What is a soldering station

Soldering station - operating principle and types

Every radio amateur (from a beginner to an experienced technician) knows that simple household soldering irons cannot be used for soldering small radio components. Having a high heating temperature and a high risk of phase voltage appearing on the tip, even with normal quality of work performed, as a rule, they overheat and damage expensive radio elements. Therefore, to perform these works, specialized equipment such as a soldering station is used.

What is a soldering station

A soldering station is specialized equipment used for soldering high-temperature and voltage-sensitive radio components (microcircuits, transistors, capacitors).

The main parts of such equipment are:

• Control module - a block that includes a step-down transformer, a soldering iron temperature control chip;
• Soldering iron is a working part of this equipment connected to the control module by a flexible shielded cable;
• Stand - located on the side of the control module and serves to safely place a heated soldering iron during breaks between soldering jobs.

More complex models also contain a hair dryer, thermal tweezers, and an infrared emitter for heating a certain area of ​​the printed circuit board. Some stations have a small air compressor built inside that pumps air into the hairdryer with a heating element.

Types of soldering stations

All modern stations differ in such characteristics as the soldering method, the type of soldering iron heating control (the temperature of a hair dryer or infrared emitter), and purpose.

Contact and non-contact

Depending on the method of soldering radio components, all soldering stations are divided into:

• Contact - in such equipment, radio components are soldered using a soldering iron with a sharp tip. According to the method of heating the tip, such stations are induction (the tip is heated by eddy currents generated when high voltage is applied to the coil located around it), pulse (the soldering iron is not heated constantly, but only at the moment the tip comes into contact with the working surface);
• Non-contact - soldering in such stations occurs due to the flow of hot air or thermal radiation. Non-contact devices are divided, in turn, into two types: hot-air (soldering occurs due to a high-temperature hair dryer supplying heated air to the working surface) and infrared (soldering occurs thanks to soldering irons with infrared emitters).

For your information. This classification is conditional - in many modern stations the equipment consists of contact and non-contact devices for soldering.

Analog and digital

Analog and digital soldering stations

According to the method of regulating the heating of the working body, soldering stations are divided into 2 types:

• Analog - in such stations, the heating of the tip is controlled by one sensor, which is connected to a relay that closes and opens the circuit of the heating element of the soldering iron;
• Digital - the heating of the soldering iron tip in such stations is regulated using switches and buttons located in the controller (microcircuit) located in the control module.

Analog soldering stations, due to their design features, are more reliable and repairable. However, this is where their advantages end - digital soldering equipment, in comparison with them, has more precise heating settings, which allows it to be used when soldering very temperature-sensitive radioelements.

Assembly and dismantling

Depending on their purpose, soldering stations are divided into:

• Assembly equipment - equipment structurally designed for soldering radio components onto printed circuit boards;
• Dismantling - soldering stations, which are used for quick and high-quality removal of solder and dismantling of burnt-out radio components.

In most cases, dismantling stations are used only in large radio engineering productions - ordinary radio amateurs remove remnants of old solder and dismantle failed radio components using conventional assembly soldering irons.

Repair

Soldering equipment of this type is used to carry out a large range of work. It includes not only various types of soldering irons, but also a special desoldering pump for removing solder particles and smoke, a clamp for fixing the part (board), and a lamp for illuminating the working surface. Such a station, thanks to its expanded configuration, combines the functions of the above-described installation and dismantling types of this equipment.

Features of choice

The main characteristics taken into account when choosing a soldering station are its power, equipment, and the type of flux used for soldering.

Power

Blocking generator: operating principle

The choice of a soldering station based on this characteristic depends on its purpose:

• For soldering small radio components that are sensitive to overheating, equipment with a power of 40-60 W is used;
• To work with printed circuit board elements that are not so sensitive to high temperatures, stations with a power of 70-90 W are used;
• More powerful equipment (power over 100W) is used for professional daily soldering in medium and large production of household and computer equipment.

Note! The most convenient and productive stations for amateur radio are those with a power of 60 to 90 W.

Equipment

The most convenient configuration of a soldering station includes the following components:

• Soldering iron with replaceable tips of various shapes;
• Hot air hair dryer, tripod for vertical mounting;
• Tubular Solder Reel;
• Special lamp.

Although such equipment will not be cheap, it will allow you to perform all types of amateur radio soldering work.

Flux selection

The best flux is soldering acid

Flux is a substance that prevents the formation of an oxide layer on the surface on which solder is applied, as well as on the soldering iron tip. The quality and speed of soldering work depend on the correct choice of flux.

The following are used as fluxes for soldering stations:

• Rosin (hardened pine or spruce resin);
• Alcohol solution of rosin;
• Orthophosphoric soldering acid.

For your information. Among these types of rosin, the most convenient and effective to apply is orthophosphoric soldering acid.

