I think there has been a strong updraft lately which always slows things getting to that place called down under. Lets blame global warming for this. I’m sure the post hates it as much as I do.
I have put the solder paste stencil up on OSHPARK.COM as a shared project. Download the .BRD file and send it to OSHSTENCILS.COM You will probably have to order two to meet their minimum order. When ordering, specify their minimum sized border (0.75”). Note that I have changed the MTG center pad from the original solid block. Also removed the solder mask from the solder overflow tabs.
This pattern is just for making solder paste stencils, which OSHPARK does not do. You download the .BRD file and send it to oSHSTENCILS.COM to get the stencils made. The stencil is used to manually apply solder paste to LED MCPCB’s (stars).
You could have OSHPARK make a board from this pattern, but it would not be of much use.
I did have the thermocouple on the MCPCB as it was warming up on the preheater, but I saw the solder melt a lot sooner than I expected.
I’ll do a few more to get a more exact melting point. :bigsmile:
Edit- I just did another one and kept a closer watch on the temperature. The solder liquified and the LED floated into alignment between 300-310F.
Nice to know they’re there and waiting, I have 1 sheet I haven’t used yet, but who knows when I’ll mess up and kill off my stencils. Easy enough to order new ones this way, Thanks TP.
These have made modding an easy task instead of a daunting project!
It freezes fine in the bottle? I tried to Google it but got lots of results about Russia and freezing saeawater, some stuff about freezing flux in plasma, and ‘setting’ solder but nothing about freezing a bottle of flux.
Looks like I need to test the calibration on my nifty new hot air station’s thermal sensor. Or maybe I just didn’t have a good enough contact with the MCPCB. I’ll put a dab of heatsink grease on the sensor and try again.