T962 Reflow ovens off ebay - has anyone tried one? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: miceuz
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 14, 2013, 09:33:41 pm
content: I'm about to get a cheap T962 reflow oven off ebay for small scale prototype manufacturing in lab. Did anyone try one? Is it any better than a piza oven?http://www.ebay.com/itm/T962-Infrared-IC-Heater-Reflow-Oven-SMD-BGA-18X23-5CM-K-/300943984711?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4611a8c847

author: marshallh
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 14, 2013, 09:40:06 pm
content: Crap... I know a guy was able to get it working somewhat by completely replacing the contrller.The 110V/220V versions use different elements and the 220v one is superior.

author: Kjelt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 14, 2013, 09:43:29 pm
content: These ovens are not very good, poor design and bad reflow results.Did you see this topic:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/buysellwanted/fs-(uk)-cif-reflow-ovens-190mm-x-290mm-capacity/msg329970/#msg329970they look much better and the price at this moment almost unbeatable.

author: toxicnos
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 15, 2013, 01:02:31 am
content: Just stick with an arduino controlled toaster oven here is how to make one

author: Dreso12
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 04, 2013, 08:27:22 am
content: You can also build the whole oven yourself. It seems an interesting project. See this:http://www.nelectronics.dyndns.org/?p=347

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 04, 2013, 08:44:18 am
content: They look good on the outside but I've heard they are pretty crap.I'm getting one of these very shortly for review:http://www.beta-estore.com/rkuk/order_product_details.html?wg=1&p=13and the controller which looks pretty zazzy:http://www.beta-estore.com/rkuk/order_product_details.html?wg=1&p=242The same mob that do PCB Pool.Will be doing my first run of proto uCurrent GOLDs with it.

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 04, 2013, 08:57:26 am
content: A cheap toaster oven works just fine, just stay away from Lead Free as leaded has a much bigger margin between "Reflow" and "Incinerate"

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2014, 02:44:47 am
content: >> 962 Reflow ovens off ebay - has anyone tried one?I got one off ebay a few days ago. A 110V T962 (not the 'A' version). This is a revised design with a small window in the front so you can peek at your boards while reflowing them (the unit I got was manufactured about a year ago but I don't know if there are newer versions).I reflow a few test boards and today did 'real' boards and am very happy from the results. The product is very compact (my boards are few and small anyway) which fits nice in my home mini lab. Reflowing is very easy, you select a predefined profile (I used #2 with Chip Quik 63Sn/37Pb paste), insert the board (I used Ian's suggestion and place the board on two unused boards to have an air gap from the bottom of the drawer), press the button and see how the actual temperature tracks the target profile. After about 7 minutes it terminated and sounds a continuous buzzer until you press the Stop button. I used to reflow with a Hakko hot air station but this is easier and more controlled. In one of the tests I measured the temperature with an independent thermometer it was pretty close so now I just trust whatever temperature it shows on the display (you can see its thermometer sensors hanging from the top of the chamber).I was concerned because negative reviews I read but am glad that I gave it a try. Smell was not an issue (I would have it anyway when reflowing with hot air) and so the hot air it emit at the end of the cycle when cooling reducing the internal temperature.Pros:* Compact and nice looking.* Easy to operate by a layman.* The display provides good feedback what's going on.* Consistent results.* Self contained (no hanging PID on the side).Cons:* It has two fans, a larger one that operates when cooling the chamber and a small one near the display that operate all the time and is louder than I would like.* As reported, the keys are not debounced well and you need to practice the right amount of time to press to be counted as exactly one press. Not a show stopper but they could easily fix it by firmware change.* The metal cut for the front window could be done to look better. In my unit I can see the insulation between the two plates. Not a big deal though.Ian had a review of a QS 5100, I could not find this model in the US but the T962 looks very similar.Edit: here is another video, with a hot plate

author: koendv
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 05, 2016, 05:10:05 pm
content: Puhui T962? Got one.I bought a brand new T962 oven in 2016. The system fan had a November 23, 2008 manufacturing date and looked worn (see pic). There was some smudge on the fan blades, like you see on old server fans. Looks to me they're saving money by putting "recycled" fans in new products.The Puhui T962 is an option if you want to spend time, not money. Cheap, but you need to change the firmware, replace some tape with kapton tape, and add a temp sensor. If you are picky, you can also fix the case ground. "Don't turn it on, take it apart". Seehttps://github.com/UnifiedEngineering/T-962-improvementsfor details.