Larger (than 50x50mm) reflow hotplates?

[Svgeesus]

What is out there for 100 x 100mm or larger reflow hotplates, without breaking the bank or rolling my own with hardware-shop hotplates and aftermarket/DIY  controllers? Ideally something I can just buy, to avoid the yak-shaving recursion of projects that need projects that need projects to be built first.

I do have an MHP50, and it works fine for smaller boards, but even then the outer 10mm don't heat to the same temperature as the center. I do like the one-button reflow profile, rather than sitting there with an IR thermal probe and a stopwatch to tweak the temperature manually.

I don't have the space for a toaster-oven style enclosed unit, so smaller size is preferable.

[thm_w]

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/manufacture/recommendations-for-prototyping-reflow-oven/
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/manufacture/reflow-oven-for-small-production/
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/recommendation-for-smd-hot-plate/ - without profile
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/manufacture/has-anyone-tried-any-of-these-china-pcb-preheaters/  - without profile
https://www.atten.com/product/st-7800 - PC required for profiles I think

The T-962 style ovens are not very big, 30x30x17cm.
You haven't mentioned any budget.

[Svgeesus]

Thanks for the links! I am looking for something for individual hobbyist use, not for batches or for even small-scale production. I also don't have a machine shop nor the skills to use one, so upgrading a death trap is an unattractive proposition.

The Atten ST-7500 looks maybe interesting in terms of size and price, but it claims to be a preheater only.
https://eleshop.eu/atten-st-7500-preheater.html

I'm surprised there is so little available at this sort of size and $500-ish price point.

[thm_w]

The Atten ST-7500 looks maybe interesting in terms of size and price, but it claims to be a preheater only.
https://eleshop.eu/atten-st-7500-preheater.html

Whether its called a preheater or not doesn't matter if it reaches the temperature you want.
I use the gordak/yihua 853 for board reflow, but I usually have to set the temperature twice, which you don't want.

There are some cheap controllers that could do it for you https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003659363220.html

I'm surprised there is so little available at this sort of size and $500-ish price point.

Prior to the MHP50, there weren't really any options with profiles, everything was DIY, and if you wanted something premade you'd get a small oven like the T962, as that allows double sided load, more consistent results, and easier venting.

Its definitely doable for $500, but I don't know if the market exists. Maybe something will come out in the next few years.

[MathWizard]

I waste money on lots of stuff, but so far I haven't bought any good hotair stations, or hotplates and ovens.

I have a toaster oven that I've used for pre-heating. I need to make some controller circuits for it.

I also have a little coffee-maker with a hotplate, but it has a raised rim. But one of these days, I'll have to try it on something and make a controller circuit.

Same for a 500W halogen lamp I have, I've seen people reflow stuff and remove huge IC's with them, so with some real temperature regulation, that could be useful too.

[2N3055]

In addition to mentioned 7500 that is IR, there is also this:

https://eleshop.eu/soldering/preheaters/atten-st-7800-hotplate.html

This is aluminium hotplate. They share software.

Judging by the manual, it actually have "sort of profile", where you have cycle that you start and it has 2 temperature points and dwell time. It is not really clear how it works exactly Also they support external thermocouple.

[Psi]

Make sure you consider the height if you want to use the microscope with a PCB on the hotplate.

[2N3055]

Make sure you consider the height if you want to use the microscope with a PCB on the hotplate.

This is exactly why these 2 Attens caught my attention.  They are 73mm high.

[Svgeesus]

On the Atten website, the previous ST-7800 link is 404
  https://www.atten.com/product/st-7800

and there is a new ST-7700 which only goes to 250°C, as opposed to 350°C for the ST-7800
  https://www.atten.com/products/cid-81.html
  https://www.atten.com/products-detail/id-53.html

[tszaboo]

Make sure you consider the height if you want to use the microscope with a PCB on the hotplate.

That's sounds like a guide on how to get second degree burns.
Do you often use your hotplate like that?

[Svgeesus]

Personally I use a microscope for hand soldering (through hole or SMD), and for placing SMD components for reflow, and for inspection. Not to watch the solder melt  although I know some people use tweezers for any repositioning or un-tombstoning during reflow.

[Psi]

Make sure you consider the height if you want to use the microscope with a PCB on the hotplate.

That's sounds like a guide on how to get second degree burns.
Do you often use your hotplate like that?

my 300x300mm hotplate not so much, but my 50x50mm quite often.
You don't need to have the bed that hot to really help with reflow/repair. 60C for example really helps.
But i've worked on boards at 125C on the hot plate without burning myself before, its not that hard to avoid the hot area

[BennoG]

I have this one it will go up to 350C
https://nl.aliexpress.com/item/1005005377738031.html

But I have to admit that 99% of the time I use the 50x50 mm hotplate.

[Psi]

I wonder if there's a market for a thin PCB mat for under microscope which has an XY array of load resistors embedded in it, along with XY array of pressure sensors.

You press a button and then push your PCB into the matt so it can sense the location of the PCB and then it preheats only that area under the PCB.
 

Probably a bit of a gimmick, but seems kinda cool for working on PCBs under microscope on a large matt without burning yourself.
Probably best for just preheating i don't think you'd ever make the concept work for reflow.

Stabbing the mat with stuff and breaking the connections would be an issue.

[mikeselectricstuff]

There's also this style of somewhat dubious mains voltage PTC plates

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005583116330.html