Mount and Solder Electronic Components: Information Sheet 1.3.1 Learning Outcome No. 3
Mount and Solder Electronic Components: Information Sheet 1.3.1 Learning Outcome No. 3
Mount and Solder Electronic Components: Information Sheet 1.3.1 Learning Outcome No. 3
Objectives:
At the end of this module the trainees will be knowledgeable and skilled in
the proper mounting, soldering and de-soldering electronic components in the
Printed Circuit Board.
MOUNTING
In recent years, semiconductor packaging has evolved with an increased demand for
greater functionality, smaller size, and added utility. A modern PCBA design has two
main methods for mounting components onto a PCB: Through-Hole
Mounting and Surface Mounting.
Through-hole mounting is the process by which component leads are placed into
drilled holes on a bare PCB. The process was standard practice until the rise of
surface mount technology (SMT) in the 1980s, at which time it was expected to
completely phase out through-hole. Yet, despite a severe drop in popularity over the
years, through-hole technology has proven resilient in the age of SMT, offering a
number of advantages and niche applications: namely, reliability.
Through-hole components are best used for high-reliability products that require
stronger connections between layers. Whereas SMT components are secured only
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by solder on the surface of the board, through-hole component leads run through the
board, allowing the components to withstand more environmental stress. This is why
through-hole technology is commonly used in military and aerospace products that
may experience extreme accelerations, collisions, or high temperatures. Through-
hole technology is also useful in test and prototyping applications that sometimes
require manual adjustments and replacements.
However, that doesn’t negate that fact that, in a modern assembly facility, through-
hole is considered a secondary operation.
There are two types of through-hole components: axial and radial lead components.
Axial leads run through a component in a straight line ("axially"), with each end of the
lead wire exiting the component on either end. Both ends are then placed through
two separate holes in the board, allowing the component to fit closer, flatter fit.
Radial lead components, on the other hand, protrude from the board, as its leads are
located on one side of the component.
Both through-hole component types are "twin" lead components, and both have their
distinct advantages. While axial lead components are used for their snugness to the
board, radial leads occupy less surface area, making them better for high density
boards. Generally, axial lead configuration may come in the form of carbon resistors,
electrolytic capacitors, fuses, and light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Radial lead
components are available as ceramic disk capacitors.
Disadvantages: On the bare PCB side, THM requires the drilling holes, which
is expensive and time consuming. THM also limits the available routing area on any
multilayer boards, because the drilled holes must pass through all the PCB’s layers.
On the assembly side, component placement rates for THM are a fraction of surface
mount placement rates, making THM prohibitively expensive. Further, THM requires
the use of wave, selective, or hand-soldering techniques, which are much less
reliable and repeatable than reflow ovens used for surface mount. Most of all,
through-hole technology requires soldering on both sides of the board, as opposed
to surface-mounts, which only -- for the most part -- require attention to one side of
the board.
SMT the process by which components are mounted directly onto the surface of the
PCB. Known originally as “planar mounting,” the method was developed in the 1960s
and has grown increasingly popular since the 1980s. Nowadays, virtually all
electronic hardware is manufactured using SMT. It has become essential to PCB
design and manufacturing, having improved the quality and performance of PCBs
overall, and has reduced the costs of processing and handling greatly.
The key differences between SMT and through-hole mounting are (a) SMT does not
require holes to be drilled through a PCB, (b) SMT components are much smaller,
and (c) SMT components can be mounted on both side of the board. The ability to fit
a high number of small components on a PCB has allowed for much denser, higher
performing, and smaller PCBs.
Through-hole component leads, which run through the board and connect a board’s
layers, have been replaced by "vias" -- small components which allow a conductive
connection between the different layers of a PCB, and which essentially act as
through-hole leads. Some surface mount components like BGAs are higher
performing components with shorter leads and more interconnection pins that allow
for higher speeds.
Nomenclature
There are perhaps too many terms that describe different aspects of surface mount
technology. Here’s what they mean:
SOT Transistors and Diodes: These are usually rectangular and easy to place,
though they're a bit outdated. The most common SOTs are SOT 23, SOT 89, SOT
143, and SOT 223. Its most common packaging is tape & reel.
