PCB Soldering: How to Do it Like a Pro
Soldering on PCB (Printed Circuit Board) requires a lot of attention and care. Learning how to solder like a pro is essential to all the electronic hobbyists and professionals. Here is how you can learn and master the art of soldering on a PCB:
Soldering Equipment
Soldering Iron
PCB soldering requires extreme precision. Ergonomic soldering irons come with a variety of implements of varying sizes and temperatures control. ESD safe (electrostatic discharge) are the best – these are high power soldering irons with temperature control. Selection of the proper solder wire and tools is also essential for PCB soldering.
Soldering Wire
Normally, 60/40 type alloy wire (60% tin and 40% lead alloys) is use for hand soldering the components. Lead-free soldering wires are also available but they require very intense heating. Flux is an additive that prevents oxidation and improves the wetting characteristics (the ability of liquid solder to penetrate through copper surfaces) which is used to make the soldering process efficient. Melting temperatures of common solder formulations range between 183 and 215 Degree Celsius. Use clamps to work and hold small electronic components together. Make use of soldering wire that has flux inside the core.
Desoldering Tools
Use a solder wick or desoldering pump to remove solder and electronic components from PCB.
Keep the Tip Clean
The tip of the solder iron should always be clean and free of dirt. Therefore, investing in a cleaning sponge or a tip cleaner (they produce a lot of smoke) is a good idea. Plastic sheaths, flux and resin may burn and stick tip the tip of the solder iron because of which the strength of the joints is lose and its resistivity also increases. For efficient PCB soldering, clean the tip to remove any debris after every component that you solder.
Move around Quickly – the Key to Efficient Soldering
Pick up the correct components and solder in a ventilated environment but it is essential to bear in mind that the components and even the board may get damaged by the heat produced by the solder iron. Heat the pad and the leg of the through-hole and surface-mounted component and then apply solder to join them together. Moving around the board quickly while soldering will help prevent the damage caused by heating. Melt the solder and withdraw swiftly. A perfect solder is lustrous and cone shaped.
Avoid Cold Solder Joints
If you do not apply sufficient heat to the solder, you might get a cold solder joint. Apparently, these joints look fine but in reality, they do not provide the necessary connection. Next time when your PCB doesn’t function well, you may want to look closely at the solder joints especially the via hole for cold joints – even a minute gap of PCB soldering at the pins of the component and the solder result in a discontinuous circuit.
Make Use of a Metal Heat Sink
Heat sinks out to be used for soldering heat sensitive components like transistors and diodes. Clip aluminum heat sinks on the leads at the opposite end of the PCB.
Practice Makes One Perfect
Gather some old boards and practice PCB soldering on it. Even the pros were once amateurs. Perfection can only be attained with practice, so the more you solder, the more efficient you will become.