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Building the mouse Logitech won't make

(samwilkinson.io)
450 points sammycdubs | 3 comments | 25 Aug 25 15:34 UTC | HN request time: 0.438s | source
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stn8188 ◴[25 Aug 25 16:06 UTC] No.45015355[source]▶
"Balking at the $50+ charge for turnkey assembly, I opted to take the financially responsible route and pay $200+ for a hot-air rework station to solder it myself."

Yeah, I feel this :)

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frankus ◴[25 Aug 25 16:40 UTC] No.45015764[source]▶
For just straight up assembly of one-sided SMT boards (i.e. not reclaiming components from a donor board), a $30 plug-in electric skillet and a solder paste stencil from the PCB manufacturer (or patience and a solder paste syringe) works far better than it has any right to. https://www.instructables.com/Simple-Skillet-Surface-mount-S...
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Aurornis ◴[25 Aug 25 16:49 UTC] No.45015867[source]▶
The hot air station is called a "rework station" because it's very helpful for rework, too.

Using a hot plate to reflow boards is fine if you already know everything is correct. Having a real hot air station is very important if you need to change any parts or even fix reflow problems.

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throw-qqqqq ◴[25 Aug 25 17:03 UTC] No.45016044[source]▶
I prefer a regular soldering iron for SMD. Below 0603 I tend to blow off unrelated components if I’m not very very careful!

So for me, a loupe/microscope and a fine SMD iron is the best option. I have some China-model that uses Hakko tips.

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1. alnwlsn ◴[25 Aug 25 18:29 UTC] No.45017209[source]▶
Nobody believes me when I say that soldering SMD with an iron is easier than through hole. You don't have to keep flipping the board over!
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2. throw-qqqqq ◴[25 Aug 25 20:35 UTC] No.45018665[source]▶
To be fair, it takes a little practice IMO and until you learn how to use flux correctly etc., it can seem very unattainable to ever learn well.

I got a huge confidence boost from one of the old engineers with rubbish eyesight. Thinking “If HE can see well enough to do 0603 and smaller, then so can I!” :D

A few hours practice on scrapped electronics made a big difference for me.

3. jacquesm ◴[26 Aug 25 07:01 UTC] No.45023185[source]▶
You don't have to 'keep flipping the board over' when doing through hole either. Just stick all of the components in, fold over two legs on chips and passives, then solder all of them in one go.