Small outline Integrated Circuit (SOIC) – These are good SMT alternatives
to the duel in-line package (DIP), due to their dramatically reduced size. In general,
they take up 30 – 50% less space and 70% less thickness than an average DIP.
Thin Small Outline Package (TSOP) – TSOPs are low profile packages with fine-
pitch leads. TSOPs are typically meant to accommodate large silicon chips in high
density packages (RAM or flash memory ICs), largely because of their low
volume/high pin count.
Quad Flat Pack (QFN) – QFNs are high lead count packages (44 – 304). Its leads
are typically gull wing. There are many kinds of QFNs, and they are one of the most
common surface-mount ICs.
Plastic Leaded Chip Carrier (PLCC) - Connections are made on all four edges of a
square package with a relatively high pin count. PLCCs can have roughly 18 – 100
leads (usually J-leads). Many of them can fit into IC sockets and can be easily
replaced in the field. PLCCs have long been a popular option.
Lead-less Chip Carrier (LCC) – Not to be confused with PLCC, LCCs have no
leads. Rather, LCCs are soldered directly onto PCBs by their (castellation) solder
pads. These are usually designed for Mil Spec because, with no leads to damage,
they're quite "rugged." LCCs are great for high temperature and aerospace
applications.
Pin Grid Array (PGA) – PGAs are typically square or rectangular, with pins
arranged underneath the package. They're design was highly influential on the now
ubiquitous BGA.
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Flip Chip – Flip chips are bare die packages, with small bottom-side solder bumps
that act as leads. They are soldered directly onto the PCB.
Ball Grid Array (BGA) – BGAs are perhaps one of the best performing SMT
packages in use today, due to their high densities. The BGA is a descendent of the
PGA, yet instead of pins, it has solder balls that can be placed directly onto the PCB.
Because of their high density, BGAs are typically used to house microprocessors.
Advantages: SMT allows for smaller PCB size, higher component density, and more
real estate to work with. Because fewer drilling holes are required, SMT allows for
lower cost and faster production time. During assembly, SMT components can be
placed at rates of thousands—even tens of thousands—of placements per hour,
versus less than a thousand for THM. Solder joint formation is much more reliable
and repeatable using programmed reflow ovens versus through techniques. SMT
has proven to be more stable and better performing in shake and vibration
conditions.
Overall, surface mounting will almost always prove more efficient and cost-effective
than through-hole mounting. It is used in more than 90 percent of PCBAs today.
However, special mechanical, electrical, and thermal considerations will continue to
require THM, keeping it relevant well into the future.
Check that your soldering iron tip is suitable for the Project. (no larger than the
diameter of the pad).
Check the tip is clean and shiny. If not, tin it by adding a small amount of solder to the
tip.
Insert the component to be soldered into the circuit board and bend the leads
protruding from the bottom of the circuit board at an angle of approx 45 0.
Cut the leads of the component close to the outer edge of the solder pad.
When ready, hold the soldering iron at a 45° angle, and heat both the lead and the
pad simultaneously. Touch the solder wire in the space between the iron tip and the
lead.
Keep the soldering iron tip still while moving the solder around the joint as it melts.
Remove the solder tip first and the solder wire next, (prevents spiking).
Allow to the joint to cool naturally and undisturbed, do not blow on the solder joint to
cool it.
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When you have completed all solder joints thoroughly clean your board, using
Isopropyl Alcohol, and a bristle brush, to remove the flux residue and other
contaminants.
Wipe or pat dry with a lint free tissue to remove traces of residue.
Inspect for a good solder connection. The solder joint should be clean, smooth and
shiny.
The solder fillet should be concave in shape, feathering out smoothly to the edge of
the pad. In the diagram below figure b) is the ideal solder joint.
Figure a) the amount of solder applied is minimal and may result in a poor electrical
connection over time.
Leave a large blob of solder on the tip when switching the iron off as this will protect
the tip from oxidation and contamination.
1. Set the pump by pushing the spring-loaded plunger down until it locks.
2. Apply both the pump nozzle and the tip of your soldering iron to the joint.
4. Then press the button on the pump to release the plunger and suck the molten
solder into the tool.
