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G SIN I T ER E ADV EATUR F SOLDERING The game is changing! At the recent Electronex show in Sydney, many exhibitors showed the latest in soldering equipment. While mainly for professional/industrial use, we thought readers might like to see just where soldering is heading in the future. It’s no longer a case of plugging the iron in and soldering the joint! S oldering in Australia has changed over the years from being predominantly used in a manufacturing environment to now being used in a fragmented rework/ repair industry, changing the requirements for professional soldering equipment. American car manufacturers GM and Ford came to Australia in the 1920s, beginning a wave of manufacturing. The 1930s saw a large increase in the production of steel. World War 2 saw an interruption to imports and a switch in demand to domestically produced goods. This drove growth in the local manufacturing industry. Tariff protection across the 1940s-1950s further aided the local manufacturing industry which hit it its peak in the late 1950s and 1960s. Soldering equipment was in high demand around this time in Australia. The standard of living was increasing and manufacturing companies like AWA were producing radio and communications equipment, Westinghouse and Hoover were producing household appliances while EMI and AWA were producing television sets for a growing market as the country prospered. 16  Silicon Chip An early Weller soldering gun advert from the USA. These guns were seldom seen in Australia and even then their use is fairly limited; definitely not for fine/close work! siliconchip.com.au siliconchip.com.au December 2012  17 G SIN I T ER E Weller soldering stations were extensively used ADV EATUR F across the country to support growth. Japan began trading electronic goods with Australia by the mid 1960s and this began the globalisation of international trade. Australia entered the resources sector in the 1970s and this put the country on a path of minerals export as the main economic driver. The 1970s saw large increase in wages and high inflation and this further moved the focus away from manufacturing towards imports produced in countries where the labour costs were substantially cheaper. China’s capacity to manufacture and export has increased dramatically over the last 10 years leaving Australia with little manufacturing. The internet has changed the way we source and purchase products, however warranty and customer service rarely exists in this type of transaction. Weller, the original inventor of the soldering gun in 1941 has kept pace with the ever changing needs of the market over the years and with its over 50 years of expertise as a company, it has been responsible for much of the innovation we see today in soldering equipment. Weller caters for every need in soldering from the simplest manually operated irons right up to the highly sophisticated BGA/QFP SMD Repair and Rework System offering component placement with camera aided positioning system. Weller has many initiatives to ensure a clean and safe work environment including: tip recycling programs, full lead free solder capability across the range of Weller soldering equipment and a full range of fume extraction products. The range of Weller soldering equipment has evolved over the years to meet the ever changing needs of the markets around the world. A summary of some of the Weller products available is as follows: 230V Soldering Irons The range includes a 230V soldering iron for the very smallest to the very largest soldering jobs, with an output range from 15 Watts to 250 Watts. Portable Butane Gas Operated Soldering Irons For those situations where a mains power supply is not available, Weller offers a comprehensive range of portable butane powered soldering irons, including the Jumbo Pyropen which can operate for up to 3 hours on a single charge of gas. Soldering Stations For general soldering applications for electronics enthusiasts and hobbyists, Weller offers the WES51D analog station and the WESD51DAU digital station. Rework and Repair Stations For the rework and repair industry Weller offers an innovative range of soldering stations, including the 3-output WR3000MAU. Multicore solder – ahead of the game! For decades Multicore’s soldering products have remained at the forefront of soldering techn o l o g y, w i t h their unique 3 and 5-core solder wires, guaranteeing flux continuity. Multicore produces a complete range of products covering all electronics soldering applications. Multicore began development of its line of lead-free products long before the industry at large was talking about the implications of RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances). Multicore’s