Solder dispenser - Fraser's latest acquisition + important question - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 10, 2016, 11:02:49 am
content: I have just taken delivery of a used OK Industries FD1000 fluid dispenser unit. It is capable of metered dispensing of many fluids including adhesives, flux and solder paste and works on the metered pressurized air principle, as is common with such units.The unit cost me the grand sum of £17.49 delivered so I could not resist it. The seller advertised it as a fluid dispenser and no one else bid on it. A classic case of a poor title not attracting attention.Back to the unit......The OKI FD1000 comprises a main unit that incorporates all the air control valve gear and electronics. It has settings for time, pressure and vacuuum. There are ports for air in, air out and vacuum in. The unit supports both a syringe type fluid dispenser and a vacuum pick-up tool (hence the vacuum port) The pick-up tool vacuum has its own dedicated vacuum level control. The pressure applied to the syringe outlet is controlled by a built in regulator and displayed on its associated pressure gauge. The regulator has a range of 0 to 100 PSI and may be locked at any setting.The air inlet to the FD1000 requires clean air from an air compressor as the unit does not have a built-in air pump. This is common with these types of units as the pump that can create the required pressures is too bulky for incorporation into a small desk top unit. The requirement for a compressed air source is an issue if you do not have such at your bench though !The air line that connects to the FD1000 uses a standard type of air-line male connector that feeds into a 0 to 300 PSI regulator, that in turn provides the correct level of air pressure to the FD1000. Air lines can often provide greater pressure than the 100 PSI MAX that the FD1000 is designed for, hence the additional regulator and air pressure gauge. The end of the air line that connects to the FD1000 uses a locking connector with which I am not familiar. It may be a OKI proprietary part ?A foot switch connects to the FD1000 to control the fluid dispensing process.From what I understand of these units. I need to set the syringe drive air pressure to suit the viscosity of the fluid that I am dispensing, taking into account the needle diameter. I then set the timer on top of the unit to provide the duration of the dispensing. Short for dots and longer for lines. The timer may also be switched off for applications where a long bead of fluid is needed, such as liquid gaskets. I suspect I will need to practice in order to get the correct pressure setting for solder past.Now the question that I could do with some help with....... My unit is rated to accept an air pressure at its inlet of 100PSI Max. However it provides no indication of a minimum required air pressure in order to work correctly. The unit contains a venturi vacuum pump so that will need a certain air pressure to work correctly. The solder paste is quite thick and so will need a decent pressure in the syringe drive hose. But how much pressure is normally required ?Does anyone have practical experience of the pressure that is normally required for one of these air driven dispensers to work with solder paste and say a 1mm needle ? I do not have a large compressor but do have a decent airbrush compressor capable of around 40PSI. Would that be even close to good enough or do I need to buy a full size 1.5HP air compressor capable of >100PSI ? I really could do without the noise and bulk of such a compressor in the labAny comments are welcomed.I shall take some pictures of the FD1000 internal parts later and post them here.Fraser

author: Gyro
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 10, 2016, 12:38:37 pm
content: Quote from: Fraser on June 10, 2016, 11:02:49 amGreat bargain but I still think you're a hopeless case

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 10, 2016, 02:38:37 pm
content: Hi Gyro,Worry not. A pile of excess kit was disposed of this week. Thermal camera also sold.I actually need a solder paste dispenser so this was a need, rather than a want.I also discovered a crate full of Weller Magnastat soldering stations, irons and spare parts. They will be off to.new homes as they still sell well.Fraser

author: Gyro
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 10, 2016, 02:52:10 pm
content: QuoteI refer the honerable member to my previous answerI'm really glad that you are getting things sorted out though... and that you actually need this one!Chris