After removing most of the solder from the joint(s), you may be able to remove the
wire or component lead straight away (allow a few seconds for it to cool). If the joint
does not come apart easily apply your soldering iron to melt the remaining traces of
solder at the same time as pulling the joint apart, taking care to avoid burning
yourself. Be careful in desoldering to be sure that no component is damaged during
the process.
The best way to solder surface mount devices (SMDs) onto printed circuit boards
(PCBs) is with a reflow oven, but when that's not possible, a hot-air station can be
successfully used.
Warning! Hot-air soldering, like all soldering, involves temperatures that may
exceed 500ºC, which can burn eyes, skin, furniture, draperies, clothing, etc. Be
very careful when soldering; eye protection is especially important. If any of the
actions in this article are unclear or seem risky to you, don't do them. Safety is
your first responsibility.
In order to get the most from this article, you should know the basics of
hand SOLDERING. You should be familiar with what constitutes a good solder
joint, different types of solder that may be used, and a few basic tools common to
electronic assembly. The knowledge gained by using a reflow oven is also
beneficial.
Solder wire is used (with a hand soldering iron) to touch up or clean up joints
that are shorted to adjacent pins or joints that are poorly connected.
Isopropyl alcohol is used along with a soft toothbrush, cotton swabs, and/or a
cloth to clean the surface of PCBs before soldering and to remove flux residue
after soldering. The alcohol shown is almost 100% pure, but a lesser
concentration (such as 91% pure) can also be used if additional time is allowed
for the residual water to evaporate.
Flux is necessary to obtain good flow and coverage of molten solder. In addition
to liquid flux (as shown), flux is also available in a pen-style applicator and in gel
form for application with a syringe and blunt needle.
A pair of bent-nose tweezers is useful for handling SMDs; a vacuum pickup tool
is another option.
Solder braid is used (with a hand soldering iron) to remove excess solder from
component leads, thereby eliminating shorts between pins. Solder braid is
available in different widths for various component sizes; both 2.0mm and 3.0mm
(shown) are useful.
The photo immediately below shows the results of the job done on the syringe-
pasted board. All the pads show too much solder, but only two components are
adversely affected. J1 has the top two or three pins bridged. U1 has pins 4, 5, and
6 bridged. Pins 9 and 10 are possibly not connected to the pads, and pins 11, 12,
13, and 14 are possibly bridged. Rework will definitely be required and probably
will be tedious.
The next photo shows the results of the job done on the stencil-pasted board. C1
was bumped during the soldering process but was pulled during the reflow process
closer to its intended position. C5, which was also bumped, was pulled during
reflow fully back where it belonged. J1 stayed in position despite being bumped,
thanks to the plastic pins that protrude from the bottom of the jack through holes in
the board. And U1 has no solder bridges or other functional problems despite
being slightly out of position.
For the sake of appearances, C1 should be moved to be on its pads—but even as
is, there are no solder problems that would cause a functional failure.
Rework of the Syringe-Pasted Board
Rework is a part of surface mount device soldering, and it was absolutely needed
on the syringe-pasted board. An attempt was made to clean the solder bridges
from U1 with copper braid, but was not successful. As a result, U1 was removed
as shown in the following video.
1. W
2. C
3. W
4. W
5. C
6. W
7. W
8. C
9. C
10. C
Direct Observation/Demonstration
CRITERIA YES NO
Did you….
1. Knowledge of lead and lead-free soldering
characteristics and requirements are applied to
mounting and soldering process in accordance with
OH&S standards
TABLE OF SPECIFICATIONS
COMPREHENSION
APPLICATION
KNOWLEDGE # OF
% OF
OBJECTIVES/ CONTENT AREAS/
TOPICS ITEMS
TEST
TOTAL 2 2 6 10 100%
SOURCES
Date Developed: Document No.
Learning Outcome 3 on JUNE 2021 VCPC-EPAS02-CORE3
ELECTRONIC Date Revised: Issued by:
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https://speag.swiss/products/dasy6/components/mounting-device-and-adaptors-2/
https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/18925/how-to-mount-a-device-in-linux
https://vitux.com/how-to-manually-mount-unmount-a-usb-device-on-ubuntu/
http://www.electronicsandyou.com/blog/smd-surface-mount-electronic-components-
for-smt.html