Solder Dispenser Questions... - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: alank2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 01, 2013, 09:09:08 pm
content: Hi,I ordered one of the 982 ones for $75 shipped and it arrived today. It has a 220V 50Hz input on it and I am in the US (120V). The transformer has 3 wires on each side (black, white, red) and only the white and red are being used. The black ones are taped off.Input side white-red 243 ohms, white-black 113 ohms, red-black 129 ohmsOutput side white-red 3.3 ohms, white-black 1.7 ohms, red-black 1.7 ohmsI hooked it up to 120V and the output was around 10-11VAC, so it is probably 1:10 or 1:12...I don't know much about transformers - can this one be adapted to 120V?Thanks,Alan

author: mrflibble
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 01, 2013, 09:30:47 pm
content: There's a couple of threads regarding the 982/983 dispensers. Seethis threadfor some info on 110V vs 220V. Also, got a link for where you bought it?

author: alank2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 01, 2013, 11:16:56 pm
content: Hi,Ii got it here:http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Free-shipping-220V-AD-982-Semi-Auto-Glue-Dispenser-PCB-Solder-Paste-Liquid-Controller-Dropper-Fluid/978378146.htmlI ripped out the transformer and wired up a 13VDC 1A power adapter I had laying around to the rectifier board input. this rectifier board has a LM317T on it and some parts and outputs DC to the main board. The main board has a 7812 on it. I probably could have just fed the DC to the main board, but the rectifier board has a decent cap on it that maybe it can use.The main board does not have a uC on it, just a 555 it looks like. It doesn't look too bad to me. I can take pictures if anyone wants to see them.Thanks,Alan

author: alank2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 02, 2013, 12:48:27 am
content: I've got a few questions -1. What is the difference between the metal tips and the plastic tips? Are metal for solder paste and the plastic for glues?2. Any tips on how to fill one of the syringes with paste?3. How do you clean a tip after use? Do you need to?It did come with a cast metal back as well as a plastic back for the syringes too.

author: ovnr
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 02, 2013, 01:02:47 am
content: The plastic (conical/tapered) tips are supposedly for high-viscosity fluids (like solder paste); there is less restriction. Just try both and see what you like!On syringes: Take care not to fill the syringe with a ton of paste - not only will it be more difficult to dispense, but it will also go bad if you leave it there. The solder paste will separate over time, and should be stirred before each use - something that's rather hard to do if it's inside a syringe.As for filling them, if you have a "plunger" (without shaft/handle, just essentially a plug) to use with the syringes, I'd just scoop up some freshly stirred paste with a suitable implement (screwdriver, Q-tip with one end cut off (disposable!), whatever), slather it on the inside of the syringe and squeeze the plunger down after it. Invert the syringe (so the thin end points upwards) and carefully press the plunger down (with a screwdriver or the like), squeezing out the leftover air. Do this as slowly as you can to let more air escape.Good luck!

author: alank2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 02, 2013, 01:23:22 am
content: Hi,So how do you stir paste in those 600g cartridges? Is it much better to get a 500g jar you can stir then?Thanks,Alan

author: mrflibble
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 02, 2013, 01:38:28 am
content: If you really want to stir it inside of the syringe, shouldn't be too hard. Make a stirrer similar to a paint stirrer from an extra large paperclip or whatever you have lying around that's the right size. Possibly solder it onto a thicker shaft to make it a bit more sturdy. And then stir it with a cordless screwdriver.

author: alank2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 02, 2013, 03:48:04 am
content: I got the pressure working fine, it turns out that it needs 24V.

author: alank2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2013, 03:08:20 am
content: How do people clean the tubes or the tips? Do they not bother cleaning the tips? I see lots of 50 packs of tips that would suggest to me that people don't. Couldn't you just clean out a tube the best you can and then fill it with water and use the dispenser to force the water through the tip to clean it?Thanks,Alan

author: ovnr
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2013, 10:19:34 pm
content: It's not worth your time to clean them, unless you're out of clean ones and really need to - you can find new ones on eBay for 3-7 cents a pop, and spending 10 minutes cleaning an old one really isn't worth it.But if youmust: I clean out as much paste as I can by using a Q-tip, then fill some solvent (I prefer acetone) in a small bowl; around 20-30 ml. Then, by using a normal syringe (as would be used in a medical setting), suck up and squirt out the solvent through the tip until the remaining gunk is gone. Give it a final rinse with clean solvent if you're so inclined.Oh, and you must clean them as soon as possible too - old dried up solder paste isnotgoing to come out easily.

author: metalphreak
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 04, 2013, 01:09:02 pm
content: ultrasonic cleaner and whatever suitable liquid is available. The plastic tube is easy enough to replace, but its the plastic plunger insert that's hard to find.

author: alank2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 06, 2013, 12:20:04 am
content: What size tips do you guys use?

author: PLATIJET
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 06, 2013, 11:26:32 am
content: Can we use that tool for small size reball ( 0.2mm ) ??

author: alank2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 07, 2013, 07:07:05 pm
content: What size tips do you guys use?What temperature do you distribute the paste at? Room temp or a little cooler still?I saw a sparkfun youtube video about solder paste rejuvenation with flux and one thing I thought was interesting is that their ideal solder paste was very wet - so wet that gravity would pull it flat and the edges inside a circular container (where the paste meets the container) were raised slightly. Is this how wet solder paste normally is?I found this PDF which seemed pretty helpful as well:http://www.nordson.com/en-us/divisions/efd/Literature/White-Papers/Solder/Nordson-EFD-Air-Powered-Dispensing.pdfThanks,Alan

author: alank2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 07, 2013, 11:10:26 pm
content: Well I put some solder in a syringe and gave it a try. Any tips on getting the solder to not stick to the tip? That was the biggest issue I had. I found I had to do short bursts 0.1s and low pressure or I'd get too much....

author: metalphreak
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 08, 2013, 01:13:33 pm
content: Quote from: alank2 on October 07, 2013, 11:10:26 pmYou can get metal tips with an extra teflon tube bit. Not sure if they are any better. I tend to mix my paste with some isopropyl alcohol or some liquid flux so it's a bit runny. Do note that if you don't let the alcohol evaporate, or you've put too much in, the solder paste will spit and pop a bit when reflowing sending resistors everywhere (only did that once before I learnt my lesson haha)