Getting started. Soldering iron, SMD, knowledge...

Forum 2005-2010 (read only) General Frequently-Asked Questions
1

Hi there,

I'm getting started with electronic (I'm a programmer already) and I've got some questions. Could you help?

My long term goal is to play with robotics - this is my desired hobby. Although right now my plan is to buy one or few Arduino boards and start working on some common stuff to get confidence in electronic, micro controlers programming and especially soldering. Also I plan to learn electronic from MIT OCW courses. Does it sound like a good plan?

  1. I'm struggling to find good soldering iron. I found GOOT PX-201:
    goot.co.jp/e/item.html?c=7 (and there click on the PX-201)
    URL is inactive because of first post restrictions, sorry.

This looks perfect for me because it is pretty powerful (70W), has nice temperature range (250-450 C) that will alow me to work with lead-free solder and it's not expensive and I do not want my first soldering iron be expensive - I want second to be :slight_smile:
But it's not ESD Safe... So I wanted to ask - how important this "ESD safeness" is? Did you smashed many elements in your life or is this very rare condition? Should I care at this point?

  1. How often do I have to deal with SMD elements (according to your experience) and if such iron will allow me to handle them? Please take a look at replacement tips to those iron and let me know (tips are on the bottom of previously linked page).
    Also if you could take a look at those tips and tell me which ones should I order right away to handle most tasks.

  2. Knowledge... I know that basic electronic is pretty simple - I just choose some base platform (Arduino!), and when I need some peripherals then I'm taking a look into Arduino:Playground or ATMEGA specification and I read what do I need to make it work. But it's unknown for me to what to do when some kind of stuff is not described in any of those places, or if I want to attach too many peripherals to one microcontroler. What kind of knowledge do I need to develop such more complicated devices? I hope my question is clear...

Thank you and I hope I'll be able to pay it back to this community soon :slight_smile:

2

On the soldering station, make sure you can get the tips you will need. I have a Hakko and there are many tips for it. Some of the cheap irons do not have many but you will want a small tip for SMD and a larger one for soldering motor leads and ground posts.

(sorry didn't read two before answering one, you seem to be covered.

As to knowledge, you start small and simnple building some kits that come with all the parts you need and good instructions and progress from there as you gain confidence and knowledge. Some people start with a BIG plan and have no clue how to accomplish the task and ask members to draw circuits and write code for them. If your goal is to learn then you need to do the work yourself and use the forum when you get stuck. I hope this is making sense and welcome and good luck.

3

To get started it's a good idea to get some components to experiment with. Stuff like some resistors, LED's, switches, a couple of potentiometers.

You could by that from anywhere or go for something Lady Ada's Arduino starter pack: Adafruit Metro 328 Starter Pack : ID 68 : $44.95 : Adafruit Industries, Unique & fun DIY electronics and kits

This would get you everything you need to get started with basic experiments with Arduino. And especially everything you need to follow Lady Ada's really good basic level Arduino tutorials.

Other similar starter packages exist.

After that, you could get what you need to start experimenting with controlling motors and other robotiics related stuff.

4

There are SMD practice boards you can buy with inexpensive parts you can afford to fry while you are learning :slight_smile:

Make sure you get tips suitable for the kind of soldering you'll be doing

:slight_smile: