How to work with a soldering station correctly

Russian-made soldering station: how to choose and use

Today, a soldering iron is a common device that allows you to solve many everyday problems. However, to perform high-quality soldering and repair of modern equipment, it is necessary to use a more professional tool, which is a soldering station.

It allows you to repair complex devices and is very popular not only among highly qualified specialists, but also among beginning radio amateurs.

Device classification

In stores you can find a wide selection of such devices. Basically, a soldering station is an electronic unit for setting the temperature and a soldering iron.

Despite the huge range, the following types of soldering stations can be distinguished depending on the solder used: the first are designed to work with tin-lead solders, and the second - without lead.

The second type is distinguished by the presence of a separate heating element. Its power can reach 160 W. This is due to the fact that the melting point of lead-free solders is quite high. In this regard, more power is needed.

At the same time, such devices have the ability to adjust the temperature, which makes it possible to work with low-melting lead alloys.

Drawing of a soldering iron and hair dryer in a soldering station.

Depending on the principle of operation of the blocks, stations are divided into:

analog and digital;
according to the heating method - induction and non-contact.

The latter, in turn, can be infrared, thermal air or combined. When choosing this device, you need to decide what needs to be soldered. For example, infrared ones are perfect for microcircuits.

A soldering station with a hair dryer does an excellent job of dismantling radio components with a large number of leads. Conventional soldering irons will not cope with this task.

Hot air soldering stations

To work with circuits with a large number of pins, contactless stations are used. Infrared is one of their varieties. Heating in this device occurs due to a special ceramic element.

Such equipment has a number of advantages:

the ability to work with complex-profile microcircuits;
radio components are not blown away by air flow;
uniform heating of the product.

The main disadvantage of this device is its high cost. In this regard, it can be safely classified as a professional station. Beginner radio amateurs very rarely use such equipment.

Soldering stations with a hair dryer are used mainly for dismantling microcircuits, as noted above. In the absence of this equipment, specialists can use an industrial hair dryer or burner. However, such devices do not allow high-quality work to be done.

Professional devices allow you to adjust operating modes, which greatly simplifies the dismantling process.

The combined version combines a hot air gun, a soldering iron for the station and other types of equipment. Using such devices is quite simple. For example, to solder wires, it is enough to set the temperature of the electric soldering iron and tin them using flux and tin.

Contact and non-contact soldering stations

All modern soldering stations are divided into two main categories: contact and non-contact. The first are most reminiscent of classic devices for working with tin-lead or lead-free solder.

Each of the noted types has its own advantages and finds its application in solving certain problems. Today, most radio amateurs prefer using a non-contact soldering station.

Of course, contact soldering irons cannot be classified as the most modern units. They are usually equipped with one tip. However, most devices allow you to easily replace them. Buying a sting is not difficult.

As a result, you can work with such a soldering iron on almost any part. With the exception of boards in complex electronics.

However, the possibilities of contact soldering are limited and not all problems can be solved with its help. This especially applies to SMT installation. Dealing with this with a classic soldering iron is not only difficult, but sometimes completely impossible.

For this type of work it is necessary to use non-contact soldering. The most common such equipment is hot air stations.

The principle of their operation is that a compressor or turbine creates an air flow. It passes through the heating element and reaches the set temperature. The resulting jet is directed to the soldering zone.

Electrical diagram of a soldering station.

These devices are widely used for repairing large and small household appliances. The station's power is sufficient to work with lead and lead-free solders.

At the same time, they have restrictions on their use. The station cannot be used for mounting or dismantling large BGA chips.

Thermal air stations have become especially widespread in combination with other types of devices. Thus, various options for tandem hot air gun and soldering iron are widely available on the market.

Another important element of such equipment is a compressor, which sucks heated solder into a special tank. Many experts have long appreciated the advantage of this structural element.

The most modern solution for working with complex microcircuits is infrared soldering stations. Infrared radiation allows you to avoid mechanical overheating of microcircuits, as well as their direct overheating.

Among the tasks that these devices allow you to solve:

installation and dismantling of medium and large BGA chips;
reducing the thermal effect by concentrating radiation where it is needed;
no need to use different attachments for each chip.

Analog and digital soldering stations

According to the operating principle of the soldering station, there is a division into analog and digital. They differ from each other in the way they stabilize the temperature for soldering.

Analog stations turn off the heater when a certain temperature is reached. If it decreases, the heater turns on again. This method is not ideal. In such devices there is a possibility of the tip overheating, since the accuracy of temperature setting is minimal.

Schematic diagram of a soldering station.

In digital stations, temperature control is carried out using a program in the microcontroller. The principle of operation of the device is the same as that of the analog version, only the accuracy of temperature control is significantly higher.

Soldering of the described device options is carried out in the same way. They allow you to set the necessary modes depending on the parts being repaired and the selected solder. However, when working with massive products, it is better to give preference to a digital station.

Which solder should I choose?

The difference between lead and lead-free solder is their melting point. The second option is more refractory. In this regard, more powerful soldering stations are used to work with lead-free solder.

When working with such refractory solder, it is better to give preference to a non-contact soldering station.

The fact is that when repairing electronic devices made using lead-free technology, desoldering individual microcircuits can lead to peeling of the printed circuit board tracks due to higher temperatures.

Selecting a soldering station

Today there is a wide range of these devices in Russia. In connection with this, choosing a soldering station is a difficult task not only for beginner radio amateurs, but also for experienced craftsmen.

Modern technology is constantly being improved and developed. This happens especially clearly with its size, which is constantly decreasing, and at the same time the complexity of its repair increases.

There are no problems in the manufacture of equipment, because all the most complex soldering is carried out by robots capable of performing such actions to perfection. However, the repairs are performed by a living person. The result of the repair largely depends not only on skill, but also on the right equipment.

Circuit diagram of a soldering station based on ATmega8.

So, soldering devices can be divided into the following types:

contact;
hot air;
combined thermal air;
dismantling;
infrared.

There are no general rules when choosing a station. It all depends on the tasks that she has to solve. And in each specific case there will be its own rating of the best devices.

Purpose

Of course, the choice directly depends on the application of the device. As noted above, in professional workshops they prefer an infrared soldering station, but for the home you can consider simpler options.

At the same time, it would be justified to purchase a device with high power, since the main criterion in operation is the temperature of the tip and its stabilization.

If you need to work with small parts, then you should consider equipment with a soldering gun.

Maintainability

The maintainability of the soldering station is also an important criterion. The fact is that very often the tip or heating element in such devices can fail. It is better to read customer reviews about a particular model in advance to determine its reliability and quality.