What is meant by pinout

Operating principle of a synchronous generator

Pinout - schematic arrangement and purpose of various contacts, connector pins, sockets, wires and other radio components of a soldering station with a description of each element. You can find it in the equipment operating instructions or on the Internet on specialized sites and forums for amateur radio operators. They use pinouts to identify the causes of equipment malfunctions, repair and assemble them.

Working with microcircuits

The soldering station allows you to quickly and efficiently replace failed microcircuits. The procedure for performing such work is as follows:

1. The board with the faulty microcircuit is fixed in a special clamp;
2. The radio components located next to the failed microcircuit are covered with thin aluminum foil;
3. A thin layer of flux is applied to the terminals of the old microcircuit being dismantled;
4. Using a circular motion of a hot-air hair dryer, melt the solder on the terminals of the microcircuit and, using tweezers, carefully remove it from the printed circuit board;
5. Soldering heels - the ends of the conductive paths of the board, intended for contact with the terminals of the microcircuit - are cleaned of flux residues;
6. Having determined the location of the first pin using a “key” (a recess or other marking on the body of the part), install a new microcircuit on the board, align it with the solder patches of the tracks;
7. Using a contact soldering iron with a thin tip, grab two corner leads;
8. Flux is applied to all pins of the microcircuit;
9. Using a circular motion of a hot-air hair dryer, melting the remaining solder, fix the leads of the microcircuit on the solder patches of the tracks;
10. Visually check the absence of short circuits between the terminals. If any are found, use a soldering iron to remove excess solder.

After completing the work, remove any remaining flux using a toothbrush and check the functionality of the soldered microcircuit.

Principles of temperature control

Depending on the type of soldering station, the heating temperature of the working body is regulated using the following devices:

• Relay and temperature sensor - the soldering iron tip heats up to a certain temperature, after which the temperature sensor, sending a signal to the relay, breaks the power supply circuit of the soldering iron and stops heating it. Thermal control using a relay and temperature sensor is highly reliable and simple. However, such a simple system has one significant drawback - while it prevents the tip from heating above a certain temperature, it does not allow for precise and fine adjustment of heating.
• The controller is an electronic device that controls the heating of the soldering iron. Unlike a relay and a temperature sensor, the controller, using various buttons and switches, allows you to accurately set the temperature of the soldering iron. Due to this, it is often used when soldering parts that are very sensitive to overheating.

Lead free soldering

Lead-free soldering is the latest modern type of soldering work, which involves the use of lead-free solders based on metals such as copper, silver, gold, cadmium, zinc, and indium. Such soldering is carried out using powerful soldering stations (75-170 W), capable of heating the soldering iron tip or the air coming out of a hot-air dryer to a temperature of 270-3000C.

Interesting. In addition to the absence of an unpleasant odor and the release of harmful gases, the convenience of this technology is the use of quick-release composite blades of various shapes and diameters.

Station manufacturers

The most popular manufacturers of this type of equipment are companies such as:

• "ERSA";
• "ATTEN";
• "QUICK";
• "AOYUE";
• "LUKEY."

Among these manufacturers, the most reliable, but at the same time expensive, soldering equipment is produced by the German company ERSA. Among budget models, many radio amateurs prefer products from the QUICK and LUKEY brands. At the same time, soldering stations from the latest manufacturer are currently causing many complaints and complaints regarding reliability and build quality.

Possibility to assemble with your own hands

Homemade soldering equipment

The simplest soldering equipment of this type can not only be purchased, but also assembled yourself. This option allows you not only to save a significant amount of money, but also to acquire knowledge about what a soldering station is, how it works from the inside, and understand the principle of its operation.

The process of self-assembly of a simple soldering station with a hair dryer is described in detail in the following video.

Source: https://amperof.ru/elektropribory/payalnaya-stanciya-princip-raboty.html

Soldering stations. Types and features. Application and how to choose

Today, the soldering iron has already become an everyday tool, which is only suitable for solving everyday soldering issues. To perform high-quality restoration and repair of modern devices, it is necessary to have more professional equipment.

In this area, a large selection of different types of devices is offered for specialists and beginners.

To repair complex electronic devices, soldering stations are used, which have become very popular among both beginning radio amateurs and professionals.

Classification and device

Considering the large selection of different models of soldering stations on sale, we will consider their types, purposes and capabilities.

Contact soldering stations

This type of station resembles a soldering iron in its design, equipped with an electronic temperature control unit.

Contact stations for soldering are divided into two categories, depending on the type of solder used:

• Stations for working with tin-lead solders.

• Lead free solder stations . This type of station is distinguished by the presence of a heating element with a power of up to 160 watts. This is due to the increased melting point of lead-free solders, so more power is required. The presence of a temperature controller in this type of soldering station allows them to be used for soldering with ordinary low-melting solder with lead.

