How to make a mini station for soldering SMD components without a hair dryer

Devices and instruments containing SMD components are used everywhere. Today, all LED lamps are made using LED technology. Elements emitting light flux are nothing more than LEDs. Like any semiconductor SMD element, Light-emitting diode may fail. Replacing elements using a soldering iron is a very labor-intensive process, because the dimensions of the case are several millimeters. In addition, as a result of overheating, the microcomponent may simply fail. A good soldering hair dryer is quite an expensive pleasure, which you still need to know how to use.

To solve the problem, it is enough to make a simple and cheap device: a soldering table, with which you can easily and without any risk replace the parts yourself.

Materials and accessories for work

The main element of the soldering station for re-soldering will be the RTS thermal panel with a power of 300 W and a supply voltage of 220 Volts. It is a heating element in a flat aluminum housing - http://alii.pub/5za3a8

The “trick” of this heating panel is that it is specially designed for soldering and automatically maintains a heating temperature of 230-250 degrees Celsius without any external electronic controllers.

The kit includes mounting feet with neodymium magnets.

Aluminum corners are used as support for the panel. For the support platform you will need a piece of 20 mm plywood, approximately 200x150 mm in size, and a composite plate of the same size (getinax, textolite or aluminum).

A two-core wire with a cross-section of 0.75 sq. mm, equipped with an electrical plug, powers the product from the network.

Soldering station assembly process

The base is assembled using self-tapping screws, combining plates of plywood and composite.

One is cut to the size of the other to create an even rectangle for the base of the soldering station.

And they fix the whole thing with self-tapping screws.

This foundation will provide stability to the entire structure.

Next, take metal corners 20x20 mm - 4 pieces.

And through the legs included in the kit they are screwed to the heating element.

Holes with a countersink are drilled in the prepared aluminum corners.

Fastened to the corners of the panel using rivets.

Fixed to the platform, they form a rigid frame for the RTS heating panel.

The power wire is soldered to the electrical terminals.

The joints are insulated with protective tape and heat-shrinkable PVC tubes.

Procedure for replacing electronic components

After connecting to the network, an indicator checks the absence of voltage on the RTS panel body. After 30 seconds, a pyrometer or an electronic thermometer with a thermocouple is used to control the heating of the surface to 230-250 degrees Celsius.The temperature of the heating plate is maintained automatically at the same level.

The board with non-working elements is placed on a hot surface. After a few seconds, the solder becomes liquid; using tweezers, you can remove unnecessary elements and replace them with new ones.