It often happens that the protective coating wears off the tip due to frequent use.

When soldering, they use flux and tin, which must be used to tin the tip. It is impossible to do this if the coating has faded. In this regard, it is necessary to consider in advance the possibility of purchasing new tips, as well as their quality.

Electrical diagram of the soldering station.

However, it is still better, first of all, when choosing, to pay attention to what the soldering station is needed for. When choosing equipment for an electrical laboratory, where soldering will be carried out constantly, it is advisable to consider more expensive and reliable options.

Temperature

There is a wide range of equipment for the technical part of the soldering device, which significantly complicates the question: how to choose a soldering station. First of all, it is advisable to determine the technical features of the device.

Those who like to do repairs at home can also use regular soldering irons. However, they can overheat the microcircuits, which will not lead to their repair, but vice versa. In this regard, temperature is an important criterion.

When working with massive appliances and electrical equipment, power is very important.

However, sometimes its excess can lead to:

overheating of parts;
degradation of the tip coating;
failure of the heating element;
overheating of tracks;
reduced soldering quality.

Soldering Station Operation

So, how to use a soldering machine? In general, this is no more difficult than the soldering technique with a soldering iron. On the contrary, it is more convenient and comfortable to use.

It’s worth highlighting one operating rule right away: you shouldn’t set the maximum temperature unless absolutely necessary. In a contactor soldering iron, this can lead to overheating of the tip, and in a hot air gun, the thermoelement can fail.

You should also use only high-quality flux. Although this advice is relevant when soldering with any equipment.

You should also not turn on the heat gun at maximum power. This will lead to the radio components being blown away.

Bottom line

Soldering stations have long replaced conventional soldering irons in professional workshops. Infrared devices are especially often used in such tasks. The availability of hot air devices makes them attractive for beginning radio amateurs.

They are more functional and easier to use than classic soldering irons, and their higher cost is more than compensated by their numerous advantages. A good soldering station is the key to high-quality and reliable repairs.

Source: https://tutsvarka.ru/oborudovanie/payalnaya-stantsiya

How to use the soldering station

Purchasing the first soldering station is an important step, but it is far from the last, because there is a lot of work to be done to master this equipment. Of course, everyone dreams of quickly clearing the table of unnecessary things for the soldering iron, and then sitting down over the device and immediately becoming a radio amateur. But in reality, everything is not so simple and quickly, since this type of equipment differs from a conventional soldering iron, so you need to get used to it and master the rules of use.

Types of soldering stations

First you need to decide what type of soldering station you have, since each type has specific operating principles. A regular station has a contact soldering iron. If instead a special hot air gun is installed, you have a hot air station in front of you.

They also produce mixed equipment, which includes a soldering iron for contact work and a small hair dryer. Infrared stations are not recommended for use by beginners, primarily due to their high cost (sometimes the price is equal to the budget for an entire car).

Without a thorough study of the technical nuances, we can say with confidence that all of these soldering stations are similar to each other, since they are based on a control unit. It houses the control electronics and transformer. Cheap models have analog controls, while expensive ones have high-quality digital components. Now it’s worth looking at each category of stations in more detail.

The contact model is equipped with dismountable hooks with removable heating elements. Often in such devices it is possible to replace the tip for a specific type of soldering. Many contact stations are produced for experienced users, so you can always choose separate accessories for the equipment that help in some complex and non-standard types of work.
A soldering station with a hot air gun in the control unit may contain a fan or compressor. Also, the last element can be placed directly in the hairdryer. When working with a hair dryer, solder is heated by hot air masses, so that you can evenly heat not just one contact, but the entire part. Using a hot air gun, you can also solder multi-pin components.
Mixed stations from some manufacturers may have a desalinizer, but the price of the equipment will be several times higher.
Infrared devices, instead of a hair dryer or contact soldering iron, have an infrared heating element. They cost more than all other soldering stations, but they also help in working with complex elements.

Basic rules when working with a soldering station

In general, using such equipment does not look more difficult than working with a regular soldering iron. On the contrary, the station provides convenience and comfort of soldering. Some correspondences can be identified between specific types of devices and types of work performed:

The contact station allows for surface mounting and working with small SMD parts. In the equipment, you can change the tip for the accuracy of the procedure and carefully regulate the heating temperature of this nozzle.
A hot-air soldering station is also suitable for surface mounting, but its main operating profile is SMD mounting. In this case, there is no need to warm up the individual terminals of the component: the entire part is immediately heated, and the element can be removed without any problems.
Mixed equipment is an excellent solution for complex work. With a hairdryer and soldering iron, you can purchase stations for repair centers and maintenance services.
An infrared station is needed for complex repair work. Usually we are talking about restoring expensive devices. For example, with such equipment you can remove the chip from the motherboard without causing any harm to either the element or the surface itself.

There are also basic rules for working during the soldering process. For example, you cannot set the highest heating temperature unless absolutely necessary. If this is done in a contact soldering station, the tip will overheat and become unusable, as will the heating element.

A hot air gun will also damage its heating parts as a result of overheating.

Craftsmen also advise using high-quality flux. This is relevant when working with any type of station, because low-quality flux slowly destroys the expensive tip and harms the health of the worker. There is no need to skimp on flux, and it is better to always use a little more of it than is currently required. The same applies to solder: it’s better not to be greedy with it.

Unless absolutely necessary, you should also not set the maximum power on the heat gun. The fact is that a strong air flow can blow important elements off the board, especially if they are small in size and light in weight.

Some radio amateurs are engaged in independent modification of their devices. However, if this is your first soldering station and you still have little understanding of its technical components and devices in general, it is better to refrain from such procedures so as not to harm the equipment.

conclusions

The most important conclusion that can be drawn after studying the soldering station is that working with such equipment is pleasant, convenient and understandable. The device provides safe and comfortable soldering if you follow the minimum rules of careful operation. Always remember that the maximum heating temperature negatively affects the condition of the elements and shortens their service life.

THIS IS INTERESTING: How to make a welding machine

The extreme operating mode of the soldering station does not in any way affect the expansion of its functionality, but only overloads the equipment.

Source: https://axeum.ru/page/post/kak-polzovatsja-pajalnoj-stanciej

Soldering station: features, classification, application, control methods and selection of soldering devices

In the life of every home craftsman, a situation may arise when a particular problem can be solved most effectively only with the help of soldering equipment. It is necessary to choose this device correctly, because you want the purchased equipment to help satisfy your need without any complications.