Digital and analog

Soldering stations are divided into digital and analog, depending on the operating principle of the control units.

For analogue stations, the temperature is stabilized as follows:

• The heating element operates until the soldering iron core reaches a certain temperature, then the power is turned off.
• When the temperature drops below a certain limit, the heating element is connected and begins to heat the soldering iron tip.

The operation of the soldering iron is monitored by an electromagnetic relay, which is controlled by electronics and a temperature sensor. The advantage of an analog control system for a soldering station is its low cost. The disadvantage is the low accuracy of operation, which leads to excessive heating of the soldering iron tip.

This leads to other problems: overheating of radio components, frequent changes of tips.

The digital soldering station works by controlling the heater using a PID controller, which is controlled using a program embedded in the microcontroller. The digital control method is much more accurate than the analogue one.

Induction devices

In this type of soldering station, the soldering iron tip is heated by an induction pulse coil, operating from high-frequency oscillations that form eddy currents in the ferromagnetic coating. Heating is carried out to a temperature called the Curie point. After this, the magnetic properties of the ferromagnet change and heating stops.

Contactless stations

Such devices are used for repair and dismantling work with circuits, as well as for replacing microcircuits with a large number of pins.

A non-contact soldering station can be infrared, hot air or combined, depending on the operating principle:

• The infrared station includes a heating element in the form of an infrared ceramic or quartz emitter. Compared to hot-air soldering stations, infrared stations have their own advantages : - work with complex-profile components is allowed; — no need to look for a hair dryer attachment for a specific microcircuit; — radio components are not blown off the board by air during soldering; — uniform heating of the soldering area. It is worth noting that infrared stations are expensive and are professional equipment. They are rarely used by novice radio electronics enthusiasts.

• Soldering station with hair dryer (hot air). Contact stations are assembly stations, and they are not suitable for dismantling radio components with a large number of pins, such as microcircuits. For this purpose, special equipment with a hot air gun is used. In the absence of such equipment, radio amateurs sometimes use an industrial hair dryer or a gas burner. But this is not a professional tool that does not allow you to achieve good quality work. A jet of air that is too powerful can blow radio components off the board. Therefore, it is better to use equipment specially designed for this. The station model shown is equipped with digital controllers. Such equipment costs more than simple models. Most often, hair dryers are equipped with attachments that regulate air flow.

• Combined soldering stations combine other types of equipment, for example, a hot air gun and a soldering iron.

Dismantling stations

The design of this type of equipment includes a compressor that acts on suction. The heated solder is sucked from the surface into a separate container.

Many soldering stations come complete with accessories to make the job easier. These include:

• Lamps for illumination.
• Smoke eliminators.
• Demolition guns.
• Vacuum tweezers.
• Thermal emitters for heating the circuit board.
• Hairdryer for local heating.
• Thermal tweezers for installing and dismantling miniature parts.

The main task of the soldering station is to ensure high-quality soldering of elements. It depends on the technical and design parameters:

• Type of heating element. Manufacturers today present soldering stations equipped with two types of heating elements: ceramic and nichrome. The first of them heat up quickly, but are too sensitive to uneven heating and often crack. Thermal stabilization helps ceramic heaters provide good heat transfer, durability and high power. Nichrome elements cannot provide a long service life of the heater, so they are best used for infrequent use. However, a nichrome heater has a low cost, unlike a ceramic one.
• Temperature control interval.
• Heating rate.
• Power. The quality of a soldering station largely depends on its power and type of soldering. Power is the main parameter when choosing soldering equipment. This is especially important when using a soldering station to repair sensitive devices: navigators, tablets or smartphones.
• Voltage.
• Ergonomic parameters: shape, dimensions, weight.
• The standard lead-free soldering temperature for equipment should be at least 250 degrees.

Regardless of the type of soldering station, you need to stock up on several replacement tips in advance. Different types of stings have different edge areas and shapes. These parameters affect the final result of the work.

The larger the area of ​​the tip tip, the better the heat transfer occurs during soldering. The shape of the tip and its temperature affect the ability to solder certain elements and radio components.

Conscientious manufacturers of soldering equipment control the quality of soldering tip material. When choosing a soldering station, the ability to replace parts when they fail is of great importance.

Related topics:

Source: https://electrosam.ru/glavnaja/slabotochnye-seti/oborudovanie/paialnye-stantsii/

What is a soldering station?

When the capabilities of a conventional soldering iron become insufficient, it makes sense to think about using a special soldering station (SS). Carrying out high-quality installation of some elements on a printed circuit board without special equipment can be either very difficult or completely impossible.

Modern printed circuit boards are assembled on automated lines using special substations. It is logical that such devices must be used for repairs.

