Pace rework tips - any known alternate/third party source available? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / repair

author: Rax
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 31, 2024, 07:34:01 pm
content: Hi all,This is one of those topics which I am not sure where it belongs. Hopefully well enough here.I have a bunch of Pace rework tools, including this TT-65 which I had not yet have a chance to use. A major reason is the cost of the tips, and the tips I got the used unit I have is not in the best shape.Now, I am currently embarked on a repair project with a TDS754D with issues, where I suspect some of the SRAM chips are bad. I think it'd have it a pretty smooth job if I would have a set of 1121-0448-P1 at hand, which I think are intended for those SOJ32 packages. One of the worst things that can happen with such a project is to use the wrong tool and end up damaging a very large and complex, smt board, which would make the project a pretty handsome door stopper.It's not hard to source any Pace tip I want in the US, it's just that these chunks of metal are a proverbial arm and a leg - for instance, the 1121-0448-P1 comes down to about $120 shipped regardless of vendor (including Pace directly). I am not aware of any rare metals, precious gems or diamond dust - of maybe fairy?... - that need to go into those tips. Or maybe there's more to manufacturing those than I'm aware?Has no third party figured how valuable a market this is? I can't imagine it's extremely difficult to fabricate those tips for far less than what Pace is asking for. Or maybe I just need to learn this manufacturer exists and the only one needing to do some figuring out is yours truly.

author: Shock
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 01, 2024, 06:12:53 am
content: All non test equipment related tools are discussed in "Other Equipment & Products"https://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/Removal tips are expensive, tweezer tips are no exception. Likely plated copper and not a rare metal, but not cheap either. I've not heard of any third party manufacturer.There are other ways of removing them non destructively without hot air. One is underside preheating if possible, then use a low melt alloy such as chip quik flooded along both sides. Swap back and forwards a few times, then lift the package off with tweezers or a suction tool. The downside is it needs more cleanup to ensure the low melt alloy is totally removed from the pins and pads.Then there's the hot air, leaded solder flood or wire form (copper wire to add more mass and distribute simultaneous heat to both sides) techniques. These may add a greater risk of damaging the component or pads due to longer heating times.Desoldering tweezers are both quicker and safer, with underside heating even more so.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 01, 2024, 08:52:03 am
content: The only companies I’m aware of to ever manufacture clone Pace tips are Plato (now part of Techspray IIRC), but they just make basic tips for older irons, and APE, which appears to be a second-source supplier for a bunch of older Pace gear:https://ape.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/ape_pace_cross_ref_book.pdfBut I don’t think anyone makes clone tips for the ThermoTweez.Quote from: Rax on March 31, 2024, 07:34:01 pmMy guess is it isn’t nearly as lucrative a market as you think it is. If it were, someone would be doing it. Electronics rework at the component level isn’t a huuuuuuuge market to begin with, and hot air seems to be the dominant way to desolder SMD chips. So removal tips like that are likely a tiny market.

author: factory
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 01, 2024, 12:46:09 pm
content: Quote from: Rax on March 31, 2024, 07:34:01 pmWould 1121-0497-P1 not be better for SOIC/SOJ 32? probably just as pricey as all Pace spares & tools are.The local reseller (Farnell) here doesn't even stock most of the tips for the TT-65, including the 0497 & 0448, guess there is little demand, plus it's one of the older tools from the range.David

author: Shock
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 01, 2024, 05:32:06 pm
content: Forgot to mention the full bga/smd rework station. If setup correctly it offers preheating, a reflow profile and constant temperature monitoring. Doesn't beat preheating and tweezers on larger packages till you can't find the right tips or reworking bga/qfn.

author: bdunham7
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 01, 2024, 06:22:50 pm
content: Quote from: Rax on March 31, 2024, 07:34:01 pmI imagine the market is pretty small and it is probably a bit more difficult than it appears to make those tips with good quality. I'm not sure if they're cast or if they just struggle with machining the copper, but I don't think I could whip them up very easily. I think you'll want to just buy them. You could roast the chips off your board with hot air, but that has risks. Or you can buy an SOJ32 nozzle from Metcal and adapt it, but that costs $100+ as well.https://www.tequipment.net/Pace/1121-0497-P1/Tips/?v=0$100+tax, minus the 6% EEVBlog discount. Unlike the basic Pace stuff, you're unlikely to find these on eBay or at a rummage sale.