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 10, 2016, 03:33:52 pm
content: I know exactly what you mean. I am horrified at how much 'inventory' I have accrued. My Postman saw my garage racking piled high with equipment and asked If it was overflow stock for my shop ! Oh dearAll is going well though. My health has improved greatly since my Cruise and my energy levels continue to be more than enough to sort through kit. I have yet to tackle the garden shed that is full of crates from my Batchelor pad dating back 10 years ! Most of that can go to the recycling centre but there are a few gems in there that I will sell. The good stuff is in sealed crates so hopefully still in good order.The Weller Magnastats were a bit of a surprise. I knew I had a couple that I used prior to converting to PACE products, but I must have at least 7 complete stations, lots of iron holders, three complete desoldering stations and a weird automatic solder feed station the feeds solder to the tip when a button is pressed on the iron. I no longer use Weller Magnastat irons but I still think they are a decent roll for everyday tasks.Fraser

author: Gyro
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 10, 2016, 04:53:46 pm
content: It does sound like things are looking up. I still like Magnastats, they still have very good feedback of tip temperature. I converted mine with an SSR to preserve the switch contacts a while back. It doesn't sound as if switch contact wear is a problem for you!As a relatively recent medical retiree myself I can sympathise, loads of (now) junk in the garage that I really need to get around to. Keep up the good work.Chris

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 10, 2016, 06:20:36 pm
content: I have a couple of spare Magnastat switch assemblies in the pile of sparesI remember that one of my office Weller Magnastats suddenly smelled very hot and sure enough the switch had stuck in the close position. The traditional solution to this in my workplace was to bang the heated shaft on the iron stand to break the stuck contacts apart. It worked too ! No way to treat a soldering iron I know, but in the workplace, if it worked, it was done. I only had one iron suffer sticky contacts in my career though. That may well be because we tended to be using very new stations in most sections though.I also found eight of the special Borosilicate glass tubes for the desoldering irons, plus a complete spare desoldering iron head assembly ! Those tubes ended to get cracked if the iron was dropped.I may hold on to a couple of the new condition Weller Magnastat stations as they are still nice to use. I also have a selection of the special DIL chip desoldering heads, and lots of tips.Fraser

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 10, 2016, 06:53:29 pm
content: I have just taken a peek inside the FD1000 in order to better understand its plumbing configuration.There were no surprises inside except to confirm that the vacuum is created by a small Venturi assembly and that this is used to provide the anti drip function that pulls back on the syringe plunger when the foot switch is released. I was not sure that this unit had this feature but i am very pleased to see that it does. The vacuum is also available for use with teh vacuum pick-up too, as already stated.Inside the FD1000 I was presented with a series of PVC pipes, power supply transformer, vacuum Venturi, Vacuum regulator, pressure regulator, control PCB, Pressure control solenoid, and a number of Luer type hose interconnects. All very orderly but crammed into a small space !For those interested, the vacuum creation Venturi is the small black cylindrical device positioned below the rear handle. It has two hoses going to it, one on its axis and one at the side. The air pressure presented at the 'on axis' port passes an internal Venturi port and exits out of a hole at the opposite end. The vacuum occurs at the side port.The main pressure control solenoid valve provides air pressure to the syringe port when the foot switch is pressed, and a vacuum to the same port when the foot switch is released. It looks a nice quality component.On the electronics front, I expected to find the venerable NE555 or NE556, but such was not the case. Only 4000 series CMOS was present.Fraser

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 10, 2016, 07:10:23 pm
content: Normally 4 bar is the working pressure, 10 is the absolute max input to the pressure regulator, so a pressure that is between 6-8 bar input will be fine, the regulator should drop it down to 4 bar or so ( could be anything from 1 to 4 bar depending on the actual paste type you use, but the vacuum generator will want 4 bar clean air to make it run) to run the internals.Try the small compressor, it is not the pressure but the flow rate that determines if it will work, if you only need a little air every so often the small one will do the job, though a reservoir tank near the dispenser may help to supply air for the peak demands.

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 10, 2016, 07:30:02 pm
content: Hi SeanBMany thanks for the advice.As you say, the vacuum generator will need the flow to work correctly. I have decided to buy a small good quality air compressor from SGS. I do not own and it will be useful to have around.I am weighing up tank capacity versus weight and bulk. The unit with the 6L tank will be fine for general work with low demand tools but the 24L is a better option in terms of general capability. Then there is the Oil-less Vs Oil lubricated decision to make....Decisions, Decisions, DecisionsFraser

author: blacksheeplogic
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 10, 2016, 10:47:52 pm
content: Quote from: Fraser on June 10, 2016, 07:30:02 pmA air inlet pressure of of 70 psi to 100 psi is required which an oil-less small air compressor would be adequate. You need a clean air supply (even with an "oil-less" compressor there's still some oil) in addition to other containments and water in the air which you also need consider.