SMD Oven - Pledge or buy

Discussion
1

One of those subjects that comes up regularly in SLMS electronics is that of a reflow oven for surface mount devices. Recently it reappeared again.
The last discussion revolved around one of Chinese T962 series machines. These ovens have a few issues out of the box but can be easily fixed and upgraded to make it a useful bit of kit.
I would also recommend a solder paste dispenser pump, they make the setup of the boards really easy and are almost as fast as setting up a stencil especially for one or two offs.

For the basic T962a oven we’re looking at ~£160 (better models like the T962c go up to £350)
The dispenser pump (pictured below) is ~£60

Question:- would members be interested in a pledge to purchase an oven and possibly a pump ?

@peter_hellyer, @naxxfish, @electronoob, @emuboy, @joeatkin2

Courty

IMG_9363.JPG4032×2309 2.05 MB

2

I’d chuck a few quid at that.

But with our current cash surplus, should the Makerspace be investing in this?

3

Sounds good to me , IR reflow machine are always useful , if we can manage to cut stencils with the laser cutter that could lead (pun) to an easy way to populate PCBs

I’m happy to put some money on it

4

I’d put some notes towards that (as me)

5

Sounds like a good pledge candidate. Happy to chuck something in. What’s the difference between the a and c models? Is it worth going for the better model?

6

The basic oven plus pump totals £220 methinks.
I suggest we bump @directors for 50% and meet the other 1/2 by pledge.
I pledge £20.

1 Like
7

Syringe it is then :smiley:

8

Pledge £20

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9

Pledge £15

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10

Pledge for £15

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11

Looking good guys. I’m exploring options for funding this as I think it will be very useful and I’m not sure we’re quite there on the pledges.

I’ll put a few £ in too - anyone else willing to add to the pot?

Courty

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12

I can afford a tenner this month.

And if the @directors approve a 50% contribution we’re nearly there!

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13

Directors have approved to pay 50%.

I will pay whatever remains as a pledge.

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Marvelous! By my reckoning the cookie hath crumbled thus:

@dsikar £20
@frasco £20
@naxxfish £15
@emuboy £15
@RichM £10
@peter_hellyer £30

@directors £110

Grand total £220

All good?

3 Likes
15

Excellent! I’ll supply the upgrades for the oven including the space grade Kapton tape, hardware/firmware upgrades and some solder paste for the dispenser.(the dispenser needs compressed air from the wood shop too, normally via an 8mm tube)

I’ll also run a short induction once it’s all ready to go too.

Courty

5 Likes
16

Just wanted to say I think this method of group buying stuff for the space is a really positive one!

4 Likes
17

OK, so now what’s the mechanism for paying pledges?

18

@tomnewsom shall provideth the details of bank!

(psst, someone probably needs to foot the bill of actually ordering the thing)

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19

PM incoming!

20

The woodshop just upgraded to a bigger compressor - you might be able to use the old one depending on what happened to it. @woodtechs?