Recent problems = another building tip
Locked
Recent problems = another building tip
 
|
Seems like unsoldered pins are a popular problem these days.
One of the things I do to avoid this is count as I solder. I expect an 8-pin IC to have 8 pins to solder so I count them off as I do them. If I stick 14 resistors in, I expect 28 solder joints when I flip the board over. In the case of 2-leaded parts I solder one side at a time to avoid heat build-up. So I'd count off 14 on the first pass and another 14 on the second. If's fairly normal to get off by one either because I really missed a lead or I get distracted. That just prompts me to re-count to confirm I've got them all. The other thing I do is a systematic visual inspection at each of the testing stages. It was during one of these that I found an unsoldered pin on my K1, and that's what led me to start counting as I solder. As I started the K2 last month we were discussing the need for a thorough inventory prior to building, with me arguing against. I simply divided the parts by type (resistors, capacitors, diodes, etc.). I didn't sort by value, nor did I check everything off on the parts list before starting. I found that the building process went pretty smoothly. There are a couple points in the instructions where you're told to sort the remaining parts of a certain type. Those instructions were sufficient to keep me on track. I did have to refer to the parts list to identify some of the parts but didn't have any other problems from not sorting everything by value prior to building. This assumes that you're onto the Elecraft trick of putting some parts in odd places. The thermal pads in the serial number kit is the classic case. The other one is to say in the parts list that a cap might be 2, 2.2, or 2.7 but in the instructions call for only a 2.7 without mentioning the other possibilities. If your kit has a 2.2 this will throw you for a while. Craig NZ0R K1 #1966 K2 #4941 _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
Re: Recent problems = another building tip
|
|
I do this too, and it works great! One caveat: if you can only only count to ten while soldering, don't install more than five resistors at a time. Let your ability to remain focussed on the count while focussing on soldering dictate how many you install at a time. I usually do six resistors, etc., which is a natural count for me, and is also the limit of the "lead forest" I care to negotiate. I also inspect and recount -before- any lead trimming. hope this helps - jeff wk6i At 06:51 AM 7/15/2005, Craig Rairdin wrote: >One of the things I do to avoid this is count as I solder. I expect an 8-pin >IC to have 8 pins to solder so I count them off as I do them. If I stick 14 >resistors in, I expect 28 solder joints when I flip the board over. In the >case of 2-leaded parts I solder one side at a time to avoid heat build-up. >So I'd count off 14 on the first pass and another 14 on the second. -- Jeff Stai [hidden email] Twisted Oak Winery http://www.twistedoak.com/ Rocketry Org. of CA http://www.rocstock.org/ Amateur Radio WK6I ~ Calaveras County, CA ~ WI6NE 40th Annual California QSO Party! ~ Oct 1-2, 2005 ~ http://www.cqp.org/ _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
Re: Recent problems = another building tip
|
|
In reply to this post by Craig Rairdin
On Friday 15 July 2005 13:51, Craig Rairdin wrote:
> Seems like unsoldered pins are a popular problem these days. > > One of the things I do to avoid this is count as I solder. I expect an 8-pin > IC to have 8 pins to solder so I count them off as I do them. If I stick 14 > resistors in, I expect 28 solder joints when I flip the board over. In the > case of 2-leaded parts I solder one side at a time to avoid heat build-up. > So I'd count off 14 on the first pass and another 14 on the second. Craig, I see no need to count. For all long lead components, I soldered lots of them in before trimming the leads. When I started to trim them, I checked if I had soldered before snipping - caught a few that way. ICs - I soldered the corners first so that it's easy to see one not filled in and make sure no end ones are left out. Ian, K2 #4962 _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
RE: Recent problems = another building tip
|
|
In reply to this post by Jeff Stai WK6I
Jeff WK6I wrote:
>One of the things I do to avoid this is count as I solder. I expect an >8-pin IC to have 8 pins to solder so I count them off as I do them. If >I stick 14 resistors in, ... That's an excellent idea. I do it during the inspection phase. First I use a magnifier strong enough that I can easily focus on only one soldering pad at a time. My 4X Optivisor plus reading glasses underneath provide that for me. It's important to have one pad at a time dominate your field of vision. If they're enlarged enough, it's really hard to "miss" a pad. I work my way around an I.C. socket, studying each soldering joint and counting them off to be sure I've seen EVERY pad properly soldered and trimmed. I never install more than ONE part at a time before soldering. That's just my preference, but it lets me approach the pad with my soldering iron without working around a "forest" of wires and parts don't tend to drift loose from the board while I'm working. You'll notice that the later Elecraft assembly manuals no longer advocate installing groups of parts. That's entirely up to the builder. The step-completed check goes in my manual only after I've installed a part, checked its position (right holes?) and its value before soldering, then completed soldering, trimming, inspecting the soldering and making a final check of the part I.D. to be sure it's the right part in the right place. Then, and only then, does the check go in the box in the book. Sound like I hate "reworking" boards? You got it! Maybe I'm old-fashioned, but I come from the measure twice, cut once school of building things. It saves a lot of time and aggravation. Ron AC7AC _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
RE: Recent problems = another building tip
|
|
In reply to this post by Ian Stirling, G4ICV, AB2GR
> I see no need to count. For all long lead components,
> I soldered lots of them in before trimming the leads. > When I started to trim them, I checked if I had soldered > before snipping - caught a few that way. That works too, and I check as a trim the leads also. This counting technique is most effective for ICs and other multi-leaded parts. The only thing you might miss is if you ticked off a resistor in the book without actually putting it in the board. > ICs - I soldered the corners first so that it's easy > to see one not filled in and make sure no end ones are > left out. You'd think so, but this is exactly how I missed a pin on my K1. I missed one of the "other" corners. Craig _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
|
|
In reply to this post by Ron D'Eau Claire-2
Hi Group,
I'm so glad to see that there are so many other anal retentives out there who check, insert, count and solder, count and trim then check again. I have only one thing to offer: When soldering, I only solder one side of a component, then come back and solder the other side later. I still count, so if I am doing 10 resistors, I expect 20 solders. This way I avoid wiggling the component by touching the other lead before the one just soldered has had a chance to completely cool. Glad to say that 4991 and the antenna tuner worked first time, right out of the box. 73, W3QS _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
RE: Recent problems = another building tip
|
|
In reply to this post by Craig Rairdin
Well here's my 2 cents...Before snipping a lead, I try to check for continuity between the end of the lead (the part that will eventually be snipped) and a compement or pad trace that is connected to the lead that is being snipped. If I get continuity I snip, if not I re-solder.
(yea, it did take 18 months to build my K2!) Tom WB2QDG k2 1103 -------------- Original message ---------------------- From: "tom.w3qs" <[hidden email]> > Hi Group, > > I'm so glad to see that there are so many other anal retentives out there > who check, insert, count and solder, count and trim then check again. > > I have only one thing to offer: > > When soldering, I only solder one side of a component, then come back and > solder the other side later. I still count, so if I am doing 10 resistors, > I expect 20 solders. This way I avoid wiggling the component by touching > the other lead before the one just soldered has had a chance to completely > cool. > > Glad to say that 4991 and the antenna tuner worked first time, right out of > the box. > > 73, W3QS > > > _______________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Post to: [hidden email] > You must be a subscriber to post to the list. > Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm > Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
«
Return to Elecraft
|
1 view|%1 views
| Free forum by Nabble | Edit this page |