SMD Stencil soldering - perspectives of a first-timer on what's easy and difficult // KiCad, PCBWay
Channel: Sayanee Basu
Date: 2021-07-16

#smd #stencil #soldering
When I had over 30 components to solder, I ordered both the PCBs and a stencil from PCBWay https://www.pcbway.com/. Since this was my first time using the stencil, I share some easy things that I could have fixed or considered before making the PCB layout. I also share what are some of the difficult parts such as the technique itself. Overall, using the stencil gave me a deeper appreciation of large volume manufacturing that I also show as a contrast.

‣ Some links below are affiliate. I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

⏰ TIMESTAMPS AND RESOURCES
0:00 Intro
0:36 Why and when to try out a stencil
1:38 Easy parts of stencil soldering
3:00 Solder paste layer
3:58 Ordering the stencil and options
4:42 Solder paste
4:58 Hard parts of stencil soldering
5:30 Setup a soldering jig 
6:29 Spread the solder paste
7:11 Component placement
8:01 Soldering with a hot air gun
9:02 Outro

🛍️ PRODUCTS MENTIONED
MECHANIC Solder Paste Flux XGZ40 https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_AS3uzg
ATTEN ST-862D Hot Air Gun workstation https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_Am4hDi
Kapton tape https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_A0p00j

🎩 DEMO FILES
KiCad PCB layout files https://hutscape.com/oak/hardware
Interactive BOM https://hutscape.com/oak/bom/ibom.html

📺 WATCH NEXT
Online PCB manufacturing and the checklist manifesto // KiCad, PCBWay https://youtu.be/Xhl9gOPUSWg
First impression of ATTEN ST-862D // SMD Rework station for soldering, desoldering, heat shrinking https://youtu.be/u7cRf7u3rWM
Common missing steps between the schematic and PCB layout // KiCad, PartsBox with LoRa, E-Ink, GPS https://youtu.be/SxpuTqal_V0
From Rats Nest to a complete PCB layout in 10 steps // Designing a LoRa-GPS tracker in KiCad https://youtu.be/W4rroROmcuU
A case study of LoRa-GPS tracker and how to evaluate similar projects // LilyGO T-Beam, range test https://youtu.be/Kgxx7jivSes

🔗 LINKS SHOWN
Inside a PCB Soldering Factory - in China by Strange Parts https://youtu.be/24ehoo6RX8w
SMT stencil and Laser Stencil https://www.pcbway.com/pcb_prototype/SMT_stencil_and_Laser_Stencil.html
InteractiveHtmlBom plugin for KiCad https://github.com/openscopeproject/InteractiveHtmlBom

🔌 TOOLS USED
https://hutscape.com/tools

🎶 MUSIC
Spring Field by Godmode from YouTube Audio library