smd components

[Krister Wikstrom]

Someone asked about manually soldering smd components.
It should be no problem, if you have very fine tip on your
soldering iron. 
I have succesfully (well, I have destroyed some pads...) mounted/removed
many components, even a 386sx processor with very fine "legs".

If you wish to remove a faulty chip, just try to cut the pins first and then
clean up the pads. If you need to remove a chip without destroying it, use a
thin isolated wire - put the wire under the chip, and then warm up one pin
at a time simultaneously pulling the wire gently under the pin. This will
work almost every time on SOIC, but PLCC package is another story.

To mount a component, put little solder on each pad, then put the chip on top
and warn each pin at a time to solder. This might require flux to make it
easier, as the solder will behave much nicer with flux.

It is very easy to remove smd resistors etc by using two soldering irons, or by
shortly warming both pads many times.

I'm working in a computer factory, and our board repair uses special tools
to remove smd component, but all are manually mounted. This includes special
chips with 200 pins.

Oh, and magnifying glass will make it easier...


  Krister Wikstrom
  kwi at mamma.icl.fi