By: slick

slick — Sun, 10 May 2009 10:46:01 +0000

Heh, this is also the first board I have ever reflowed too, though I’m not using it for it’s intended purpose. I just used a $29 hot plate from Target to solder this board with no control. I have been building a reflow controller based on an Arduino. I’m using a k-type TC with a max6675 and the accompanying library the 4bitLCD library and the PIDLibrary. After seing your, I ordered the heater cartridge from McMaster-Carr and picked up an aluminum block from my local surplus supply for $3/lb, so about $10. You may want to look up the reflow profile for your solder paste. Usually a profile has a short warm up period, then a 2-4 min “soak time” where the temp is held to SLOWLY drive off any moisture and then a shorter reflow time where the solder is actually melted. See here: http://smt.pennnet.com/Articles/Article_Display.cfm?Section=Articles&Subsection=Display&ARTICLE_ID=186600

By: Mr. INTJ

Mr. INTJ — Thu, 07 May 2009 07:45:34 +0000

Gaaaaaah. That is so cool. This hot plate is now on my ever-growing list of home projects.

Comments on: Assembling the MakerBot CupCake Stepper Controller (or My First Reflow Solder)

By: slick

By: Mr. INTJ