Everyone understands that without knowledge of the technical characteristics of soldering equipment it is extremely difficult to choose the most suitable option among the variety of such devices.

It is important to remember that the quality of soldering depends not only on the design of the soldering iron, but also on the features of the components supplied with it, which in the most budget model are represented by a control module and a spring holder.

This soldering device is best suited to meet household needs. It will be able to maintain the required temperature during operation for efficient operations, and will also protect against overloads and static.

If you compare a soldering device in a similar configuration with a standard special-purpose soldering station, you will find out that in terms of additional equipment, both of these devices are no different. The latter is usually supplied with thermal tweezers , a local heating hair dryer, a heat emitter, vacuum tweezers and auxiliary fittings.

Classification of soldering devices

The soldering station allows you to perform highly specialized tasks, so it is more preferable. These devices can be classified depending on the purpose of use. They are the ones who determine the complete set of a particular model. There are several types of soldering devices:

Thermal air. A device that comes with a hair dryer and allows you to perform hot air soldering.
Induction. A small device, which, despite this, has quite a large working potential and endurance.
Pulse. Designed for installation and dismantling of modern circuits.
Infrared. The most suitable type of device for repairing a mobile phone or tablet at home.

Technological application features

Based on characteristics such as the type of soldering, these devices can be divided into two main groups - lead and lead-free.

Lead stations

The design of devices intended for lead soldering includes a special module that allows you to select the desired level of tip heating. They can be made in two versions - using electricity for operation and in the form of induction-type stations.

Speaking about induction stations, it should be noted that the ability to use these devices to perform the necessary manipulations is provided by an alternating magnetic field.

During operation, each soldering element is processed with individually selected power, which is done automatically. This capability is built into the device itself by the manufacturer; it can determine the heat capacity of the soldering component without user intervention.

Induction soldering stations are more convenient to use and have a high level of heat transfer.

Lead-free stations

If you need to solder small circuit elements or hard-to-reach components, then use the non-contact soldering method. Hot air and infrared soldering stations operate on this principle.

The operation of infrared soldering equipment is carried out by using the properties of infrared rays produced by ceramic or quartz elements. Infrared stations are used mainly for mounting and dismantling elements of computer circuits and motherboards.

The operation of hot air stations is based on the principle of point transfer of hot air. Thanks to this, they can effortlessly heat up hard-to-reach elements without touching adjacent contacts.

Most often, workers in workshops for repairing household electronic and mobile equipment use this type of soldering device.

Due to the variety of types of soldering equipment, choosing a soldering device that best suits the tasks at hand can be difficult. When planning to purchase this or that model, we advise you to first study their technical capabilities and the scope of application recommended by the manufacturer.

Home craftsmen who have to perform small operations with a soldering iron often find themselves in a situation where the sensitive elements of the device overheat, but they cannot do anything about it due to the inability to correctly adjust the temperature of the working tip .

Those who encounter this quite often should definitely consider purchasing a soldering station with a hair dryer instead of a regular soldering iron.

Such stations are supplied with a power supply, which allows you to customize the voltage and temperature of the device at your discretion.

However, you should not expect that after purchasing a soldering station with a thermal stabilization system you will be able to provide yourself with comfortable working conditions. Before choosing a specific model, it is necessary to compare all offered stations according to such characteristics as power. Craftsmen who plan to use refractory solders especially need to worry about this.

If this point is not paid attention to, the following negative consequences may occur during operation of such a station:

due to exceeding the permissible soldering temperature, the circuit components will begin to overheat;
due to severe overheating, the service life of the soldering iron tip will be significantly reduced;
the durability of the heating element will be sharply reduced;
constant overheating of tracks on the board;
poor soldering quality.

If such situations occur quite often, then you should think about replacing the equipment you are using with special devices for lead-free soldering. Not only do they have a higher power rating , but they can also be used for lead soldering.

Methods of controlling soldering devices

Bearing in mind that soldering stations are most often used in the manufacture and repair of electronics and that not only professionals, but also amateurs are interested in them, manufacturers decided to create a new type of device for them that has broader functionality and combines the capabilities of different types of equipment.

One of the features of such devices is that several modules can be connected to them, turning them into devices for performing contact or non-contact soldering, as well as performing other operations thanks to the supplied set of nozzles and tips.

When considering different models of soldering equipment, you need to pay special attention to the way the station is controlled. Depending on this, two types of devices can be distinguished - digital and analog.

When using analog-type devices, it is imperative that a technician be constantly present next to them, since when a certain temperature is reached, the device must be turned off, otherwise it will lead to overheating of the soldering tip.

At the same time, the temperature of the de-energized device begins to decrease and to resume soldering you will have to wait some time until the temperature rises again to operating temperature.

In digital stations, work is supported by special software that monitors the heating temperature of the tip and adjusts it if necessary.

It follows from this that it is best to choose devices with a digital control mode for soldering, because in this case the master can count on a more stable and accurate level of maintaining the required temperature.

Modern soldering equipment is designed to perform high-quality connections between elements. And in order for it to cope with this task most effectively, when choosing it, it is necessary to pay attention to the following design and technical features:

Type of heating element. Today, you can buy two types of soldering devices in stores, depending on the type of heater used in them - ceramic and nichrome. Ceramic heaters require a minimum of heating time, however, they are unstable to uneven heating and can crack. However, if the soldering equipment is equipped with a thermal stabilization system, then such heaters can demonstrate good heat transfer, high power and durability. Compared to them, nichrome heaters do not have such a long service life, so they should be chosen if you plan to use the soldering device infrequently. The main advantage of nichrome heaters is their lower price compared to ceramic ones.
Range of adjustable temperature conditions.
Warm-up speed.
Power. To ensure high-quality operation of soldering equipment, it is necessary to take into account the purpose of its use. More specifically, you need to consider the type of soldering that needs to be done, as well as the components that will be worked with. Based on this, it becomes clear that it is the power that you need to pay attention to first when choosing a station. This should be especially remembered by those buyers who choose equipment for repairing sensitive types of equipment - navigators, tablets, etc.
Voltage.
Ergonomic parameters - shape, size and weight.

And also, one should not ignore objective factors that can help in choosing a suitable soldering device:

Based on current international standards, all work related to the manufacture and repair of electronics must be carried out using lead-free soldering. Therefore, in the selected equipment, the maximum temperature regime should not exceed 250 degrees Celsius.
Arrangement of microcircuits in a BGA package. At first glance, it may seem that this makes some sense, because this way you can reduce the dimensions of the product. But at the same time, a negative point arises - soldering becomes a more labor-intensive operation due to the inaccessibility of components.