Moreover, when heated with a conventional soldering iron (even with a thin tip), there is a high risk of overheating the element itself or the textolite base on which it is mounted.

Why and who needs a soldering station?

A soldering station is a set of specialized tools for performing single and group soldering operations. And it is needed, first of all, by those for whom the capabilities of a conventional soldering iron are no longer enough.

A soldering station is a more complex device than a simple soldering iron. Accordingly, it has a number of advantages over it:

• the temperature of the heating element is stable, the electronic control unit maintains the set mode for an unlimited time;
• the presence of galvanic isolation from the network, which is critical when soldering elements of a powered circuit;
• unburnt tip - if handled carefully, it can last a very long time.

Does the minimum composition of the PS include the following nodes?

• Soldering iron with replaceable tip
• Adjustment block
• Stand
• Hot air gun
• desoldering pump
• Tip cleaner

The main advantage of a soldering station over a soldering iron is the presence of an electronic control unit for operating modes.

The electronic control unit provides:

• Smooth and precise temperature control
• Maintaining temperature within the specified range
• Network overload protection

Thus, the soldering station provides soldering where it is critical to eliminate the impact of high temperatures on mounting elements and the textolite base, while maintaining high strength and durability of the connections.

Purpose of individual modules

The main working module of a soldering station is a power supply with an electronic or analog control unit based on an autotransformer. It allows you to regulate the amplitude of the voltage supplied to the heating element and maintain the temperature in a given range. The soldering station can operate on 12V and 24V voltage.

The next two devices are a soldering iron and a hot air gun. Both are designed for soldering elements and differ in their scope. A soldering iron is used for soldering elements with side contacts, and a hair dryer is used for mounting elements with contacts under the body.

The stand is designed to safely hold the soldering iron and hot air gun during breaks between soldering. This device is not strictly necessary and is not included in the delivery package of all PSs, but it is highly advisable to purchase it. Safety and ease of use when using the stand increases significantly.

Vacuum desalting pump. Necessary for cleaning the soldering area from residual tin or solder. Just like the stand, it is an optional element. It does not directly affect the soldering process, however, it is highly desirable to purchase, as it minimizes traces of repairs and non-factory installation. This is especially true for inexperienced radio installers.

Tip cleaner. Availability and use is required! A cheap rag made of heat-resistant material for cleaning the soldering tip from dirt and carbon deposits. The thing is very cheap, but saving on soldering iron tips will help. The main thing is not to be lazy and clean them periodically.

What kind of soldering stations are there?

It is difficult to strictly classify soldering stations due to the large number of different modifications and methods of application. Different PS models differ from each other in the following parameters:

• By the number of soldering irons simultaneously connected to the workstation. Single and dual channel respectively. Most often, the second channel is used to connect an additional, dismantling, soldering iron.
• By type of operating mode control. There are digital and analog control modules. Digital ones are easier to use and more accurate.
• By type of heating element. Tip with nichrome heater, ceramic heater and induction heater.
• By soldering method. There are contact, non-contact and combined stations.

In contact substations, the heating element is the tip. Non-contact ones can heat the element with a stream of hot air or infrared radiation. Combined ones combine both previous types.

Is it necessary to calibrate the soldering station?

Let's make a reservation right away - a properly working soldering station does not require calibration. The stability and accuracy of maintaining operating modes is ensured by the manufacturing technology of the station itself throughout its service life.

If it turns out that the PS is not working correctly (a common occurrence is the temperature of the heating element being too high or low, which does not correspond to the readings on the control unit scale), then most likely one of the units is faulty. In this situation, no calibration will bring results.

The situation is a little different with cheap Chinese soldering stations, which are available in abundance on the market. The poor build quality of many models leads to the fact that the temperature indicator readings on the control unit differ greatly from the actual temperature of the heating element.

In this case, it is useful to take small measurements to determine how much the tuning scale is lying.

To measure, you will need a multimeter with an external temperature sensor and a screwdriver with a thin blade. You should turn on the soldering station and wait until it warms up to operating temperature. Next, bringing the sensor close to the heating element, you need to compare the readings on the multimeter with the temperature set on the scale of the control unit. In the future, when working with a soldering station, it is necessary to take this difference into account and set the soldering temperature adjusted for it.

Source: http://Sanata-tech.ru/blog/chto-takoe-payalnaya-stanciya-0

Soldering Station

> Tool > Soldering station

To carry out repair work on modern electronic equipment, a simple soldering iron is no longer enough. The industry produces soldering stations, which can be a complex device and contain structural units designed to perform various operations. In addition to several types of soldering irons, the system contains a control unit that regulates the technical parameters of soldering: temperature, power, etc.

