In the mid-1980s, the electronics industry began a nearly unanimous move towards using surface-mount technology (SMT), Figure 1. This article assumes you have an existing PCB or other suitable board ...

Hackaday writer [Gerrit Coetzee] built a simple clamp to aid in surface mount component soldering. This cheap, easily made device uses gravity to hold tiny components in place. The tip of the bolt is ...

For most of us, soldering electronics means soldering on “through hole components,” that are large and easy to handle. However, when machines build components, they use “surface mount components,” ...

Bannockburn, IL. IPC’s Hand Soldering Competition at SMT Hybrid Packaging 2017 will see skilled competitors go soldering iron to soldering iron May 16-18 in Nuremberg as they compete for cash prizes ...

A set of tools like this can literally last a lifetime. They fit into a convenient pouch like a Klein Tools 5139. You can conquer the world with this kit! Everybody has individual tools that they like ...

Well, I have to do a bit of soldering. I have not done this since, oh, 30ish years ago. I can't say as I was skilled at it then nor am I now. However, I did a bit of watching on Youtube and have an ...

Most, if not all, engineers know how to handle a soldering iron. But there are a few folks in the industry who want to know more about those wisps of smoke they sometimes see rising from our ...

Having worked in the engineering department of an electronics contract manufacturing company in the late 80s, I remember well the assembly lines that required both thru-hole and surface mount boards.

At some stage you will have to work with surface-mount devices (SMDs) and solder them by hand. You can wait until you are forced to learn, or you can leap into the fray with gusto and abandon. At some ...