:
Quantity | Description | Link | Estimated Cost |
| 1 | Expat Audio 3 Button Controller | http://www.expataudio.com/expatshop/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=6 | 5 |
| 1 | Expat Audio PNP Preprogrammed IC | TBD | 5 |
| 1 | Components (Except switches) for the Expat Audio 3 switch controller | TBD | 5 |
| 1 | 6.35mm Female Socket | Mouser Part Number: 550-10021 | $0.62 |
| 1 | Rocker Switch (select between Vacuum and Pressurized air) | Mouser Part Number: 506-PRASA1-16F-BB0CW | $0.72 |
| 1 | Perfboard (Create the interface between the Controller and the Solenoid Valves) | Radioshack? | $1 |
| 1 | Normally Open Footpedal | http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=foot+pedal+tattoo | $7 |
| 1 | Aquarium Pump | http://www.walmart.com/ip/Aqua-Culture-20-60-Gallon-Double-Outlet-Aquarium-Air-Pump-1-ct/10532634 | $10 |
| 3 | 12VDC Solenoid Valve | http://cgi.ebay.com/1-4-Electric-Solenoid-Valve-12-volt-Air-Water-BBTF-/290578532901 | $45 |
| 1 | 12VDC power supply | Ebay | $10 |
| 1 | 20ft Aquarium Tubeing (3/32" Internal Diameter) | Walmart | $3 |
| 3 | Aquarium Tubing T junctions | Walmart | $4 |
| 6 | 1/4" NPT to 1/16" Barb Plumbing Connectors | Lowes / Home Depot / B&Q | $15 |
| 1 | Box of 3CC/ML Syringes with Luer Lock | Ebay | $10 |
| 10 | Set of Stainless Steel Dispensing Needles with Luer Lock - #18 Guage | SRA Solder (http://sra-solder.com/product.php/6039/0) or ebay | $2 |
| 10 | Set of Plastic Free Flow Tapered Dispensing Tips with Luer Lock - #20 Guage | SRA Solder (http://sra-solder.com/product.php/6034/118) or ebay | $2 |
| 1 | Air Compressor (Oiless) | Harbor Freight - http://www.harborfreight.com/air-tools/oilless-compressors/1-3-hp-3-gallon-100-psi-oilless-air-compressor-97080.html | $69 |
| min 1 | Solder Paste | Deal Extreme - http://www.dealextreme.com/p/lodestar-soldering-paste-50g-4711 | $4 |
| 1 | Solder Flux to mix with solder paste | Deal Extreme - http://www.dealextreme.com/p/amt-amtech-professional-soldering-flux-10ml-20583 | $4 |
guitarguy12387
Well-known member
In the spirit of DIY for DIY...
http://www.edaboard.com/thread222092.html
http://www.edaboard.com/thread222092.html
Anyone interested in a single pre-made-and-programmed board?
All you'd need to add are valve's, pipeing and vacuum/compressed air sources.
Cheers
/R
All you'd need to add are valve's, pipeing and vacuum/compressed air sources.
Cheers
/R
Rochey said:
Well i would be interested, why not... Not in use for now, but when there, it will be handy
Thanks
I recieved an interesting PM, and thought I'd answer the question here on the forum.
I made my first SMD board this week using my DIY dispenser.
here are my thoughts:
It's more expensive than what you think.
You'll need the dispenser AND an air compressor. The air compressor here in Texas was another $80 or so. You'll also spend another $20 on various tubing and connectors.
The dispensers that I've seen on ebay from china with free shipping are about $200 each. Plus another $100 in accessories etc, the total will be $300 easily.
On my air compressor, there is a air pressure display, and a regulator already available. My unit didn't require a duplicate of this function.
However, once you have a working system, it's AMAZING how quickly you can dispense paste on a board. I was able to do about 30 components per minute with my setup.
The vacuum pen modification is when things start to get really cool. I'm not sure if the commercial dispensers really make it easy to switch to a vacuum pen mode, but in my setup, a simple flick of the switch, and the system provides vacuum. Using this system, along with a display of where each component goes on the PCB, I was able to 24 components (2 values... 12x 330Ohm resistors and 12x 0.1uF caps) in less than 3 minutes. that was a first time attempt. very cool.
There are a few things to keep in mind.
1 - once parts are down, I found that using my hot air reflow station (Atten 858D+) caused some of the resistors to "Tombstone".
.