solder wires are available in a wide range of alloys, 18  Silicon Chip diameters, reel sizes and flux types. Combinations include all purpose, low and high melting point, low residue, high activity, water washable and various lead free types. Unique types such as the patented alu-sol designed for aluminium and stainless steel are also stocked. Flux types include spray, foam, water washable, VOC, no clean and specific fluxes for lead free work. Multicore’s solder pastes are available in leaded and lead free alloys packaged in syringes, jars and pyles cartridges. There are also a large range of miscellaneous products such as desolder wick, peelable masks, flux and cleaning pens and stencil cleaners. Prime Electronics has been the sole Australian distributor of Multicore products for many years. In 2003 Prime Electronics was awarded the Australian distributorship for both Multicore and Loctite Electronics products, importing direct from their Asian and UK        plants. Backed by industry leading technicians, Prime Electronics with three branches in Qld and NSW also has an extensive network of resellers throughout Australia. A comprehensive range of Multicore products are stocked locally, while customer specific products are readily available. Want a free sample of Multicore’s Crystal 511 No Clean solder wire? Contact Multicore on Brisbane (07) 3252 7466 or Sydney (02) 9704 9000 siliconchip.com.au Upton Australia Webstore is Online! S RS A AR E 0 Y 2 20 ndustrr y y i ! o c off erriie e n nc e! e p e x eexp www.uptonaustralia.com.au Popular brands supplied include Can’t find what you’re looking for? Speak to our friendly customer service team CALL US: (03) 9738 2224 Upton Australia is a leading supplier of Soldering equipment to the electronics industry. Upton Australia is located in Melbourne, Victoria. We represent many international brands including Pace Inc USA & Metcal/OK International, with soldering, desoldering, SMT rework and BGA equipment. DDM Novastar with stencil printers, Pick & Place equipment, Reflow ovens & Wave solder machines. Microcare Corp. has a great range of cleaning chemicals for stencil printers, Defluxers (Flux removal) ESD mat cleaners, powerful degreasers, contact cleaners, circuit chillers, canned air, stencil rolls and flat lint free wipes. Vision Engineering manufacture the world famous Mantis & Lynx range of inspection equipment, Luxo with the K-Mag Maggie lamp and the Wave II lamp. StencilQuik have a range of simple stencils to help with BGA rework. siliconchip.com.au December 2012  19 Upton Australia Pty Ltd (ABN 83 102 829 238) Unit 3, 38 Corporate Blvd, Bayswater Vic 3153 Phone (03) 9738 2224 G SIN I T ER E ADV EATUR F Fast stencils for high-speed SMD PCB assembly Lead & Lead-Free No-Clean Solder Wire The range of fluxes is ideal for all types of hand soldering assembly and rework applications. is a high activity flux with excellent wetting on difficult surfaces while leaving minimal clear residues. Stocked sizes 60/40 Tin/Lead 0.35, 0.45, 0.56, 0.7, 0.9, 1.2, 1.6, 3.15mm 99C, 97SC (SAC305) & 96SC (SAC387) Lead Free 0.38, 0.56, 0.7, 1.0, 1.2, 1.6mm We also stock low & high melting point solders, & unique solders like Alu-Sol designed for aluminium and stainless steel. Lead-Free Solder Paste LF318 97SC is a no clean, halide free solder paste with a wide print process window and extremely long abandon time. Superior slump resistance minimising the risk of bridging and high humidity resistance. Modern high-speed assembly of electronic circuit boards, using surface-mounted devices (SMDs) requires precision equipment to ensure a perfect result. This starts with the PCBs being automatically dispensed onto a conveyor at a predetermined spacing. With surface mounted components, the PCB’s must then have solder paste “printed” onto the lands (pads) prior to high-speed placement or “loading” of the components onto the board. The solder paste initially acts like a glue to keep the components in place as the PCB moves down the production line until it reaches an oven. At this point, the solder suspended in the paste melts and all connections are made simultaneously. Printing the solder paste onto the PCBs is usually performed by a printing machine fitted with a thin stainless steel stencil which is matched to the PCB. The printing itself is similar to silk-screen printing where the solder paste is “squeegeed” through the stencil resulting in the perfect placement of the paste every time. The actual amount of paste deposited is critical. Too little and the electrical connection may not occur, too much paste can lead to bridging. Manufacturers have a number of ways to vary the amount of paste including the adjustment of the aperture sizes and the thickness of the stencil shim material. Aperture reductions are normally carried out by the stencil manufacturer according to industry standards but production engineers often have additional requirements to attain the required amount of paste. All these variables point to the benefit of having a local stencil manufacturer. As a vital part of any electronics assembly line, solder paste stencils are generally ordered well ahead of when they are needed. Sometimes things don’t always go to plan though and the manufacturer can be in a situation where they need a new stencil fast.   