Using a soldering station

The combined apparatus may contain:

• a hair dryer used to heat the soldering area;
• heat emitters that heat areas of the microcircuit;
• soldering iron;
• thermal tweezers for working with small elements;
• vacuum tweezers used when dismantling parts.

Compressor or fan

DIY soldering station

To pump air, a compressor built into the base housing of the station or a fan installed directly on the working tool is used.

Comparative characteristics:

1. The weight and dimensions of the device with a compressor are larger;
2. The connecting air hose of the compressor may be kinked, which complicates the soldering process and somewhat limits freedom of action;
3. The compressor provides a constant air flow, which is slightly easier to control than a fan;
4. When soldering at high temperatures, the fan can provide more efficient heating.

Hot air soldering station with compressor

Solder type

The soldering station is designed to work with different types of solder:

1. Made of lead and tin. Low-melting mixture, traditionally used for soldering radio components;
2. Lead free. Due to the hazards to human health, there is a trend in Western countries to replace lead solders. However, lead-free alloys require a higher tip temperature. Used in induction systems.

Important! Lead-free solder stations can also be used for lead solder by adjusting the temperature.

Control method

The control units of the device are divided into:

How to choose a soldering station

In analog systems, heating is controlled by a temperature sensor connected to a relay that closes the circuit to turn the soldering iron on and off.

Important! An analog soldering station does not have precise adjustment and requires constant monitoring during the working process, otherwise the service life of the equipment is shortened and the quality of soldering is reduced.

Digital control is carried out via a programmable controller with much greater accuracy and a wide range of functions. Such stations have a higher price, but do not have the disadvantages of analog systems.

Digital soldering station

There are analog systems with digital display. Instrument readings are displayed on a digital display, and all control is performed according to the analogue principle.

Number of components

How to tin a soldering iron: preparation and care of the soldering iron

The soldering station can be equipped with one working tool, for example, an infrared emitter. There are options with two or more components: hair dryer, soldering iron, tweezers.

There are special systems for dismantling microcircuits. They are equipped with compressors and vacuum soldering irons with suction function and devices for collecting solder.

Heating element type

The soldering irons used use two types of heating elements: ceramic and nichrome.

Comparative characteristics:

1. A nichrome element has less power than a ceramic element, which has compact dimensions;
2. The nichrome element has a short service life compared to ceramic ones (the difference can reach several years);
3. Ceramics are less resistant to mechanical damage; even microscopic cracks prevent further use of the heater;
4. The cost of a soldering iron with a ceramic element is higher.

Important! Ceramic elements can crack due to temperature imbalances that occur when using a poorly installed tip.

Features of choosing a soldering station

When choosing a suitable system, you must be guided by the following criteria:

1. Power. Depends on the focus of the work. Soldering PC boards requires one power level, and working with mobile devices requires another;
2. Type of heating element;
3. Heating time;
4. Temperature control limits;
5. Design form, dimensions, weight.

Points to consider:

1. Many global manufacturers have switched to lead-free soldering. Consequently, higher power devices will be needed that provide temperatures above 220°C;
2. You should pay attention to the replaceable nozzles and tips. Some stations are already equipped with them. You can buy spare ones separately, paying attention to the material of the tip, which should have high thermal conductivity. The shape of the tip depends on the specifics of the soldering.

Important! You should not purchase a device with a soldering iron whose tip cannot be replaced.

Review of soldering station models

The recognized leader among manufacturers of soldering equipment is the German company ERSA. The materials used, build quality, and highly functional digital control provide all owners of such equipment with effective soldering under any conditions. The disadvantage is the high price. The simplest analog model Analog-60A with one soldering iron costs from 200 EUR, and the two-channel digital ICON VARIO 2, equipped with a hot air gun, costs 1200 EUR.

An inexpensive alternative is the Chinese ones: ATTEN, QUICK, AOYUE, LUKEY. In the Russian Federation, the most popular are QUICK and LUKEY. In a much lower price range you can purchase a device of decent quality and with great capabilities. The QUICK202D ESD induction soldering station with digital control is sold at a price of 120 EUR, and the QUICK990 ESD hot air soldering station costs the same.

LUKEY soldering systems cause the most complaints regarding quality, but their low cost attracts buyers and makes the devices leaders in demand. The popular LUKEY 852 D+ model includes a hair dryer and a soldering iron with a ceramic element at a price of 80 EUR. The two-channel LUKEY 868 is designed for repairing portable devices.

Soldering station LUKEY 868

A wide selection of soldering equipment will allow you to decide on the purchase of a station. For beginners, it is better to purchase inexpensive models; for professionals with high requirements, high-quality devices are suitable.

Source: https://jelectro.ru/instrument/payalnaya-stanciya.html

Types of modern soldering stations

Soldering stations are mainly used in professional environments, although anyone can purchase them. This is quite powerful equipment that is suitable for many different operations, including the restoration of complex equipment. The station can include not only a standard soldering iron, but also a hot air dryer.

