Electronics
Rules and procedures for using the Electronics Area
- Intro - The Basics
- Rules
- Warnings and Cautions
- Electronics Tools
- Soldering
- Computer Workstation
- ESD - Electro Static Discharge
- Lost and Found
- Where to find it
Intro - The Basics
Read this first before using the area.
The Electronics Area provides resources, parts, and supplies useful in constructing and testing of projects that require electronics.
There are two workbenches which members are allowed to use. Both stations have soldering tools. Station 1 has an assortment of test equipment ready to use.
Consumable supplies such as solder, flux, and wire are located in and around the stations.
A movable storage rack has free electronic parts. As these parts are donated, consider adding to the inventory or donating $$$ to the Makerspace. Maintaining a useful assortment of parts benefits all.
Safety is Important! Members and guests are expected to be aware that people and hardware can be harmed if resources are improperly used. Please read the Warning and Cautions chapter before using the area.
Rules
Primary Rules
1. Electronics Area tools will remain in the Electronics Area. Tools moved to other areas in the Makerspace should be returned as soon as possible. Leave note if tool is to be used elsewhere for more than a few minutes. Members expect tools to be their right places when they come in to use the Electronics Area.
2. Do NOT take Electronics Area tools home or other places outside of the MakerSpace.
3. Do NOT let your device rest on the anti-static mat while soldering in such acway as to melt or damage the mat. Use one of the various clamp tools for holding your project piece while soldering. Do not let solder drip on to the mat. The anti-static mat is a tool meant to protect your MOSFET devices from static discharge.
4. Items on the rolling cart (The Little Free Radio Shack) are FREE to MEMBERS and VOLUNTEERS. Take a part, leave a part. Feel free to take them temporarily and "donate" them back later. If uncertain where an item should go, place it in any bin marked "SORT."
5. Workspace in the electronics area is currently first-come, first served. Please share.
6. Clean up your mess! Return ALL tools to their proper places even if you didn'tuse it. If you do not know where it should go, place it in the box designated .
7. Make sure soldering irons are turned off! (Even if you didn't turn any on!)
8. All questions should be directed to the area Tool Champion:
Jim Gagnon jim@bellinghammakerspace.org
Warnings and Cautions
People or equipment can be harmed by misusing the facilities.
Warnings
Your personal safety is paramount, however, it is up to you to be aware of the area's hazards. Some resources may have warning tags, but users should be aware of ALL potential risks. The MakerSpace is not responsible for your actions.
Potential hazards include, but not limited to:
Electrical shock
Fire
Burns
Lead exposure
If you identify a hazard
Contact the MakerSpace Manager or the Electronics Tool Champion if you find faulty equipment capable of harming persons.
Please place a prominent note on it indicating necessary repair. Set item aside.
Cautions
Members should be aware of the potential of their action to damage equipment. Our resources are not foolproof. Some resources will have a CAUTION tag, but lack of such a tag does not preclude damage due to improper use.
Some cautionary considerations:
Excessive voltage and/or current
Static discharge
Melting/burning from soldering irons
Electronics Tools
Tools to construct, test, or repair your electronics projects
Test Equipment
Multimeters
Portable Testers
Oscilloscopes
Power Supplies
Signal Generators
Counter - Timers
Soldering
Soldering tools, supplies, aids, and tutorials
Soldering
Soldering Irons
Weller WESD51
- Temperature range: 350F to 850F
- Digital readout
- Grounded soldering iron tip
- Zero power switching
- Anti-static design
Before turning on, inspect and determine if the tip shape and size is suitable for your task. Change tip by unscrewing sleeve.
Adjust temperature with knob: Temperature displayed is sensed by the iron. For best results and to minimize thermal damage to your circuit parts, use only enough heat that does the job.
SMD / Hot Air Rework Stations
Aoyue 738H
Hot Air and Soldering Iron
Click here for 30 minute YouTube video -- Review and features
Note: ON/OFF switch is located on back, to your top left.
SparkFun 303D
303D Hot-Air Rework Station has two knobs on the front of the case to control air flow as well as temperature. These knobs are labeled Low to High allowing you to adjust the 303D almost immediately.
How to Use a Hot Air Rework Station
Third hands or other vice grips help tremendously. Remember, metal heat sinks and PCBs with ground planes can make reworking take a lot longer.
Choose Your Nozzle
Choose the appropriate tip for the job. Attach the nozzles to the wand and tighten the screw using a screw driver to hold it in place.
Caution: Make sure to keep the hot-air gun moving to prevent any damage to the component or the PCB from burning. Aiming the heat gun at the same point can melt the board after a certain period of time. Certain components may be heat sensitive. Make sure to check the datasheet on the IC. The black plastic on male and female headers can melt while surface mount buttons can become discolored. Be sure to aim the hot air at a component carefully!