Other important selection points

Regardless of what type of soldering equipment you decide to purchase, you should in any case ensure that you have a spare set of replacement tips.

Working tips for a station can have different shapes and edge areas, which in turn can affect the final result.

The fact is that with an increase in edge area, heat transfer during soldering improves. In addition, the shape of the tip can limit the list of elements that can be processed with it, as well as the maximum permissible temperature regime.

Good manufacturers take all this into account and make sure that the materials used for the manufacture of soldering tips have good heat transfer.

Home craftsmen who have to work with a soldering iron are not always happy with the results they get. The fact is that with the help of a conventional soldering iron it is not always possible to perform a particular task most efficiently and efficiently.

That is why experts advise purchasing a special soldering station, which, thanks to its technical and design features, can help achieve better results with less time.

When choosing a device for soldering, you must also not forget about the tips for work. Considering that this is one of the main working elements, it can also greatly affect the final result.

Source: https://tokar.guru/instrumenty/payalniki/payalnaya-stanciya-klassifikaciya-primenenie-sposoby-upravleniya.html

How to solder with a soldering station

Soldering allows you to restore many modern mechanisms that operate on small chips. The main tool used here is special soldering stations, which can be purchased at radio electronics stores.

There are several types of such devices, which differ in technical parameters and operating principles. You can find out all the nuances in more detail on the website http://expert-pro.com.ua/.

We work with Lukey 702

This soldering station is a special combined device that includes a hot air gun and a regular soldering iron. At the same time, it allows you to independently regulate the temperature of both devices, which optimizes the soldering process itself.

The process of working with a hot air gun can be described in several steps:

First of all, you should place the components on specific holders. After this, you just need to connect the cords and power cable.
Then install the required attachment on the handle. Please note that the air flow should not be reduced in this case, as this may reduce the service life of the device.
You can then turn on the power and adjust the temperature. This can be done using special keys on the device. When the station is warmed up, you will see a special indicator flashing on the display.
We carry out basic technological processes that involve preheating boards and chips.
Upon completion of work, the hair dryer is installed on the holder, which will automatically reduce the air temperature and you will not have to reduce it automatically.

We use a soldering iron

The process of working with this component is quite simple and is performed in a few simple steps:

First, install the soldering iron on the holder and connect the wiring to the device.
Then you need to wet the special sponge under the holder and squeeze it very well.
At the final stage, the cables are connected and the temperature of the device is adjusted. This can be done using special pointers. After this, you can begin soldering certain parts.

There are more automatic soldering stations that can operate in automatic mode, and their operation is controlled using special computer programs. Working with these devices is quite complicated, as it requires certain knowledge in the field of working with specific substances.

Source: http://euroelectrica.ru/kak-payat-payalnoy-stantsiey/

Selecting a soldering station - how to choose a soldering station model yourself

Which soldering station should I choose?

Classic soldering irons with a copper tip, which are familiar to many from school, are practically inapplicable for soldering modern small circuit boards and microcircuits.

They can be used, but in very specific cases - for repairing household appliances or printed circuit boards, for example. Modern electronics require a more subtle approach.

Both professionals and radio amateurs today are increasingly resorting to installing universal soldering stations. In order to make the right choice of soldering station, you need to consider many factors.

First thing you need to know

Today, all soldering stations are divided into two main groups:

contact - they are ordinary analog soldering irons with tin-lead or lead-free solder
non-contact - in this case, the work is carried out by heating and rapid air injection or heating by infrared radiation

Each of these types has its own specific application. Today, many radio amateurs install non-contact soldering stations, but both of the above types have the right to exist.

Contact soldering irons: classics with a modern twist

Contact soldering stations are not the most modern units. Typically, such a soldering station comes with one conical copper tip, but most models allow you to expand the kit and purchase the necessary tips. As a result, you can solder almost anything with such a soldering iron, except memory boards in complex electronics. When choosing, you should pay attention to the possibility of expanding the kit if you want to get a truly universal device.

Contact soldering stations can have two types of control:

analog - in this case, the soldering iron will have only two regulation positions - on and off, that is, the tip heats up to the desired temperature and turns off, and after cooling it starts to heat up again
digital - in this case the device will be able to maintain a constant temperature, that is, heating and soldering will be more uniform

The preferred option is tin-lead solder. It melts at a lower temperature, so you can work with such a soldering iron faster. Lead-free solder has a higher melting point, so if you want to buy such a soldering station, you should make sure that it has a sufficiently powerful heater.

What are the advantages of contactless stations

Non-contact soldering stations are more advanced devices. They come in two types:

air - heating is produced by pumping hot air
infrared - heating occurs due to infrared radiation

Choosing a soldering station of this type is an organic and natural solution for those who want to keep up with the times. It is contactless stations that are developing the fastest today - manufacturers are equipping their equipment with new additional functions that make work more comfortable and the result better quality.

For example, previously there were only air soldering stations with a blower built into the base. From it came a thick and hard tube through which air was supplied. This was not very convenient, since the rigid hose hampered the user’s movements. Today, soldering stations with a supercharger in a handle are increasingly appearing, from which only thin and flexible wires stretch to the base.

THIS IS INTERESTING: How to choose a TIG machine

Heating element type

When choosing, you should also pay attention to the type of heating element. It can be of two types:

ceramic - a layer of resistive substance and a thermistor are applied to the ceramic base
nichrome - nichrome wire (wire) is wound onto a ceramic base (rod)

Ceramic heaters are convenient, but can deteriorate due to uneven heating. If the slightest crack forms, such a heater completely fails. At the same time, the price for it is much higher than for nichrome.

Choosing a nichrome heater is a more informed decision. Its main advantage is its lower price. However, it is also not without its shortcomings. It takes quite a long time to warm up, and with intensive use it quickly breaks down (in about six months).

The power of the soldering station should also be selected correctly. First, decide what you will use it for - you can solder radio equipment, electronics, or even large objects (as funny as it sounds, even buckets). If we are talking about soldering electronics and sensitive microcircuits, then a power of 40-60 Watts will be sufficient, however, for an ideal result it is better to provide a power reserve of at least 10 Watts.

The same applies to tension. For example, when working with sensitive circuits, it is best to choose low-voltage soldering stations. They are ideal because they will not allow sensitive boards to be “killed” by a power surge. Also in this case, it is best to pay attention to a soldering iron with an anti-static electricity function - all for the same purpose.