According to Mastercut Technologies Managing Director, Jim Cove, “it is not unusual for our customers to find themselves needing a new stencil due to a last minute design change, an oversight or discovering damage to an existing stencil”. Mastercut have taken on the fast delivery challenge by streamlining the manufacturing process.   Mr Cove says “we aim to reduce lead time be carrying out as much of the stencil manufacture as possible prior to receiving the order. When we receive the customer’s data, we can now start cutting much sooner as all the prep work with the frame and shim has been done in advance.”   Previously all stencils were cut from stainless shim then mounted into the frame one at a time. Further time was lost just waiting for the epoxy adhesive to cure.   “We have modified our stencil laser to allow us to cut the shim after it has been mounted. That means we can have a selection of preframed shims ready to go” said Mr Cove. Electronics manufacturing is a highly competitive field and Australian manufacturers need to be at the top of their game to remain strong in the business.   “That includes suppliers down the line like Mastercut and that is why we are constantly looking for efficiencies to allow us to offer great service at a competitive price to our customers. Pre-framing is a good example” said Mr Cove. We also stock leaded solder paste in 25g syringes & 500g jars. Loctite Electronics products also available. Prime Electronics is the Australian distributor for Multicore & Loctite Electronics products. Sydney Brisbane Southport Ph: (07) 3252 7466 Ph: (07) 5531 2599 Ph: (02) 9704 9000 Fax: (07) 3252 2862 Fax: (07) 5571 0543 Fax: (02) 9746 1197 20  Silicon Chip Mastercut’s Stencil Laser preparing a solder paste stencil for use in high-speed PCB assembly. siliconchip.com.au NEW FM206 – 3 in 1 Rework station Desoldering, Soldering and Micro Hot Air Features • Graphic User Interface for easy setup and operation • 3 simultaneous powered ports • Self-contained pump for vacuum and air flow • Digital airflow indicator • Hot air handpiece ramps up to max temp in less than 20 seconds • Manual or Automatic profile for hot air • Low cost composite hot air nozzles •Optional kits available FM2030-04 Heavy duty Iron, FM2023-04 small tweezer, FM2022-04 Large tweezer. Packing List FM206 + FM2027-03 + FM204-44 + FM2029-01 Includes free nozzles and tip De-soldering nozzle # N1-10 Hot Air nozzle # N4-01 siliconchip.com.au Soldering Tip # T12-D12 December 2012  21 G SIN I T ER E ADV EATUR F Thermaltronics TMT-9000S-2 with Curie Heat Technology The hand soldering process has changed rapidly over the past ten years; lead-free solders have been introduced and components are getting smaller and smaller. These factors must be put into consideration when looking to upgrade or replace your existing soldering irons Gone are the days when you adjust the temperature of your conventional ceramic heating soldering iron to the maximum when you come across difficult solder joints as these higher temperatures burn the flux in solder wire before it has a chance to help the flow of solder. This leads to poor solder joint quality and drastic reduction in tip life; the chances of tips oxidising and turning black are high. Times are changing and Curie Heat Technology by Thermaltronics is fast replacing the older conventional resistive heating element. Curie Heat Technology utilises induction heating to bring the temperature to its Curie Point which is set by the composition of the alloy. Once it hits Curie Point the tip will lose it magnetic properties and idle at its set point ready for action. A phenomenon known as Skin Effect results in the heat being greatest in the outer layer of the tip (heating from the outside in) as opposed to conventional ceramic heating which is from the inside out. Once the soldering tip makes contact with the solder joint, the tip will transfer heat across at a rapid rate and the solder joint will attempt to draw temperature away from the tip. As the tip temperature starts to fall below its Curie Point temperature it begins to regain its magnetic properties, so the