Page 194 - Electromechanical Devices and Components Illustrated Sourcebook
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156 Electromechanical Devices & Components Illustrated Sourcebook
Solder Pot
Temperature Adjustment
5
4 6
3 7
2 8 Power Switch
1 9
American
0 10
Paste Flux
OFF ON
Base
Flux Container
Foot
AC Cord
120 VAC
Figure 9-23 Solder Pot
Tinning is the process of coating a component with solder. Sometimes, this is the only effective way to remove solder
This is a common step during production soldering opera- from large joints, but is not recommended for smaller, high-
tions. Solder pots, as shown in Figure 9-23, are used to heat a density assemblies. Figure 9-25 shows three common solder
pool of solder. A flux container is placed adjacent to the sol- removal tools. A solder wick is used to draw the solder from
der pot. A stripped wire is dipped into the flux and then into the joint. As the joint and wick are heated, the solder flows
the solder and is instantly tinned. The tinned wire is now pre- into the tinned wire braid and is drawn away from the joint.
pared for a production solder joint. When the wick cools the solder-filled end is cut off and dis-
60
Most solder intended for electrical use is / flux core. The carded. A solder sucker is a heavy rubber ball with a high tem-
40
60 / refers the ratio of tin to lead that makes up the alloy. / 40 perature tip. The bulb is squeezed and the tip is placed at the
60
40
solder is 60% tin and 40% lead. The flux, which is sometimes
referred to as rosin, is carried in a circular core at the center of
the solder. Solder that does not have a flux core requires that
the flux be applied before soldering the joint. Figure 9-24
shows three different solder cores. Multicore is generally
found in very fine solder intended for electronic work. Flux
core is usually used for general wiring applications and solid
core is principally specified for heavy applications such as
large cables and buss bars.
Reset Plunger
Squeeze Bulb
Trigger
Multicore Flux Core Solid
Figure 9-24 Solder Cores Tip
Cylinder
Solder Sucker
Disassembling a solder joint can be rather difficult, espe-
cially if the joint was done correctly. Some technicians heat
the joint and forcibly blow the molten solder off. This works Solder Wick Tip
if a source of compressed air is available and you don’t mind Vacuum Removal Tool
spraying down adjacent components with molten solder. Figure 9-25 Solder Removal Tools