Additional functionality for efficient work

Before deciding which soldering station to choose, you should decide on its configuration. Today, devices are equipped with several additional functions:

a set of attachments for precision soldering - it can include from two to fifteen attachments of different configurations, it is not worth mentioning that the richer the equipment of the device, the higher the price
the presence of a hot air gun - this device is necessary for desoldering microcircuits, the presence of this addition is especially important for contact soldering irons - without it it will simply be impossible to desolder the circuit
smoke absorbers are an optional, but very useful feature, first of all, it affects the comfort of working with the device, and moreover, your body cannot be harmed if you do not constantly breathe harmful gases and acrid smoke
solder suction or desoldering gun - useful when desoldering circuits, it allows you to quickly and cleanly remove melted solder from the surface of the circuit and immediately continue working
protection against static electricity - important when working with thin electronics that are sensitive to voltage surges

Soldering stations with a full range of the described functions have only one significant drawback - high price. They can cost more than 20 thousand rubles, so they cannot be called affordable for ordinary radio amateurs.

When choosing a soldering station, you should pay attention to the type of heating element, power and voltage - these are the main parameters that will allow you to choose the ideal model. Also decide on the type of station itself - contact or contactless.

Amateurs today still buy contact stations with a copper tip, and professionals are increasingly paying attention to air and infrared non-contact ones.

At the final stage, pay attention to the additional functions that a particular model offers.

Source: https://remont.youdo.com/articles/electric/kakuyu-payalnuyu-stantsiyu-vibrat/

How to work with SMD and who needs a soldering station?

Modern electronics are unthinkable without the use of SMD surface mount technology. It penetrated into all types of equipment, including household equipment. Most new ICs do not have DIP package options. The range of microcircuits in DIP packages is constantly falling in price, as it is in less and less demand and becomes unprofitable for the manufacturer.

There is reason to believe that in 5-7 years, chips in DIP packages will completely disappear from the electronic components market. Therefore, surface mounting has to be dealt with both when repairing equipment and when developing new equipment, including amateur radio. Repairing equipment manufactured using SMD technology requires new tools and new work techniques.

The main problem when working with SMD is the dismantling of faulty components, that is, removing them from the board while maintaining the integrity of the printed conductors and contact pads of the seats of the replaced components.

The most aggressively advertised tools for working with SMD are soldering stations. Soldering stations are divided into assembly and dismantling. An assembly soldering station is an ordinary soldering iron with a thermostat and a digital temperature indicator. Why is all this necessary? This is a great mystery! It’s better to buy two dozen soldering irons than such a “station”.

Such stations do not provide any new opportunities for working with SMD.
The simplest desoldering stations consist of an assembly station, but the soldering iron is supplemented with suction. The prices for these stations are such that it is also completely unprofitable to buy them; it is better to buy, in addition to two dozen soldering irons, two dozen Chinese suction soldering irons.

More complex stations are supplemented with thermal tweezers, which can easily be replaced with two soldering irons. Paying for a suction cup, thermal tweezers and a useless digital temperature indicator the same price as for a good PC system unit is too much of a luxury! And in terms of dismantling SMD chips, such a station is also useless. The next class of soldering stations is hot air stations.

A simple hot air station is essentially an electric heat gun with a vacuum suction cup. The station is equipped with as many as four to six nozzles for desoldering microcircuits, despite the number of types of SMD packages SOIC, TSOP, QFP and BGA being about seven dozen! Additional attachments are priced as if they were not tin attachments, but jewelry.

It’s true that you can unsolder the microcircuit without a nozzle, thereby burning the microcircuit itself and everything next to it. Complex stations have everything - hot air with all attachments, thermal tweezers, suction, infrared heating and vacuum suction cups, but they no longer cost like a system unit, but like a good used imported jeep, such as a Honda CRV.

Russia is a country of rich parasites, but they don’t need soldering stations, and radio amateurs don’t have the money to buy such expensive toys. From all that has been said, it is clear that buying a simple station is a waste of money, but it makes sense to buy a complex one only for large service centers on the principle “one for all, we won’t stand by the price!”

So, the question arises - how to work with SMD without a soldering station? Let me make a reservation right away: we are talking about SMD components with a pin pitch of 0.6 mm or more. Manual installation of components with smaller pitches is impossible not only without a soldering station, but even if it is available.

You shouldn’t think that you can do everything with a cool soldering station.

Industrial assembly lines use computerized systems for automatic 3D positioning and automatic application of solder paste with X-ray video equipment! Such systems are not available on soldering stations of any complexity.

Soldering two-pin components

A two-pin component can be desoldered using two soldering irons at once. This is tolerable when repairing equipment. But this method has disadvantages: there is a high probability of component overheating, solder contamination of the board assembly, and long operation times. A much better result is obtained by using a soldering iron with a special tip:

Take a 40-watt soldering iron with a tip diameter of 6mm, bent at 45 degrees, and use a hammer to flatten the bent part to a flat appearance about 3mm thick. Then use a needle file to make cut 1 and a hacksaw to make cut 2. You need to work with a soldering iron together with tweezers. The tweezers should be such that their jaws fit freely into the cut 1.

Due to the surface tension of the solder, the component to be soldered gets stuck in cut 1, and we immediately remove it with tweezers. When dismantling boards, we first remove all components of one standard size, then, compressing the gap with 2 pliers, or widening it with a screwdriver, set a new cut width 1 and remove components of a different standard size from the board, etc.

In this way, I remove all two-pin components from the hard drive board, CD-ROM or video card in about 30-40 minutes. At the same time, there is practically no damage to components.

Soldering multi-pin components

There are two methods for desoldering microcircuits in SMD packages. The first method is to cut off the leads of the microcircuit from its body with a sharp knife, followed by unsoldering the leads with a soldering iron. The second method is to solder a thin MGTF-0.13 wire in fluoroplastic insulation or an enameled PEV-2 wire to the board.

The second end of the wire is passed under the terminals of the microcircuit and, heating the terminals of the microcircuit with the tip of a 90-100 Watt soldering iron, pulling the second, not soldered end of the wire with your hand, they drag the wire under the terminals of the microcircuit, thereby separating the terminals from the board. As practice has shown, the first method produces contact pad separations for almost all SMD packages, while the second method gives good results only for SOIC packages.

With TSOP and QFP packages, the pads come off. I managed to find a third method for desoldering microcircuits, which gives excellent results for any case.

Once upon a time, in time immemorial, the great Archimedes said: “Give me a fulcrum and I will turn the Earth over.”
The essence of the method is as follows. Take a medium-sized sewing needle. From any suitable wire we cut off an insulation ring about 2 mm long and put this ring with tension on a sewing needle at a distance of 1-2 cm from the needle tip. This ring of insulation on the needle is that very fulcrum! We solder the pins of the microcircuit one at a time.

