Surface mount reflow oven!

Discussion
1

Just doing some work on a project at home and had a thought.

While I know a great deal of the Electronics we do in the space is breadboard or standard through-the-hole PCB/Vero style, would a surface mount reflow oven be something that is too specialist for the space ? would anyone else make use of it ?

a basic model is not a huge amount of money but its no use buying it if its only going to get used by me.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/T962-Reflow-Oven-Windowed-Drawer-Accurate-Temperature-SMD-BGA-Soldering-220V-/252041852015?hash=item3aaedd746f:g:ejgAAOSw0e9Uv2dO

Thoughts ?

Courty

P.S. interestingly, the stencils that come with SMD boards fit straight into a Screen Printing jig !! where do I sign up for Screen Printing :smile:

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Yes I use a lot of smd when I actually get around to making anything other than the space

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Something like this was on the list of GLA stuff to buy but it was a toaster over project and we ran out of teh monehs.

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My mixer project almost got to buying toaster oven, but went contracted assembly instead.

So I’d be keen, but suspect hand soldering is going to be the most efficient route for most things, my last PCBs included.

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Addendum: that’s cheap, though!

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I’m interested in doing surface mount PCBs, so I think this would be a good purchase.

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There seems to be a want and use for one. I did build the toaster ver previously and it was fairly poor + needed a lot of fettling to keep it working well.

If there is no money left in the pot, would members be up for a pledge ?

Basic model is ~£160 and the slightly bigger / better one is ~£260 ?

Courty

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Count me in for 20

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Wow I didn’t realise they were so cheap! Out of curiosity is there currently a method of making PCBs fine enough to take SMDs that can be done with the tools in the space? I assume the cnc isn’t up to the job, would laser toner and etching be able to get the appropriate tolerances?

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Not at present.

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I use that kit (T962A). It does not repeat well. You pay for what you get.

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yes I’ve heard it does need to cool between goes but the alternative pro versions are multiple times the price - the thought was that this is for hobbyist use as in ones and twos and not pro manufacturing…

Courty

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The main problem I found is uneven bakes. Not all parts of the board get done. Then you can find the sweet spot and move the board around to get the even bake or use a different temperature curve (higher overall temperature).

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What about the ovens projects?

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I would definitely be keen for one. No experience with them, but have got a few projects that would be far easier with one.

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It would be perfect for my project.

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There is one over at the LHS. If you turn up on an open Tuesday (they used to be) I think there wouldn’t be a problem using it to get an idea if it is a worthy investment.

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I could use in for a project I have.

Any decent models on eBay second hand? Uneven bake doesn’t sound good :confused:

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Just to clarify my previous comment, reading what people have posted since: you don’t need an oven to make surface mount boards. For small batches and especially if you’ve got any through-hole mixed in (very likely, think i/o), hand soldering smt parts is likely quicker and easier.

The attraction of this is larger part counts and repeatability.

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Presumably this came up in the elextronics bedget meetings to spend the GLA money? Any useful conclusions drawn then? Was there a reason it wasn’t bought then?