Ready-made hot-plate-top SMD soldering machine on market? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Wilson__
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 03, 2025, 08:27:38 pm
content: Is thereready-made hot-plate-top SMD soldering machinein market? Similar to this video on a DIY version.T-962 drawer SMD oven is big and expensive for the use case

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 03, 2025, 09:54:08 pm
content: There are but most just have a single set temperature, not a ramp. Which is fine for hobby use.MHP50 is the exception:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/miniware-mhp50/https://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/small-size-reflow-hot-plates/https://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/recommendation-for-smd-hot-plate/https://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/teardown-cheap-16-preheater-on-aliexpress/https://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/miniware-mhp30/

author: Jackster
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 03, 2025, 11:15:43 pm
content: I have one of these. No raping but they work great for prototypes and reworking boards with large modules such as ESP32.https://www.amazon.co.uk/200x200mm-Microcomputer-Electric-Preheating-Soldering/dp/B07SR1BVPV?tag=a002ee-21

author: ZGoode
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 03, 2025, 11:39:13 pm
content: It probably wouldn't be too difficult to modify one of those blue plates to be like that one in the video. I've been thinking about adding curves/ramping to mine for a while now and might do it (or at the minimum add some kind of timer so that it doesn't hold at temp forever)

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 04, 2025, 07:29:28 am
content: Quote from: Jackster on April 03, 2025, 11:15:43 pmYou might wanna fix that typo!

author: eleguy
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 04, 2025, 08:48:07 am
content: I have been waiting for someone to buy/review Atten ST-7800 which would fit to my needs from the spec wise. The only Atten tool I have so far is ST-826D hot air station. It has worked very well. Well, little transformer whining but that I was able to fix.

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 04, 2025, 10:40:18 pm
content: ST-7500 and ST-7800 look good but also no ramp profiles, unless you control it externally with rs485.https://www.atten.com/product/st-7800

author: ZGoode
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 04, 2025, 10:49:07 pm
content: RS-485 seems like a weird choice. I would expect to see RS-232. Maybe they chose that so you can have multiple of them on the same bus? Although since this doesn't seem to be made for an assembly line, still goes back to being kinda a weird choice with 232 being a lot more common.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 05, 2025, 09:03:34 am
content: Quote from: ZGoode on April 04, 2025, 10:49:07 pmEh, RS-485 is super common in industrial environments, and is fundamentally superior to RS-232 in many ways.If anything, I'd say RS-485 has been gaining ground, as so many classic RS-232 applications have moved to USB, leaving RS-485 for industrial use.Given that practically any modern computer requires you to buy a USB-serial dongle either way, may as well use RS-485.But also, looking at the user manual, the port is also used to connect to other Atten soldering equipment, and there is some mention of addressing, so indeed connecting multiple devices might be the reason for using RS-485. (But the serial control documentation the manual promises on the website is not actually present, so I can't look further.)

author: ftg
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 07, 2025, 04:30:36 pm
content: The only problem with common RS-485 use is that it is not full duplex, unlike RS-232.At least for the same amount of conductors.So one misbehaving or misconfigured device can sature the shared bus.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 07, 2025, 07:01:54 pm
content: Quote from: ftg on April 07, 2025, 04:30:36 pmWell sure, since RS-485 is differential, while RS-232 is single-ended. But being differential is one of its big advantages.Of course, full-duplex RS-485 (and RS-422) needs just two more wires. For a short local connection, no big deal.

author: Pr Utser
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 16, 2025, 11:53:45 pm
content: Quote from: eleguy on April 04, 2025, 08:48:07 amI am using a ST-7800 in combination with ST-702 cover for reflow soldering.You can program a two step heat-up profile. Cooling down has to be done by removing the PCBA from the plate. The plate simply remains too hot for too long. This is because of the mass and thickness of the aluminum plate. The advantage of it is that it results in an even heat distribution. When the solder paste begins to liquefy, you see it melt all over the PCB in a couple of seconds.Instead of the ST-702 cover you can also use a glass oven dish upside down or a glass cooking pan lid. Works just as well and you can nicely see what is going on. I think it will also work without a cover but then a draft (or you breathing over it) could mess with the process.I use the quick 3 preset with custom settings 160C/60s, 240C/20s.This makes it semi automated because the cooling down phase requires manual steps.ramp up to 160Cwait 60sramp up to 240Cwait 20sturn off the plate (for some reason it goes back to 160C instead of off)remove PCBA from the plate to let it cool (gently slide it off the plate)put a fan over it to speed up the cooling downThe solder paste I use is the Quick Chip lead-free stuff that melts at 217C.I am very pleased with the hotplate and solder results. The build quality of the hotplate is great. I only dislike that it does not turn off automatically after completing the quick 3 sequence.With a python script and some reverse engineering I could read out the plate and external thermocouple temperature via the RS485 interface. The thermocouple was taped on top of the plate with kapton tape. See graph below for the temperature curve. The red curve drops down faster but that is because the fan also cools the top sensor. Letting the PCB rest on the plate while cooling it from the top is not a good idea because it would stress the PCB to much with a big temp gradient between top and bottom layer. If you are looking for a fully automated reflow process, look further or look into adding a lifting or sliding mechanism.Teardown pictures:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/atten-st-7800-hotplate-teardown

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 17, 2025, 02:09:09 am
content: I have one of those baby ones in my next PCBway order when it arrives, got it with some beans I had left over.One of the small 50x50mm ones. Will see how that works out.https://www.pcbway.com/project/gifts_detail/MHP50_Mini_Hot_Plate_Preheater_7ae19f4a.html