A versatile soldering station - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: elki
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 13, 2024, 08:33:41 pm
content: Does anyone know a good soldering station (heating & hot air) that would allow to solder any kind of SMD/SMT components in the lab/home conditions? I know that there are many options for hot air rework stations, however, I am wondering if there is a versatile system allowing to switch among different soldering methods and have an ultimate set up for any kind of soldering (BGA can be excluded), maybe even with some automation and component placement. The price is not an issue. Just wondering what everyone is currently using as well as dreaming of. I have seen this beast (https://www.weller-tools.com/us/en/industrial-soldering/products/soldering-stations/wqb4000sops) - I understand that the main function is the rework, but I suppose it can be also used to solder all components starting from a plain PCB?

author: stretchyman
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 13, 2024, 09:24:05 pm
content: $37K?Second hand Metcal and a el cheapo hot air thing from CH.https://www.aoyue3d.com/en/default.aspI wouldn't spend more than $500 on both.Buying Metcal SH will save you as much.No idea why you're looking at something that costs $37000.Dream on my friend..J.

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 13, 2024, 09:56:32 pm
content: Usually you get individual tools:- Soldering station- Hot air station- Preheater or oven for soldering- Tweezers/microscope/etcThe exception might be the BGA rework which has preheater and hot air or IR together. But I don't think thats of use to you.You won't find anything with automated component placement, and you don't need that.Maybe you can give a budget or read through some of the threads in the Equipment forum.

author: Haenk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 14, 2024, 01:49:51 pm
content: Start with a budget and look what you can get for this amount. Probably waaaaay less than you expected, unless heading over to the Dark Side (aka cheap chinese stuff).And maybe that's even good enough for your plans (some of them are not bad, considering the price).

author: Doctorandus_P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 14, 2024, 02:29:44 pm
content: The combination of posting in the beginners section and pointing to a wqb4000sops is quite bonkers.

author: u666sa
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 15, 2024, 05:19:02 am
content: Quote from: elki on November 13, 2024, 08:33:41 pmWeller ain't one of those.We have older tips, T12, and WQ. Then we have newer tips T245, T210, T115. So you would shop based on tips you want to use.For hot air we have hair dryer type with a thin electrical cable going from station to the hand piece, and we have a fish tank style hot air, which is better.For older tips, Aoyue Int2703A+ is an excellent choice. It comes with fish tank blower and desolder gun.For newer tips, W.E.P. 992D-III is an excellent choice.If you want to splurge and get the latest and greatest you'd have to get station and hot air separately.Aixun T420D comes with 2 solder irons with all 3 latest tips.Aixun H314 has fish tank blower, and 3 modes of intensity, could be hard or soft or medium, and has curves, so you can work with or without bottom.