The All-Spec Current | All-Spec Industries' Official Blog —

Lead-Free Soldering Tips and Tricks

by David K. on February 10, 2012

As the soldering industry grows and matures, more emphasis is being placed on green processes and technology. This emphasis is coming both from governmental regulations like RoHS and personal convictions to save the planet. However, it can be a struggle to find environmentally friendly alternatives to industry standards, such as leaded solder. Even when we do find a suitable replacement, the difference between the new and the old can’t be overlooked. Proper knowledge and training is needed to get past the challenges that new environmentally friendly technologies pose, and to ensure the new methods meet the standards of the old.

In the electronics industry many are finding problems with lead-free soldering. Many see lead-free solder as hard to use and think the quality is subpar when compared to leaded solder. There are many issues that may not be taken into account, and there are things you can do to increase the effectiveness of lead-free soldering. By following these tips, you can increase the quality of your soldering joints as well as the life of your soldering tips.

Make sure your soldering iron can handle the requirements of the lead-free solder

The melting point of lead-free solder is typically 70-110°F higher than leaded solder. The typical response is to increase your soldering iron temperature. However, a good soldering iron with accurate temperature control and good thermal recovery can solder lead-free solder and leaded solder without the need to increase the temperature. Using a higher temperature will burn through soldering tips faster and potentially damage your PCB’s. Using the same temperature demands a longer dwell time to heat the solder to its melting point which can also potentially damage your PCB’s.

Take your time and do not increase pressure to force solder to melt and flow

Lead-free soldering can take longer to flow due to its higher melting point, so it is important to be patient. If you try to move too fast can lead to a weak or insufficient solder joint that requires reworking. If you press your tip against a joint too hard then it can damage your soldering tip/iron and the PCB or the component/wires you are soldering. Also, increased pressure doesn’t decrease the dwell time.

Be prepared for lead-free solder joints to look different than leaded joints

When soldering with lead, the joints are typically shiny and smooth. However, lead-free solder joints can look dull in comparison. This is normal, so you do not necessarily need to rework your lead-free joints if they are dull.

Keep your solder tip clean and coated with solder

Due to the high temperature of lead-free soldering, tips will tend to wear out faster. Higher temperatures lead to faster rates of oxidation, which can eat through the iron coating of solder tips. By properly cleaning and preparing your soldering tips, you can ensure the longest tip life possible.

For more information you can check out the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s Life-Cycle Assessment on lead-free soldering. There is also an interesting article about some of the challenges of lead-free solder on Hakko’s site.

Have you tried lead-free soldering? Tell us in the comments below why you like or dislike lead-free soldering and if you have any tips of your own to share with us!

{ 0 comments }

ESD Standards: An Annual Progress Report by The ESD Association

by Guest on February 8, 2012

(Special thanks to the ESD Association for sending us this article, originally posted in the IN Compliance magazine December 2011 issue)

Industry standards play a major role in providing meaningful metrics and common procedures that allow various manufacturers, customers, and suppliers to communicate from facility to facility around the world. Standards are increasingly important in our global economy. In manufacturing, uniform quality requirements and testing procedures are necessary to make sure that all involved parties are speaking the same language. In ESD device protection, standard methods have been developed for component ESD test models to measure a component’s sensitivity to electrostatic discharge from various sources. In ESD control programs, standard test methods for product qualification and periodic evaluation of wrist straps, garments, ionizers, worksurfaces, grounding, flooring, shoes, static dissipative planar materials, shielding bags, packaging, electrical soldering/desoldering hand tools, and flooring/footwear systems have been developed to ensure uniformity around the world.

For more on the ESDA’s annual progress report, plus a listing of current ESDA standards committee documents, click here.

{ 0 comments }

OKI Convection Rework System Promotion

by David K. on February 7, 2012

We are happy to announce that now through the end of July 2012 at All-Spec Industries, whenever you purchase the MRS-1100A convection rework system you will also receive a free soldering system with a BGA clean-up tip. The MRS-1100A is already a complete rework system, containing a hand convection tool, tool holder, programmable preheater, and board holder. Now, you get an added $394 value with the MFR-1120 soldering system and CFV-BL100 blade tip.

To get your free soldering system with the purchase of the MRS-1100A call All-Spec Industries at 800-537-0351 and place your order with one of our customer service representatives!

{ 1 comment }

Getting Rid of Charges Part 2: Personal Grounding Equipment

by David K. on February 6, 2012

Last week we went over what grounding does and why you need it, so this week we will start to look into methods of grounding. We noted before that static can come from two objects rubbing together. One of the biggest factors in creating an ESD-safe workplace is stopping static from the object that often moves the most: the human body. By walking, sitting down, moving your arms, or any number of other activities your body can generate static, so it is important to use personal grounding equipment to discharge this energy safely.

Shoe Grounds

If you stand or walk around while working with static sensitive equipment then shoe grounds are essential. These devices wrap around your shoes and create a path to ground from your body through the ground strap to the ground. However, in order for these to work properly you must have conductive or dissipative flooring and you must wear a shoe ground on each shoe. When you are walking one foot is off the ground a lot, so you need a continuous path through each shoe. Shoe grounds come in many styles, including heel grounds, toe grounds, and full sole grounds.

Wrist Straps

When working at a desk shoe grounds are not as effective since your feet are not always touching a grounded surface and are often hanging from your chair or on a footrest. In this instance wrist straps are used to ground the operator, as they provide a constant ground path. Wrist straps can be plugged into an ESD-safe mat, as well as other ground points. Workstation monitors are one such ground, which have the added benefit of testing your equipment and notifying you if any part of your system fails. You can find workstation monitors that just test wrist straps or both wrist straps and ESD-safe mats at the same time.

That is all for this week, make sure to check in next Monday for more information on grounding your workstation!

Getting Rid of Charges Part 1

{ 1 comment }

Vendor News Roundup-February 2012

by Jenn A. on February 3, 2012

We’d like to take time to acknowledge some of our vendors who have exciting company news.

Channellock made the cover of Vendor Partner Magazine (published by the North America Retail Hardware Association)

O.C. White has been nominated for a 2012 Edison Award for their Green-Lite Magnifiers. What sets them apart from the rest is their energy efficiency along with their high output. These magnifiers are also ESD-Safe.

The Edison Awards are recognized across the country as America’s innovation awards named after Thomas Edison himself. Finalists for the awards will be announced on February 11, 2012 and winners will be announced at the presentation reception and gala on April 26, 2012.

Lista has launched a new corporate website