We slip the needle under the first pin (only one!), and heat the pin on top with a miniature soldering iron with a tip diameter of 2-2.5 mm and, turning the needle on the support, draw the tip of the needle under the pin of the microcircuit parallel to the board, without lifting the tip. The soldering iron must heat the terminal from above all the time the needle is turned, that is, all at the same time. Thus, we separate the first pin of the microcircuit from the board.

We bend the soldered first terminal vertically upward, thereby clearing the way for the needle tip to go under the second terminal. And so, one pin at a time, we solder all the pins of the microcircuit. If the microcircuit body is glued to the board, then heat the body with a soldering iron, while simultaneously turning it with tweezers until the paint is torn off. You should not pull the housing away from the board with tweezers, as this may lead to the seal under the microcircuit housing being torn off.

In this way, you can also solder transistors in SOT23, SOT223, etc. packages without damaging them, as well as components with 4 pins. Components with 5 and 6 pins can be desoldered by making the final desoldering on each side, 2 pins at once. The thicker the leads to be soldered, the larger the needle. Usually, after several conclusions, the needle becomes tinned, which should not be allowed.

You can clean a tinned needle with a knife, you can bury the tip of the needle, or you can prepare several needles with support points at once. Needles cost seven kopecks per cubic meter, so don’t swallow the bait of the overly proliferating exploitative killers and office anal sex workers!

Source: https://www.qrz.ru/schemes/contribute/technology/smd.shtml

Working with a soldering station for beginners

So, the moment has come when you decide to purchase your first soldering station. You're already excited, you've cleared some space on your desk, you've received it, and you're getting ready to experience zen and move on to the next level of ham radio. But don’t rush, because it is somewhat different from ordinary soldering irons, and therefore requires compliance with some rules when working with it.

What are soldering stations?

There are several types of them, which differ in the principle of operation. The simplest ones are with a regular contact soldering iron . There are also hot air ones , in which a special hot air gun is installed instead of a soldering iron.

There are also mixed types , which have both a hair dryer and a regular contact soldering iron.

There are also infrared ones , but novice radio amateurs practically do not use them, since some such devices can cost as much as an inexpensive car.

Without going into technical details, all soldering stations are similar to each other:

The basis of each is a control unit, which is essentially the body of the device itself. It contains the transformer and control electronics. Cheap devices have analog control components, while more expensive ones have high-quality digital components.
Contact soldering stations are equipped with contact collapsible soldering irons, which contain a removable heating element, and often the tip can be replaced. Most are produced for more experienced users, therefore, with certain accessories, such a device can be adapted for a variety of types of work.
Soldering stations with hot air gun. For such devices, the control unit may contain additional elements - fans or compressors. The compressor can be installed directly in the hair dryer itself. When soldering with a hairdryer, the solder is heated by a stream of hot air. This allows you to uniformly heat not just one contact of a part, but the entire part at once. Thus, a hot air gun is very convenient for desoldering multi-pin components, which are otherwise quite difficult to desolder.
Many manufacturers produce mixed ones. Some also have a special desoldering pump. Naturally, these cost a little more than regular ones.
Infrared. Instead of a hot air gun or contact soldering iron, they have an infrared heating element installed. These usually cost much more than the ones listed above, as they are designed to handle complex elements.

Tips for beginners

Now let's look at a few basic rules for handling the device.

In general, using a soldering station is no more difficult than using a regular soldering iron. But it is more convenient and comfortable to use. Here are several types of work for different types of equipment:

Conventional contact soldering stations can be used both for surface mounting and for working with tiny SMD elements. And all thanks to the fact that they can change the tips, as well as accurately regulate the heating temperature of the tip.
Hot air can also be used for surface mounting, but they are best suited for SMD mounting. There is no need to warm up individual terminals of a component, since you can warm everything up at once, and then quickly and easily remove the component.
Stations with a hairdryer and soldering iron are a complete solution. They combine the best qualities of the previous two types. They are often purchased by service and repair centers.
Infrared are used for complex repairs of various expensive devices. Need to remove the chip from the surface of the motherboard? This can only be done with an infrared station without harm to both the board itself and the element that is being soldered.

Well, a few simple elementary recommendations for soldering. It is worth immediately highlighting one general thing: never set the maximum heating temperature unless necessary! The tip of a contact soldering iron will simply overheat, which is why it will quickly become unusable, just like the heating element. Overheating is also dangerous for a hot air gun, as it can damage the heating elements.

Use only high quality flux . In principle, this advice is relevant when soldering with any unit, since low-quality flux can be harmful to health and will also destroy an expensive tip over time.

By the way, experts recommend not saving on flux and using it as much as necessary or even a little more. Also, don't skimp on solder.

the heat gun unless necessary . Why is that? It's simple - the air flow can blow some particularly small elements off the board.

Some radio amateurs modify their devices. But if you have little understanding of the design of equipment and technology in general, it is better not to modify it so as not to cause harm.

Drawing conclusions

The conclusions are quite simple - working with such equipment is simple, convenient and comfortable. Well, following the basic rules of work is not so difficult. The main thing to remember is one basic thing - do not use the maximum heating temperature unnecessarily. Such an extreme operating mode will not benefit the heating elements.

THIS IS INTERESTING: How to properly connect a welding inverter

And, of course, it is not recommended to modify your equipment without the need, and especially the appropriate skills and knowledge.

Source: https://respect-kovka.com/rabota-s-payalnoy-stantsiey-dlya-nachinayuschih/

How to learn to solder with a hand soldering iron + step-by-step instructions

Teaching is the mother of creation! And even if the creation is considered to be just ordinary work with an electric soldering iron, such work cannot be done efficiently without studying. Everyone, including girls, should be able to hold a soldering iron and solder with tin.

Therefore, let's consider a simple and at the same time complex technical point - how to learn how to solder with a hand soldering iron and apply science if necessary.

And the need for soldering with tin can be very different, be it household irons, radio sockets, electric kettles, electronic circuit boards, etc.

What kind of soldering should you use with a hand soldering iron?

The need to disassemble electronic devices for repair purposes is quite common. Meanwhile, any electronics, as a rule, contains a printed circuit board, where electronic components are connected into a circuit by soldering.

Soldering with an electric soldering iron is an action aimed at creating a strong connection of electronic parts by melting solder and then applying the melt at the point where the parts meet.