If you also see smoke, warping, or black goo coming from your board, remove the heat and turn your heat setting down.
Adjust Air and Temperature
There are two control knobs – one for airflow and one for temperature. Adjust them to suit your needs.
What's It Good For?
Hot-air rework stations can be very handy. As mentioned above, they are a crucial tool when it comes to reworking a board. The term rework just means you are refinishing or repairing an already reflowed board, and it is a term commonly used in the electronics world. Just think of it as doing any work to the board that wasn't involved in the actual production process. Here are some common rework scenarios:
-
Polarized Components - Parts that have been placed incorrectly (backwards, shifted x degrees off). These include ICs, diodes, some capacitors, connectors, etc.
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Tombstone Parts - This is when a part (usually a resistor or capacitor) reflows only on one side. The part usually sticks strait up resembling a tombstone.
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Cold Joints - This is similar to a tombstone except the parts might not be sticking strait up, making it harder to see the connection that is not being made.
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Removing Defective Parts - Sometimes, during the IC manufacturing process, errors can arise and go unnoticed. These ICs are then placed on perfectly good PCBs. Hot-air is great for replacing these bad parts.
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Missing Components - The smaller the component, the easier it is for it to disappear. This can happen before or during reflow, resulting in a spot where something should be, but isn't. Hot-airing a new part in its place is a snap with this rework station.
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Unintentional Solder Jumpers - If too much solder or solder paste is used, the result can be jumpers on one or more of your surface mount IC's legs. Hot-air can sometimes be used in conjunction with a flux pen to remove these pesky buggers.
Other Uses
Rework isn't the only thing a hot-air rework station is good for. Other uses include:
- Salvaging electronic components from old PCBs.
- Reflowing solder paste applied with a stencil between SMD components and a PCB.
- Shrinking heat-shrink to secure wire connections.
- Heating up and bending certain plastics (with the correct settings).
- Heating up hot glue to remove or reposition items that were glued incorrectly.
Soldering Guide
Some soldering tutorials:
Video: A Comprehensive Guide to Soldering: Techniques, Tools, and Tips
WARNING: Many of the solders contain LEAD. Even if you choose a lead free solder, others have not. Consider all work surfaces and tools to be contaminated with lead. Wash hands after using the area.
Computer Workstation
A computer to aid in controlling your device or surf the internet. Windows Login to BMS User using WiFi password
Computer Workstation
A computer to aid in controlling your device or surf the internet.
Windows LogIn
Upon power up, log in to BMS Lab User account using WiFi password.
Feel free to add a folder for your own stuff.
Be aware that all stored data is public and not secure. Don't expect it to be there next time!
Apps
Some apps for your convenience
Arduino IDE -- environment to edit, compile, and load programs
Visual Studio Code -
LTspice - Circuit Analysis program
TeraTerm -- Stand alone terminal emulator
ESD - Electro Static Discharge
Static Discharge
ESD Precautions
Many electronic components are susceptible to static electricity. MOSFETs can be permanently damaged by as little as 60 volts. You won't feel it, but your electronics will.
There are several steps you can take to protect your hardware:
Antistatic Grounding Mats
The grounding mats on the workbenches are connected to earth ground through a high resistance (1 to 10 megohm). Consider the mat as the safe place for your project.
Wrist straps
People can develop a static charge, from walking on the floor or rolling a chair.
Wear a wrist strap that is snapped into the corner of the Grounding Mat to protect your project. Insist friends also don a strap before handling your precious device as well.
Note: The high resistance to ground for mats and straps reduces currents to a low level and should not usually affect operation of your project.
Other preventive measures
Avoid bringing static producing items into the area. Do not wear clothing with a lot of static cling.
Other prevention tools such as lab coats are not provided by BMS.
When transporting your project, use a static shielding bag or other Faraday cage container.
Note: The colored antistatic bags and plastic wrap prevent static buildup but are inadequate to act as a Faraday cage. Bags with conductive metal or carbon coatings are meant for this purpose:
Lost and Found
Loose Items: Small misplaced items (e.g. electronic parts) can be found in a small bin on the shelf. If you find something, leave it in the box. If an item is larger than the box then it will be classified as an item without a parking ticket.
Where to find it
-- Chapter in progress ---
A numbering system for drawers, shelves, cabinets, toolboxes, and storage bins and boxes is currently in process of being organized. For the time being use this abbreviated locator:
Soldering irons: workbenches and drawer #2.
Solder, flux, and soldering aids: walls in front of workbenches, extra material in plastic drawer #23
Handheld multimeter: wall behind computer monitor
MECHANICAL TOOLS: Drawer #24 (left side of workbench 2)
Wire: on walls and drawer #26
Crimp connectors: drawer #27
Bench test equipment: table to left of workbench 1, shelf above bench 2