My way of dealing with this is to do the reflow (melting of the solder paste after components are placed) using an electric skillet (electric frying pan). $20 at Target.
By warming the PCB up, and ensuring that there's no other forces on the parts (such as blowing hot air) the parts reflowed nicely. If you haven't seen SMD resistors self align on reflow, it really is something amazing to see. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5lksMvmqQc
(love that video...)
Here are the basic tools you'll need to do SMD at home. (if I haven't made this list yet).
1 - Hot Air Tool (~$80)
2 - Good Solder Station (I have a Hakko 936... there are loads of decent copies out there)
3 - An Electric Skillet (~$20)
4 - Tweezers ($3)
5 - Magnifying glass ($10?)
For Bonus points with special Jedi status
1 - Solder Paste dispenser (including air compressor) ($200 DIY, $300minimum Commercial)
2 - Skillet ($20)
3 - Vacuum Pen ($15 DIY)
I'll put up a short video soon (let me get to this weekend, and hope my wife doesn't delivery out baby early -- 2 more weeks to go!)
Cheers
/R
I made my first SMD board this week using my DIY dispenser.
here are my thoughts:
It's more expensive than what you think.
You'll need the dispenser AND an air compressor. The air compressor here in Texas was another $80 or so. You'll also spend another $20 on various tubing and connectors.
The dispensers that I've seen on ebay from china with free shipping are about $200 each. Plus another $100 in accessories etc, the total will be $300 easily.
On my air compressor, there is a air pressure display, and a regulator already available. My unit didn't require a duplicate of this function.
However, once you have a working system, it's AMAZING how quickly you can dispense paste on a board. I was able to do about 30 components per minute with my setup.
The vacuum pen modification is when things start to get really cool. I'm not sure if the commercial dispensers really make it easy to switch to a vacuum pen mode, but in my setup, a simple flick of the switch, and the system provides vacuum. Using this system, along with a display of where each component goes on the PCB, I was able to 24 components (2 values... 12x 330Ohm resistors and 12x 0.1uF caps) in less than 3 minutes. that was a first time attempt. very cool.
There are a few things to keep in mind.
1 - once parts are down, I found that using my hot air reflow station (Atten 858D+) caused some of the resistors to "Tombstone".
My way of dealing with this is to do the reflow (melting of the solder paste after components are placed) using an electric skillet (electric frying pan). $20 at Target.
By warming the PCB up, and ensuring that there's no other forces on the parts (such as blowing hot air) the parts reflowed nicely. If you haven't seen SMD resistors self align on reflow, it really is something amazing to see. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5lksMvmqQc
(love that video...)
Here are the basic tools you'll need to do SMD at home. (if I haven't made this list yet).
1 - Hot Air Tool (~$80)
2 - Good Solder Station (I have a Hakko 936... there are loads of decent copies out there)
3 - An Electric Skillet (~$20)
4 - Tweezers ($3)
5 - Magnifying glass ($10?)
For Bonus points with special Jedi status
1 - Solder Paste dispenser (including air compressor) ($200 DIY, $300minimum Commercial)
2 - Skillet ($20)
3 - Vacuum Pen ($15 DIY)
I'll put up a short video soon (let me get to this weekend, and hope my wife doesn't delivery out baby early -- 2 more weeks to go!)
Cheers
/R
Good afternoon folks,
just a short update for those of you who might be interested,
I'll have a short run of fully assembled and programmed circuit boards designed for running the tools available in the next week or so.
The board will have the microprocessor and driver circuitry all onboard... no other components required other than:
3x 12V Solenoid Valves (about $15 each on ebay)
12VDC 1A Power Supply
1/4" plastic piping & connectors (1/4" NPT)
Simple to hack Aquarium pump.
compressed air source.
Any interest? It'll be very easy to assemble (solder the wires from the valves to the right place, solder the switch to the right place, and your done)
just a short update for those of you who might be interested,
I'll have a short run of fully assembled and programmed circuit boards designed for running the tools available in the next week or so.
The board will have the microprocessor and driver circuitry all onboard... no other components required other than:
3x 12V Solenoid Valves (about $15 each on ebay)
12VDC 1A Power Supply
1/4" plastic piping & connectors (1/4" NPT)
Simple to hack Aquarium pump.
compressed air source.
Any interest? It'll be very easy to assemble (solder the wires from the valves to the right place, solder the switch to the right place, and your done)
