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Show Us Your Curve Tracer

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KungFuJosh:

--- Quote from: Cubdriver on November 19, 2021, 05:41:24 pm ---Haven't played too much with SMD stuff thus far, but do have a preheater, a hot air tool, and fine tips for my regular iron.  And yeah, the supply chain is a total clusterfuck.  Been dealing with it trying to get parts for work - it's crazy.  Stock expected six or more months down the road.  On things like Molex Connector housings.  WTF?   :palm:

-Pat

--- End quote ---

I recommend trying out some of the SMD practice kits on Amazon. I built a few before I attempted this build. I have a few more to build for practice/fun.

On my tracer PCB:
Here's one difficult one (only one of them obviously): https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/895-FT232RL
And there's two of these: https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/595-PGA113AIDGST

I use solder paste for both of those, but for some reason the PGA113s are trickier than the FT232RL for me. The pin pitch seems almost the same. Maybe it's cause there's two. lol There's a few other easier items, only basic SMD skill is really needed for.

I've had some luck going back and forth between Mouser, Arrow, and Digikey or Newark for supply stuff. But it's obviously gotten much worse.

Thanks,
Josh

Johnny10:
At least your not trying to remove SMD.
I find it very trying. Its a different world now. Parts that can fly!
I keep looking at the JCB NANO kit but big $$$$$$

KungFuJosh:

--- Quote from: Johnny10 on November 19, 2021, 08:23:38 pm ---At least your not trying to remove SMD.
I find it very trying. Its a different world now. Parts that can fly!
I keep looking at the JCB NANO kit but big $$$$$$

--- End quote ---

Removing SMD is much easier. I have one of those "fast chip" magic goo kits. SRA sent me this free with some other stuff once upon a time: https://www.amazon.com/Fast-Chip-Removal-Temperature-Alloy/dp/B015RV4NBS

It takes seconds to remove annoying SMD stuff with that. I really think Magic Goo would be a better product name. I suppose it would be harder if the pins aren't visible though.

rsjsouza:

--- Quote from: KungFuJosh on November 19, 2021, 07:42:23 pm ---
--- Quote from: Cubdriver on November 19, 2021, 05:41:24 pm ---Haven't played too much with SMD stuff thus far, but do have a preheater, a hot air tool, and fine tips for my regular iron.  And yeah, the supply chain is a total clusterfuck.  Been dealing with it trying to get parts for work - it's crazy.  Stock expected six or more months down the road.  On things like Molex Connector housings.  WTF?   :palm:

-Pat

--- End quote ---

I recommend trying out some of the SMD practice kits on Amazon. I built a few before I attempted this build. I have a few more to build for practice/fun.

On my tracer PCB:
Here's one difficult one (only one of them obviously): https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/895-FT232RL
And there's two of these: https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/595-PGA113AIDGST

I use solder paste for both of those, but for some reason the PGA113s are trickier than the FT232RL for me. The pin pitch seems almost the same. Maybe it's cause there's two. lol There's a few other easier items, only basic SMD skill is really needed for.

I've had some luck going back and forth between Mouser, Arrow, and Digikey or Newark for supply stuff. But it's obviously gotten much worse.

Thanks,
Josh

--- End quote ---
Josh, if you are talking about supply troubles, the FT232RL can be sourced in many USB-to-serial converters (you may even use a serial connection and plug an external adapter). The PGA113AIDGST seems to be in stock in TI's page. 

If you are talking about soldering alone, then yeah, it is worth practicing on some older boards or kits. Also, you need to see things - get a powerful loupe with good lighting, a stable soldering iron with a thin and clean tip and good solder paste and solder.

BTW, your curve tracer looks quite interesting; congratulations on making it.

I might not have enough capex to commit at this moment, but I will keep this in mind.

KungFuJosh:

--- Quote from: rsjsouza on November 19, 2021, 09:29:59 pm ---Josh, if you are talking about supply troubles, the FT232RL can be sourced in many USB-to-serial converters (you may even use a serial connection and plug an external adapter). The PGA113AIDGST seems to be in stock in TI's page. 

If you are talking about soldering alone, then yeah, it is worth practicing on some older boards or kits. Also, you need to see things - get a powerful loupe with good lighting, a stable soldering iron with a thin and clean tip and good solder paste and solder.

BTW, your curve tracer looks quite interesting; congratulations on making it.

I might not have enough capex to commit at this moment, but I will keep this in mind.

--- End quote ---

Thank you! It was quite the journey getting it to where it is.

I have stock of everything. 😉 But I'm not selling the parts; when I do, it will just be the boards and the programmed chip. SPA07N60C3, LM7805CT/NOPB, DR127-331-R are all hard or impossible to get right now, and there's a bunch of other stuff out of the ~92 items on the BOM for the main PCB that have supply issues.

For SMD work, I use my Andonstar AD208 digital microscope. It does a pretty darn good job. No lag issues if you don't max the resolution.

My soldering station is an Aoyue 2703A+ (I've been abusing this one for over 4 years- the last 3 stations I had from other brands didn't last that long). The hot air works great for the SMD stuff. I use Kester EP256 solder paste- it works well but sometimes is a pain in the ass to stick at first.

Thanks,
Josh

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