induction heating process resumes and keeps the tip at the stable temperature required. This one-step process is the main reason why Curie Heat responds faster than conventional technology which uses tip, sensor and ceramic heating element. With the conventional ceramic systems the sensor detects the drop in temperature then increases power to the heating element in order to reheat it. This process causes a poor response time and in frustration, to compensate for the ceramic heater technology, the user will set the idle tip temperature too high which then causes problems stated earlier. Curie Heat Technology can be used for fine surface mount work and even the finest tips have good heat retaining capabilities and work with the biggest of ground planes where you may have struggled in the past with your existing soldering iron. Get your hands on the Thermaltronics TMT-9000S-2 13.56MHz soldering system and experience the huge difference in hand soldering between RF Induction, Curie Heat Technology versus basic conventional ceramic heating soldering systems. There’s more information at www.thermaltronics.com.au Introducing Soltronico Soltronico is a new Australian company providing a unique blend of high quality, small volume manufacturing and custom jobs that larger manufacturing plants ignore. Being local, customer service is our top priority. Some of our jobs so far have included prototyping, small production runs, electronic repair and custom re-design of older equipment. We know you like electronics, either as a hobby, or in full time occupation, and we can help you. We are open to discuss any need that you have requiring an electronic solution. Give Jose a call at (02) 4915 1988, or check us at www.soltronico.com.au SC 22  Silicon Chip siliconchip.com.au P rofe s s io n a l To o ls JBC:  Digital  Lead-­‐Free  Soldering  StaPon  (JBC-­‐CD2BB)       Premium  Quality   • The  CD  soldering  control  unit  features  large  graphic     display  that  shows  important  informaDon  at     a  glance   • Integrated  parameter  programming  allows     the  staDon  to  store  up  to  5  temperatures   $399  +GST     Pace:  Digital  Rework  &  Repair  System  (PAC8007-­‐0455)     Metcal:  Soldering  &  Rework     System  (MET-­‐MX5010)   The  MX-­‐5010  offers  users  an  ergonomic     hand-­‐piece  for  soldering  and  rework  with     hundreds  of  Dp  geometries  to   address  the  widest  range  of     applicaDons.   • Lead-­‐free   $699  +GST   OKi:  Precision  Tweezer  Rework  System  (OKI-­‐MFR-­‐1140)   • SmartHeat®  Technology  provides   excepDonal  power  for  high  thermal   demand  applicaDons     • Comprehensive  range  of  tweezer   cartridges     • Hand-­‐pieces  are  ergonomic  for   operator  safety     and  comfort     $480  +GST   The  MBT  350  features  PACE's  IntelliHeat  technology  and  comes   standard  with  the  following   handpieces:   • TD-­‐100  Soldering  Iron     • SX-­‐100  Sodr-­‐X-­‐Tractor   • MT-­‐100  Mini-­‐Tweezer   $1500  +GST     OKi:  PS-­‐900  Soldering  System  (OKI-­‐PS900)   Hakko:  Analogue  Soldering  StaPon  (HFX-­‐888)   The  PS-­‐900  provides  power  and     excepDonal  thermal  control  in  a     small  bench  top  footprint  and     provides  operators  the  repeatability     to  produce  high  quality  solder     connecDons  with  excepDonal  speed.   Soldering  iron  provides  30%  increase  in  workability     compared  to  that  of  convenDonal     HAKKO  936.    Improved  thermal     conducDvity  enables  the  same  work     to  be  performed  in  a  shorter  Dme.   $200  +GST     $150  +GST   OKi:  Hot  Air  ConvecPon  Tool  (OKI-­‐HCT900-­‐21)   Daylight:  Ultra  Slim  Magnifying  Lamp  (DAYA22020-­‐1)   A  low-­‐cost,  versaDle  rework  soluDon  for  a  wide     variety  of  producDon  and  rework  applicaDon     challenges.  It  has  a  compact,  robust  design     uDlizing  of  analog  controls  for  both  airflow     and  heat.   Combining  the  largest  17.5cm  precision     glass  lens  with  a  strong,  instant-­‐on     28W  Daylight  energy  saving  tube     (120W  equiv.)  every  intricate     detail  is  needle  sharp  while     eliminaDng  eye  strain.     $399  +GST   PanaVise:  Junior  Vise  (PV201)   The  amazing  mini-­‐vise!   Your  work  is  held  gently,  but  securely,  and  can     be  posiDoned  exactly  where  you  want  it.    The     easy-­‐to-­‐use  single  knob  controls  head  movement     through  3-­‐planes:  210°  Dlt,  360°  turn  &  360°     rotaDon.   $24  +GST   $190  +GST     Panasonic:  2.4V  Cordless  Drill  Driver  (EY6220NQ)       • 1  hour  charging  system     • Easily  converts  from  pistol  grip  to  straight     form     • 2  speed  gearbox     • 6.5  mm  hex  drive     $150  +GST   siliconchip.com.au ecember 2012  23   Prices  in  Australian  Dollars    Prices  quoted  exclude  GST    Valid  to  31  January  2013  or  while  stocks  last    Images  are  for  illustraDve  purposes  only  D  Tips   sold  separately   E&OE     G SIN I T ER E Weller soldering stations were extensively used ADV EATUR F across the country to support growth. Japan began trading electronic goods with Australia by the mid 1960s and this began the globalisation of international trade. Australia entered the resources sector in the 1970s and this put the country on a path of minerals export as the main economic driver. The 1970s saw large increase in wages and high inflation and this further moved the focus away from manufacturing towards imports produced in countries where the labour costs were substantially cheaper. China’s capacity to manufacture and export has increased dramatically over the last 10 years leaving Australia with little manufacturing. The internet has changed the way we source and purchase products, however warranty and customer service rarely exists in this type of transaction. Weller, the original inventor of the soldering gun in 1941 has kept pace with the ever changing needs of the market over the years and with its over 50 years of expertise as a company, it has been responsible for much of the innovation we see today in soldering equipment. Weller caters for every need in soldering from the simplest manually operated irons right up to the highly sophisticated BGA/QFP SMD Repair and Rework System offering component placement with camera aided positioning system. Weller has many initiatives to ensure a clean and safe work environment including: tip recycling programs, full lead free solder capability across the range of Weller soldering equipment and a full range of fume extraction products. The range of Weller soldering equipment has evolved over the years to meet the ever changing needs of the markets around the world. A summary of some of the Weller products available is as follows: 230V Soldering Irons The range includes a 230V soldering iron for the very smallest to the very largest soldering jobs, with an output range from 15 Watts to 250 Watts. Portable Butane Gas Operated Soldering Irons For those situations where a mains power supply is not available, Weller offers a comprehensive range of portable butane powered soldering irons, including the Jumbo Pyropen which can operate for up to 3 hours on a single charge of gas. Soldering Stations For general soldering applications for electronics enthusiasts and hobbyists, Weller offers the WES51D analog station and the WESD51DAU digital station. Rework and Repair Stations For the rework and repair industry Weller offers an innovative range of soldering stations, including the 3-output WR3000MAU. Multicore solder – ahead of the game! For decades Multicore’s soldering products have remained at the forefront of soldering techn o l o g y, w i t h their unique 3 and 5-core solder wires, guaranteeing flux continuity. Multicore produces a complete range of products covering all electronics soldering applications. Multicore began development of its line of lead-free products long before the industry at large was talking about the implications of RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances). Multicore’s solder wires are available in a wide range of alloys, 18  Silicon Chip diameters, reel sizes and flux types. Combinations include all purpose, low and high melting point, low residue, high activity, water washable and various lead free types. Unique types such as the patented alu-sol designed for aluminium and stainless steel are also stocked. Flux types include spray, foam, water washable, VOC, no clean and specific fluxes for lead free work. Multicore’s solder pastes are available in leaded and lead free alloys packaged in syringes, jars and pyles cartridges. There are also a large range of miscellaneous products such as desolder wick, peelable masks, flux and cleaning pens and stencil cleaners. Prime Electronics has been the sole Australian distributor of Multicore products for many years. In 2003 Prime Electronics was awarded the Australian distributorship for both Multicore and Loctite Electronics products, importing direct from their Asian and UK        plants. Backed by industry leading technicians, Prime Electronics with three branches in Qld and NSW also has an extensive network of resellers throughout Australia. A comprehensive range of Multicore products are stocked locally, while customer specific products are readily available. Want a free sample of Multicore’s Crystal 511 No Clean solder wire? Contact Multicore on Brisbane (07) 3252 7466 or Sydney (02) 9704 9000 siliconchip.com.au