FOR SOLDERING

The technology of soldering using a hand-held electric soldering iron is widely used for repairing electronics.

Therefore, it is advisable to be able to use this technology

Solder is an alloy of soft metals capable of acquiring a semi-liquid state when heated to a certain temperature (~250ºC for POS60 solder).

When the heating stops, the solder at the point of application cools, thereby creating a strong electrical connection. The peculiarity of such soldering is that the soldered assembly is also easy to unsolder using the same tool - an electric soldering iron.

What tools and accessories are used when soldering?

The basis for soldering work is a relatively small number of tools and components:

Electric (or other) soldering iron.
Soldering iron stand.
Solder.
Flux (the simplest and most popular is rosin).

This is what a simplified version of the hardware and accessories for manual soldering looks like. However, with increasing skills of an electrician and increasing needs for soldering work, it is possible to expand the range when additionally required:

Soldering Station.
Device "Third hand".
Set of solder, fluxes, soldering pastes.

What kind of electric soldering iron is it?

Hand tool - soldering iron, powered from a standard AC outlet (220V). There is a direct power tool and power supply via adapter. There are manual soldering irons for different power (10 - 100 W). However, for most soldering cases, a 25-40 W device is usually sufficient.

SOLDERING IRONS

Hand-held soldering tool designs come in a variety of shapes and configurations. There are tools complemented by different tip shapes and auxiliary accessories

The main tool of the soldering process is available in different versions. For example, a simple one with a handle or in the form of a pistol. The design of most soldering irons supports the interchangeability of soldering tips. Thanks to the mutual replacement of tips, different soldering methods are implemented.

Working with a hand soldering iron requires caution and compliance with operating rules, since a high heating temperature of 450-500ºC and a high supply voltage of 220 V are used.

What is the best stand for an electric soldering iron?

This accessory is optional, but recommended in any case. In principle, soldering can be carried out without a soldering iron stand, but this option is accompanied by a lot of inconvenience. Moreover, it is not recommended for novice electrical installers to work without a stand.

STANDS

A stand for parking a soldering tool is an accessory that provides not only ease of use and soldering, but also safety for the electrician

Convenient work with a stand is seen not only in parking the soldering iron during work. Usually the stand is equipped with trays for solder and flux, which also adds to the comfort during soldering. Therefore, if you intend to do soldering work, you should acquire not only a soldering iron, but also a convenient, practical stand.

What solders and fluxes are used?

There are many varieties of solder in relation to soldering conditions. This soldering accessory comes with:

lead alloy,
lead-free alloy,
with the addition of flux,
without adding flux.

Traditionally, solder is produced in wire form with a diameter of 0.8-15 mm, as well as rods. The wire version is considered the most common.

For soldering electronics, lead-free solder is most often used with or without the addition of rosin. The lead-free type of solder is based on an alloy of tin and copper. Lead solder (60% tin, 40% lead) is also used (much less frequently), but this option is considered harmful to health and is not recommended for use.

When using lead solder for soldering with a soldering iron, it is necessary to provide more active ventilation. After completing soldering work, be sure to wash your hands with laundry soap.

TIN

Integral accessories for soldering using a hand soldering iron are soldering rosin and wire solder. There are also solder pastes and rod-shaped solders.

Working with solder is accompanied by different types of flux.

Among the options used, there is a soldering option where acid acts as a flux (soldering steel, stainless steel). In this case, a separate “acid” soldering iron core is recommended, since the acid quickly “eats” the non-ferrous metal.

“Acid” core can be found in specialized stores.

What is the technique for cleaning the core tip?

Soldering requires periodic cleaning of the soldering iron core tip. In practice, a standard damp sponge is often used, thanks to which the tip of the soldering iron core can be kept clean and optimal for work. The sponge also quite effectively removes oxidation that inevitably forms.

The presence of an oxidation film on the tip of the soldering iron core covers the working layer of solder. A black film is formed, blocking active adhesion of solder and uniform distribution over the tip.

Using a regular damp sponge seems to be effective, but this method shortens the life of the tip due to the expansion and contraction of the copper. In addition, a wet sponge temporarily reduces the temperature of the tip. Therefore, the best alternative for cleaning seems to be the use of a brass “sponge”.

SPONGE BRASS

A convenient means for cleaning the soldering iron tip from oxides and residues of molten solder is a brass mesh. A better alternative to the traditional wet sponge

An accessory such as a brass “sponge” is a fine metal mesh made of brass, similar to that used for washing dishes. The only difference is that the washing mesh is made of steel or stainless steel.

Why do you need a soldering station and a “third hand”?

A more technologically advanced tool is a soldering station. A tool of this type is practical to use when there is a need for constant work associated with soldering. The soldering station provides greater flexibility in operation, plus control of operation (automatic adjustment of heating temperature).

The advantage of a soldering station is the ability of the device to maintain the set temperature of the soldering iron. This approach contributes to high quality soldering work on a wide range of projects. Soldering stations help create a safe workplace by incorporating temperature sensors, alarm settings, and even password protection.

THIRD HAND

A soldering station and a “third hand” are tools for professional use when it comes to large-scale work, as well as soldering of small electronic parts

In addition to the soldering station, professional electricians use another tool - the so-called “third hand”. We are talking about a special holder equipped with a magnifying glass. With the help of such a holder it is convenient to solder miniature parts and work with electronic boards with small wiring.

Step-by-step soldering process

Before you start soldering, you should prepare a soldering iron and all the necessary accessories.

Prepare solder and flux.
If the soldering iron is new, clean the tip with fine sandpaper until it has a copper shine.
Heat the tip of the soldering iron core to operating temperature (not higher than 400ºC).
Dip the tip in rosin and apply to the solder.
Grab a small amount of solder onto the tip.
Thoroughly tin the working surfaces of the tip with solder.

The procedure for tinning the tip is recommended to be performed on a copper surface of low mass. Ideally suited for tinning the wide traces of any defective printed circuit board. Having completed tinning, you can proceed directly to soldering.

TIN SUCTION

The procedure for soldering installed electronic parts in itself is not particularly difficult. The quality of creating connections depends on the correct sequence of actions and skill

If soldering is carried out on clean (never soldered) tracks of the electronic board, all soldering points must also be prepared - sanded with “zero” sandpaper to a characteristic shine. Next, perform the following steps:

Insert the electronic component into the corresponding holes on the board.
Set the component to vertical/horizontal levels.
On the back side of the board (solder points), bend the component leads at 45º.
Dip the soldering iron tip into rosin.
Grab a small amount of solder.
Touch the tip to the surface of the board at the soldering point.