In addition, any station has a so-called control module and galvanic isolation from the network. The presence of galvanic isolation minimizes possible negative consequences from soldering (black smoke or electric shock).

The soldering station is also distinguished from ordinary soldering irons by its temperature stability during operation, which is critical when soldering printed circuit boards.

Infrared devices and hair dryers

Hot air stations (sometimes simply called hair dryers) work like this. First, a strong air flow generated by the compressor, passing through the heating coil, acquires the desired temperature, and then a stream of hot air is directed to the soldering area.

The hot air station makes it possible to solder in hard-to-reach areas with simultaneous heating of several surfaces at once. Any hot air installation has a power that is sufficient for soldering with any type of solder, both with and without lead.

Hot air soldering has wide application, for example, in the field of repairing household electrical appliances and mobile phones. However, it is almost impossible to install and dismantle microcircuits (even in BGA format) with thermal air installations - this is a serious limitation.

Infrared-type stations must have a heating element in the form of an infrared emitter made of ceramic or quartz. And thanks to this, infrared installations have some advantages over their thermal air counterparts:

• soldering of complex-profile components is possible;
• there is no need to look for a nozzle for a hot air gun for a specific microcircuit;
• During soldering, no radio components are blown away by heated air flows from the printed circuit board;
• The soldering area heats up very evenly.

Infrared stations are not cheap and are considered equipment for true professionals. Beginners in soldering and radio electronics for the most part do not use such devices.

A few words should be said about combined soldering stations. They are called that because they combine several types of equipment in their design, for example, a soldering iron and a hair dryer.

What to look for when selecting and purchasing

The quality of soldering is directly and strictly dependent on the parameters of the soldering equipment and its design features, and all this is extremely important to take into account when purchasing.

From the history of soldering and metallurgy

Soldering is widely used in industry and everyday life. Thus, in the mechanical engineering field it is used in the production of turbine blades, disks, pipeline systems and many other products. Soldering is used in the production of electronic equipment for various purposes.

Soldering electronic equipment

The advantages of this technological process include the following:

1. Low temperature heating of connected parts. this allows you to preserve the structure and mechanical parameters of the materials.
2. This method allows you to ensure the mechanical cleanliness of the seam and this allows you to avoid additional mechanical processing.
3. Modern soldering methods make it possible to connect parts made of steel alloys, non-ferrous metals, etc.

Soldering is one of the oldest methods of metal processing. Its use helped solve many problems in the manufacture of dishes, weapons, jewelry, etc.

Several thousand years ago, soldering was already widely used by artisans. Thus, during excavations on the territory of Babylon, gold items were discovered, in which individual parts were soldered.

And on the site of ancient Rome, lead pipes were found that were part of the water supply system and assembled using tin-lead solder.

Moreover, some researchers are convinced that the legendary Monomakh hat, kept in the Kremlin, is assembled from several thousand elements made of gold and connected by soldering.

Arc welding

Before the advent of electric arc welding, soldering was used along with welding performed in a forge to create permanent connections between metal parts. In principle, we can say that the advent of electric welding significantly stopped the development of soldering and its transformation into a technical process for joining metal parts.

Brazing Technology

But the emergence and rapid development of aviation construction, astronautics, and microelectronics has led to the emergence of a high and stable demand for the use of this method of assembling parts. In particular, soldering is used to create complex components in mechanical engineering and the construction of various devices. In some cases, soldering turned out to be the only way to connect parts.

Purpose of the soldering station

A soldering station, sometimes called a soldering machine or installation, is a type of equipment used in radio engineering. The main purpose of this device is to perform single or group soldering.

Soldering station diagram

This equipment consists of the following components:

1. A device for monitoring the characteristics and parameters of its operation.
2. A soldering iron designed for soldering at low temperatures.
3. Tweezers, which are involved in the assembly and disassembly of board components.
4. A heating hair dryer, its purpose is to warm up the soldering area; it can be used for group soldering of parts.

Source: https://stankiexpert.ru/spravochnik/svarka/payalnaya-stanciya.html

Induction soldering stations: principle of operation, review, how to choose

The contact method of heating the tip, used in classic soldering station circuits, is imperfect. This manifests itself in the form of low efficiency, high power consumption, local overheating of the tip in the contact area, etc. The soldering induction station is free of such disadvantages. Let's look at the operating principle of such a device, take a look at several popular models and find out how to choose a device based on its area of ​​application.

Principle of operation

Let's start with the design features of the induction heating element (see Figure 1), this will allow us to better understand its principle of operation.

Induction heating element

Designations indicated:

• A – shielding shell;
• B – wires supplying voltage to the inductor;
• C – soldering iron handle;
• D – sting;
• E – induction coil;
• F – ferromagnetic layer.

