Any suggestions for a high quality DIY BGA Reballer? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: Spork Schivago
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 25, 2016, 03:06:41 am
content: Hello,I'm interested in making a BGA Reballer. I currently have some equipment. I have a Weller WHP3000 600 Watt preheater, a Weller WHA900 Hot Air Rework station, a Weller WX2 dual soldering station with an iron or two.I've never operated a BGA reballer before and would like some suggestions. Does anyone have any links to any high quality DIY reballers? I was thinking infrared would be best. I was thinking maybe of doing it in steps. First, create the bottom pre-heater stuff. What would be a good wattage for the bottom pre-heater? 2,000 watts or so? Any links to some good quality DIY preheaters?I've googled the idea a few times and I've seen some videos of some that I think would be okay. I don't know how well they actually work. I couldn't really find any plans (gerber files, Eagle layouts, etc) though. Temperature profiles is a must. I'd rather spend more money in parts and buy something that will be great than buy cheaper stuff and have it work okay like. Any help / suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

author: Spork Schivago
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 25, 2016, 09:27:58 pm
content: Has no one replied yet because there really isn't any really good open source / open hardware designs out there? Thanks.

author: Teledog
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 26, 2016, 02:42:40 am
content: Well,...Did some reballing for a few chips (memory & CPU) ~85 % success rateNOTE!:: THIS IS NOT THE RECOMMENDED/KOSHER WAY TO REBALL!!!!Bought kits/stencils from eBay (China) and a bunch of assorted size balls and thick "rosin-oid" flux.Cleaned the sh*t off the pads with wick and rosin flux under the microscope (be careful) ..until they were spotless.Wiped down with IPA & kimwipeWiped rosin flux pen on pads then applied a bit of the thick stuff.Placed the SS stencil over the chip (aligned well!!) & taped all around with kapton to stick it to the stencil.Rattled around the appropriate size balls over the stencil .. (do it over a bowl, you will lose most)Placed that on a hotplate & used a laser ( Canadian tire cheapo) thermometer to see that it was up ~ 150C+Then used a heat gun until the balls just barely moved & stuck/fused to the pads.Careful, as the stencil may warp in the process!The stencil is sometimes a PITA to remove.Clean chip with IPA, wipe with rosin flux pen.Make sure the PCB is as clean as the chip & wipe with rosin flux.Preheat /shield the PCB & you know the rest....

author: Spork Schivago
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 26, 2016, 04:43:19 pm
content: Thanks for the reply. I could use my Weller hot air rework station to do something similar. I was looking more into building something that used IR for heat and I could use profiles. Ie, for chip A, preheat the board to temperature X, raising the temp at 1 - 2 degrees C per second or whatever the norm is. Then, once it's preheated, turn on the top heater for the chip, raise the temp to temperature Y, using the correct ramp speed (whatever the norm is (ie, 1 - 2 degrees C per sec), once the temp reaches Y, hold it there for whatever amount of time, then change the temp to whatever the profile says, using the ramp speed, once it's reached, hold it there for however long, etc. You know, like how the official ones work.Thanks.