The result of touching, as a rule, is a uniform spreading of molten solder around the lead of the electronic component. Once the solder has filled the soldering point, the soldering iron tip should be removed to allow the applied solder to cure. Repeat the operation at the next point. In this way, soldering of any other points on the electronic board is carried out.

How to solder wires using a soldering iron?

The soldering procedure aimed at connecting wires is somewhat different from soldering on electronic board tracks. It should be noted: only copper conductors or those built on alloys with a high copper content can be soldered with tin solder using rosin and similar fluxes.

SOLDERING SET

Features of wire soldering are proper tinning and correct contact time. The quality largely depends on the composition of the soldered conductor strands

Initially, it is necessary to prepare the ends of the conductors for soldering - strip them to a characteristic shine and twist them tightly (stranded). Then:

The prepared end of the conductor is inserted together with the soldering iron tip briefly into the rosin.
Next, grab the solder with a tip and apply it to the stripped end of the conductor, covered with a thin layer of rosin.
Distribute the solder evenly with the tip until the entire area of the end of the conductor is completely covered.

When performing the last point, you should control the process so as not to overheat the wire insulation. If the insulation begins to melt, you should remove the soldering iron for a while and repeat tinning a little later. Do a similar procedure with the other wire. Then place the ends one on top of the other and fill with solder.

You can also use another option:

Clean the ends of the conductors until they are shiny.
Twist the ends together.
Dip briefly into melted rosin.
Tin and fill with solder.

The finishing touch

At this point, the practice of a novice electrical installer can be considered complete. Anyone who has mastered the technology of soldering with a hand soldering iron will have wide horizons for creativity and work.

Source: https://zetsila.ru/%D0%BD%D0%B0%D1%83%D1%87%D0%B8%D1%82%D1%8C%D1%81%D1%8F-%D0% BF%D0%B0%D1%8F%D1%82%D1%8C-%D1%80%D1%83%D1%87%D0%BD%D1%8B%D0%BC-%D0%BF%D0% B0%D1%8F%D0%BB%D1%8C%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BC/

Subtleties of using soldering stations

The vast majority of people use a regular electric soldering iron. However, under certain conditions, high-quality soldering will require a special working installation, called a soldering station.

When getting acquainted with equipment of this class, it will be useful to learn how to calibrate a soldering station, allowing soldering in a given operating temperature range. But first you should familiarize yourself with what it is in general and how it is used in practice.

Why do you need a soldering machine?

The convenience and advantages of soldering with a soldering station are quite easy to appreciate if you familiarize yourself in detail with the full set of components included in it.

From this point of view, it is a complex of special devices and devices that provide high-quality soldering and tinning of metal products of various structures, especially small parts and microcircuits.

A typical installation typically includes the following elements:

electric heater of the appropriate class (electric soldering iron or thermal hair dryer);
an adjustable power supply unit assembled on the basis of a sufficiently powerful transformer converter, which allows you to select the required heating modes for the consumer;
a stand for a soldering device and a device for suctioning molten solder (not all models sold are equipped with them).

The composition of the soldering complex, which is used to organize professional work, can be supplemented with other modules that improve the quality of soldering.

The principle of operation of the equipment is the joint use of all its components, which allows you to control and regulate the temperature in the working area.

Some models use a circuit solution that protects elements from overloads and static electricity.

The advantages of soldering stations justify the feasibility of their use and practically answer the question of how they should be used.

Purpose of individual modules

The power supply unit for soldering stations is made on the basis of an autotransformer of sufficient power, through which you can control the amplitude of the voltage supplied to the load (within small limits).

As the end user (heater for a soldering station), either a conventional electric soldering iron or a special thermal hair dryer with a built-in operating mode switch is most often used.

When purchasing an installation suitable for home conditions, preference should be given to those products that include a separate holder or stand for a heating tool. If they are available, using the soldering station will be much easier and safer.

It will be much more convenient to use the tool included in the kit if it includes a special suction unit for removing remnants of molten solder, as well as the most popular spare parts.

Types of installations

Depending on the number of soldering irons connected to the power supply, the stations can be single- or dual-channel. The kit of the last of these samples may include both main and additional (dismantling) soldering irons, differing in their power and operating temperatures.

Sometimes one of them has a function for quickly changing the working tip (“tip”), which allows you to use it for soldering various types of radio components.

The appearance of some of the soldering machine models can be seen in the photo.

When classifying equipment of this type, a distinction is also made between digital soldering stations, in which the soldering operating modes are controlled using special electronic modules.

Of particular interest is the compressor soldering installation, equipped with a special air blower used when working with a hair dryer.

In such soldering stations, an air flow focused using a special device is first heated in a thermal channel and then directed through the outlet nozzle to the soldering zone.

The presence of a built-in temperature control system ensures the formation of a more uniform stream of hot air.

In addition to samples with compressor pumping of an air stream, turbine-type units are produced, which, due to their high cost, are very rare and are not in consumer demand.

How does calibration work?

It is known that a well-functioning soldering station can significantly increase the efficiency of soldering and speed up the dismantling of electronic components and products. However, this is only possible if it is free of defects and the temperature setting circuit is correctly calibrated.

Among the commercially available inexpensive soldering systems, budget Chinese copies of branded Hakko brand stations have become widespread.

The attitude of the Russian consumer towards these samples cannot be called unambiguous. Some craftsmen believe that workstations overheat greatly, others believe that the soldering iron tip does not grip the solder well, so it is inconvenient to use.

To bring cheap Chinese models to perfection, you will need to configure the soldering station to accurately set the temperature of the tip.

In the simplest case, such a setting requires mandatory calibration of the soldering temperature.

To carry out this procedure, you will need the following tools and measuring instruments:

a modern digital multimeter, which includes a flexible remote temperature sensor;
screwdriver with a thin working part and an insulated handle.

During the calibration process, the remote sensor is brought to the heating element (soldering iron tip) and pressed closely against it.

When measuring the temperature of compressor stations, the sensor is placed in the zone of action of a heated air stream.

Then, by rotating the adjusted resistor available at the station, according to the readings of the multimeter indicator, the temperature value is set, which should coincide with the numbers on the scale (display) of the station. At this point, calibration can be considered complete.

After high-quality setup of the control equipment, it will be much easier and more convenient to use. In addition, this procedure significantly reduces the likelihood of damage to radio elements and improves the reliability of their soldering.

Source: https://svaring.com/soldering/praktika/princip-raboty-pajalnoj-stancii