Now let's talk superficially about the principle of operation, without diving into the theoretical foundations of electromagnetic induction. When high-frequency voltage enters the induction coil, an alternating magnetic field is formed. Since the skin layer of the tip is made of ferromagnetic material, the process of its magnetization reversal begins, which is accompanied by the formation of eddy currents. This leads to a significant release of thermal energy.

The advantages of the induction method are obvious: since the soldering iron tip acts as a heating element, it is heated evenly. Consequently, there are no losses from temperature inertia, and local overheating, which causes oxidation and burnout of the tip, is completely eliminated. As a result, its service life increases and the efficiency of the device increases.

Heating control principle

You can control the heating process in two ways:

1. By installing a temperature sensor on the tip and connecting it to the digital control unit. This method of temperature stabilization is used in almost all inexpensive induction soldering stations, for example: Quick 203H or Yihua 900H (shown in Figure 2). Yihua 900H digital station

Source: https://www.asutpp.ru/ustrojstvo-i-princip-dejstviya-payalnyx-indukcionnyx-stancij.html

Choosing a soldering station

The need to use soldering equipment may arise at any time, even at home, but not every master knows how to [choose a soldering station] so that its technical capabilities meet the current need.

And to understand this, you need to understand the technical potential of modern soldering equipment.

Soldering requires not only the presence of a soldering iron, but also the necessary components, the minimum set of which consists of a control module and a spring holder.

For using a soldering device at home, this is the optimal configuration option, capable of providing a stable temperature, protection from overloads and static.

Whereas a standard soldering station for special purposes, including industrial, can also be equipped with:

• thermal tweezers (used for installation and disassembly of miniature components);
• local heating hairdryer (used as an auxiliary heater at the soldering site);
• thermal emitter (used to heat the board when group soldering is performed);
• vacuum tweezers;
• auxiliary fittings.

Features of classification of soldering equipment

Depending on the purpose of the soldering station, its configuration may include devices for highly specialized operations.

It is the complete set that ultimately determines the classification of soldering equipment.

The soldering station can be:

• hot air - this type of device is equipped with a hair dryer and provides for soldering with hot air;
• induction - is a miniature, but very powerful and durable device;
• pulse - used for installation and dismantling of any modern circuit;
• infrared - along with gas soldering irons, this is the best opportunity to repair a mobile phone or tablet yourself.

Technological features of the use of soldering stations

Depending on the type of soldering performed, devices are divided into 2 categories - lead and lead-free.

Lead soldering equipment is equipped with a module that regulates the heating level of the tip. These can be either devices whose operation is based on electricity, or induction-type stations.

IMPORTANT TO KNOW: How to choose a semi-automatic welding machine?

A characteristic feature of induction stations is that their operation is ensured by an alternating magnetic field.

In this case, each soldering element is processed with a different power, the selection of which is carried out automatically, since the device independently determines the heat capacity of the soldering component.

The use of induction soldering stations is convenient to operate and has high heat dissipation.

In cases where it is necessary to solder small circuit elements or hard-to-reach components, the non-contact soldering method is used. Non-contact soldering stations include hot-air and infrared soldering stations.

The operating principle of infrared soldering equipment is based on the properties of infrared rays obtained from ceramic or quartz elements.

The main areas of application for infrared stations are computer circuits and motherboards.

Thermal air stations operate on the principle of point transfer of hot air, so they can be used to easily warm up hard-to-reach elements without touching adjacent contacts.

This type of soldering device is usually used in workshops for repairing household electronic and mobile equipment.

Nuances of operating various types of soldering equipment

The technological diversity of types and categories of soldering equipment significantly complicates its choice.

Therefore, before giving preference to any model, it is worth familiarizing yourself in detail with their technical potential and recommended scope of application.

Craftsmen who use a regular soldering iron at home are well aware of the situation when the sensitive elements of the device overheat, and it is not possible to adjust the temperature.

This is one of the reasons why it is better to choose a soldering station over a soldering iron.

Because the station is equipped with a power supply, and with its help you can change not only the voltage, but also the temperature of the device.

However, it is not enough to simply choose a soldering station with a thermal stabilization system. It is also important to consider the power of the device, especially if refractory solders are used.

Otherwise, negative consequences cannot be avoided:

1. excessive soldering temperature leads to overheating of circuit components;

2. the durability of the soldering iron tip is sharply reduced due to overheating;

3. the shelf life of the heating element is reduced;

4. the tracks on the board overheat;

5. soldering quality is unsatisfactory.

In such cases, it is recommended to pay attention to equipment specifically designed for lead-free soldering - firstly, the power of such devices is much higher, and secondly, they can also be used for lead soldering.

IMPORTANT TO KNOW: Tips for choosing a semi-automatic welding machine

Methods for controlling soldering equipment

Considering that soldering stations are one of the main tools in the field of electronics production, and the level of demand for them is high, multifunctional devices have been created that combine the technical capabilities of various types of equipment.

Such devices are distinguished by the connection of several modules, allowing the use of contact or non-contact soldering, as well as the use of several nozzles and tips.

When choosing soldering equipment, the method of controlling the station deserves special attention. It can be digital and analog.

Analogue type devices require constant monitoring, because when a certain temperature level is reached, they must be turned off so that the soldering tip does not overheat.

On the other hand, after turning off the device, the temperature drops, and in order to solder, you must wait until it rises again.

Digital type devices operate thanks to appropriate software, which provides control of the tip heating temperature automatically.

This means that the digital control method provides a more stable and accurate level of temperature maintenance than the analogue one.

Principles for choosing a soldering station

The task of soldering equipment is to ensure high-quality connection of elements, which in turn depends on the following design and technical parameters:

• A type of heating element. Modern manufacturers offer soldering stations with two types of heaters - ceramic and nichrome. Ceramic heaters heat up quickly, but are sensitive to uneven heating and can crack. But with thermal stabilization, ceramic heaters show good heat transfer, high power and durability. Whereas nichrome is not able to ensure long-term operation of the heater and is therefore recommended for infrequent use. True, a nichrome heater costs much less than a ceramic one;
• Range of adjustable temperature indicators;
• Warm-up speeds;
• Power. As a rule, the quality level of a soldering station depends on the feasibility of its operation. It all depends on what kind of soldering is required and for what components. Therefore, power is one of the most important parameters that determine the choice of soldering equipment. Especially if the device will be used to repair such sensitive types of equipment as mobile phones, tablets, navigators, etc.;
• Voltage;
• Ergonomic indicators - weight, size, shape.

IMPORTANT TO KNOW: Choosing the best inverter welding machine

Also, objective factors influencing the choice of a soldering device are:

1. Standards accepted by the international community that provide for lead-free soldering. This means that to ensure soldering you will need equipment with an operating temperature of 250 °C;
2. Placing microcircuits in BGA packages. On the one hand, this is justified, since it allows you to reduce the size of products. On the other hand, this complicates all soldering-related processes due to the inaccessibility of components.

Other important points when choosing a soldering station

Regardless of what type of soldering station you choose, experienced craftsmen recommend providing yourself with a supply of replacement tips in advance.

Different types of tips differ in shape and edge area, and the final soldering result largely depends on these parameters.

First of all, because the larger the edge area, the better the heat transfer during the soldering process. And secondly, not only the type of elements being processed, but also its temperature can depend on the shape of the tip.

Therefore, good manufacturers make sure that the material from which the soldering tips are made has good heat dissipation.
Also, when choosing, you should pay attention to the ability to replace parts of the soldering equipment if they fail.

There is no point in investing in equipment that cannot be repaired.

Source: https://rezhemmetall.ru/kak-vybrat-payalnuyu-stanciyu.html

What are soldering stations: which one is better to choose for your home, soldering features

When the capabilities of a conventional soldering iron become insufficient, it makes sense to think about using a special soldering station (SS). Carrying out high-quality installation of some elements on a printed circuit board without special equipment can be either very difficult or completely impossible.

Modern printed circuit boards are assembled on automated lines using special substations. It is logical that such devices must be used for repairs.

Moreover, when heated with a conventional soldering iron (even with a thin tip), there is a high risk of overheating the element itself or the textolite base on which it is mounted.

Short review

Let's start with a station with a Quick 203H digital control unit (its photo is shown in the figure below).

Appearance of the QUICK 203Н station

The original model of this station costs between $220-$240, a Chinese analogue can be found at half the price (when choosing, pay attention to the package, it can be supplied without a soldering iron). Works great with SMD radio components and lead-containing solder.

review and operation in real conditions of the QUICK 203H station

Negative points: massive elements and lead-free solder require a long time to warm up.

Characteristics:

• The power declared by the manufacturer is 90W.
• Operating temperature from 200C° to 420C°.
• A voltage of 36V with a frequency of 400kHz is supplied to the induction coil.
• Stabilization of the established thermal regime is carried out with an error of 2C°.
• Heating to an operating temperature of 350C° takes no more than 25 seconds.

The digital control unit allows you to set 10 temperature profiles, set a power-on password lock, perform calibration, and set a delay time for turning on the sleep mode and turning off the device.

Those who purchased a Chinese analogue of the device are advised to immediately worry about purchasing the original tip, since what is included in the kit is more decorative than working.

Source: https://instanko.ru/elektroinstrument/dlya-chego-nuzhna-payalnaya-stanciya.html