Index The index to this thread is found in post number 903 Go to INDEX. [IMG_3826] How about sharing some tips you use? Here is one I use often when I need my third hand to give a constant pull. [2017-01-04_0-01-26.jpg] .

I prefer my version: [00014] [image] Closeup of the modules. Resistors are on bottom (SMD), can be made common anode or common cathode. Quick for checking Arduino's output. I had a few old 20 LED bargraph but also fits 2x 10 LED bargraph. Headers are all on one side so I can just mount them on the side of the breadboard.

If you purchase a board like a Buck Converter 'and' the board doesn't have components on one side, you can use it as a Castellated daughter card on a PCB you design. Use a table sander to take off the edge(s) of the PCB where the through solder holes are located. For insulation/isolation purposes, place Kapton tape on the flat underside of this PCB. When 1/2 of the buck converter hole is removed, solder the remaining plated through hole to the motherboard's pads. On a none castellated edge, tack the daughterboard to the motherboard, use UV glue. [Castellated.jpg] [CastellatedBuck.png]

You can use ‘Solder Wick’ to manually generate a small-scale solder wave. PCB factories use a solder wave method to solder plated-through hole PCBs. [B.png] [C.jpg] This can be accomplished on a much smaller scale with a ‘Gull Wing’ soldering iron tip. [A.png] [A.jpg] Continued in the next post . . . [1.jpg]

We have all used solder wick to remove excess solder from electronic component leads. By reversing the process, you can use solder wick to apply a controlled amount of solder to small fine pitch components. Use a magnetic hold down tool to anchor your component to the PCB. Add a drop of liquid flux to the leads. Melt a ‘small’ blob of solder on the end of a piece of solder wick; small being the operative word. Add a drop of liquid flux to the blob, heat with a soldering iron. When the blob melts, slowly drag/pull the solder wick blob over the component leads; the leads take only the amount of solder they need. Add more solder to the end of the solder wick as needed. Experiment with different widths of solder wick to see what works best for you; 2mm wide wick is used in these images. Going to refer to this from now on as the: SW2 soldering technique (SolderWick/SolderWave). :slight_smile: [2.jpg] [3.png] [4.jpg] Melt the blob, pull the wick over the leads. [5.jpg] [6.jpg]

There are two kinds of 90' male headers available. I prefer the the header in the 1st image as it has a lower profile. [a.png] [bB.png]

Further to posts #713 & #714 Another example: [1.jpg] [2.jpg] [3.jpg] [4.jpg]

Hi Larry, IPA := Isopropyl Alcohol ?? Like to be SURE with chemicals... THANKS!

Hi Terry, hope the family is well, better stay out of China for a while :(. Yes IPA is Isopropyl Alcohol (99% from Costco) Use an old electric toothbrush with the IPA to get in between component leads. Rinse with water. Use ’hot air handheld soldering wand‘ to dry PCB (or your wife’s hair dryer :wink: ). [ToothBrush.jpg] [00159E19-5658-4337-BCF2-D09422FAD0C8.png] Always use a good magnifier to inspect for solder bridges.

hope the family is well, better stay out of China for a while :(. Worried about our good friend/partner Jun Peng and his wife and children. They traveled back 'home' to Hunan province and are with their parents / grandparents. He said "Yes I am in PingJiang where is safe though isolated now, many roads are blocked, most of the people stay home." The mix of Technology, Ideas and People I love seems to encompass a smaller and smaller World. We're in this together, now. I have stayed at his grandparents farmhouse several times in the past 10 years. It looks like this: [image] Mary Alice is showing kids this for Chinese New Year in her library in Vermont: (CLICK)

Whether you are enclosing electronics, or mounting motors, sensors or switches, you often need to make plastic mounting components of equal size. The following discussion covers a method to make components of the same dimensions. Items required: Desktop sander C clamps Construction material (1/4” acrylic plastic sheeting) Double stick tape (DST) to attach the stop block to the fence On the left side of the desktop sander image, we see a round vertical sanding disc with a perpendicular platform with miter; we will use this section of the sander to adjust the length, angle and width of manufactured pieces. The miter keeps your work perpendicular to the sanding disk surface. We are making a jig that will be attached to the miter; this jig will be the workhorse for plastic part production and duplication. The jig is made from 1/4” acrylic plastic sheeting, available from Amazon. Pieces of the jig are welded together with DCM, methylene chloride. Use C clamps to firmly attach the jig to the sanding platform; 90 degrees to the sanding disc. The following images show different views of the jig that we are making. Place the workpiece that we are copying on the jig’s bed and under the ‘stop block’. Use DST to attach the ‘stop block’ to the jig’s fence. Place an oversized length ‘push stick’ (new push stick) under the ‘stop block’ with the original work piece to the left. Turn on the sander and move the ‘push block’ to the right, advancing the workpiece into the ‘new’ push stick; slowly advance the ‘push block’ so the new ‘push stick’ is sized against the rotating sanding disk. When the ‘push block’ contacts the ‘stop block’, turn off the sander. We now have a properly sized ‘new push stick’. Place the original work piece aside for safe keeping, put a rough sized ‘new work piece’ under the ‘stop block’ to the right of the ‘new push stick’ we just made. Power on the sander, move the ‘push block’ with ‘push stick’ to the right advancing the new workpiece into the sandpaper; again, when the ‘push block’ contacts the ‘stop block’, turn off power. Repeat as many times as needed. Also make a 45-degree fixture for the jig to accommodate manufacturing pieces with 45 degree surfaces. [image] A push stick of correct length needs to be made for each ‘unique’ part. Sizing our 'Push Stick' The push stick is now moved next to the push block. Here we size new 'work pieces’. Make a 45' attachment for 45' part manufacturing. [1.jpg] [2.jpg] [3.jpg] [4.jpg] [5.jpg] [6.jpg] [7.jpg] [8.jpg]

Share tips you have come across

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LarryD January 29, 2020, 5:18am 717

Further to posts #713 & #714

Another example:

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