AIM-ing to Learn More About Solder: AIM Solder’s Tim O'Neill Trains Q Source Staff

AIM Solder's Tim O'Neill

Tim O'Neill, Regional Sales Manager for AIM Solder, stopped by Q Source yesterday to help us continue our regular product training regimen. Tim spoke to us about AIM Solder products and solder in general.

Beginning his session by stating, "It's in everything you have that has an on-off switch," Tim took us through the history of AIM and of solder (did you know that King Tut's sarcophagus was soldered). He went on to speak about surface mount soldering, wave soldering, hand soldering, flux, and which AIM Solder product worked best with each application.

To further help us to be able to help you choose the correct solder, Tim provided us with a list of questions that aim (pun intended) to narrow your choice down to the correct product solution. For instance, here are some questions regarding solder paste that your answers to will help us suggest the perfect selection for your process:

1. Is it a tin-lead or lead-free application?
2. Do you need no-clean or water soluble?
3. Is it for a dispensing application?
4. Is it for printing or rework applications?
5. Are you using solder paste or gel flux?
6. Are you using SAC305, Sn/Bi & Sn/Bi/Ag, or SN100C?
7. Are you using SN100C & low-AG alloys or SAC305?

We want to thank Tim for his time and for sharing his extensive knowledge of AIM Solder products and the soldering process. The information provided to us will most definitely be a valuable tool in better serving our valued customers.



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The 2012 Long Island SMTA Expo and Technical Forum: Technical Sessions, Networking & a Free Lunch

The Long Island SMTA Expo and Technical Forum one-day show will be held Wednesday, October 10th, 2012, from Noon - 5 p.m. at the Islandia Marriott Long Island in Islandia, NY. Q Source is a regular exhibitor at the expo and will be participating once again this year.

The Long Island SMTA Expo features more than 70 exhibits and a full schedule of technical sessions including:

• Implementing Advanced and "Bleeding Edge" SMT Components presented by Phil Zarrow and Jim Hall, ITM Consulting
• Current Counterfeit Technologies Counterfeiters' Techniques presented by Tom Sharpe, SMT Corporation
• Cleaning in a World of "No Clean" presented by Michael Konrad, Aqueous Technologies Corporation
• "STUMP THE CHUMPS" presented by Phil Zarrow and Jim Hall, ITM Consulting

This regional SMTA show offers free technical sessions, free lunch, and the chance to network with leading suppliers to our industry. The event is a perfect opportunity for Process Engineers, SMT Machine Operators/Technicians, Quality Engineers, Test & Component Engineers, and Project Managers to pick up new knowledge and skills to apply at their workplace.

The Surface Mount Technology Association (SMTA) is an international network of professionals working toward developing skills, sharing practical experiences, and creating solutions in the electronic assembly industry.

Follow the link for more information about the Long Island SMTA Expo and Technical Forum show. To learn more about Q Source, please visit QSource.com.

The EEV Blog's Soldering Tutorial Video, Part 3: Wrapping it All Up with Surface Mount Soldering

Dave Jones is back again in the Electronics Engineering Video Blog's EEVblog #186 – Soldering Tutorial Part 3 – Surface Mount video. In this final installment of the three-part soldering tutorial, Jones demonstrates several surface mount soldering techniques in an informative video that flows quickly—despite its almost 40-minute run time.

Jones wants you to know that surface mount soldering is "an absolute piece of cake." To that end, he uses the basic tools and techniques from the first two tutorial videos to easily complete several surface mount component soldering jobs.

The new techniques featured in Part 3 include drag soldering, tack & reflow, and the use of solder paste with a hot air gun. Jones uses these techniques to solder an 0603 resistor, an 8-pin ICU, an 0.65 mm component, an 0.5 mm pitch PIC24 microchip quad flat pack, and a high thermal capacity d-pack.

Throughout the video you learn about using flux pens (Jones likes to say, "FLUX IS EVERYTHING!"), soldering paste, hot air guns, and different kinds of soldering tips. When the video is over, you've been presented with so much helpful information that you truly feel ready to go and solder with confidence.

So, if you haven't watched Part 1 or Part 2 of the EEV Blog's Soldering Tutorial, please go check them out. We're sure they'll have you soldering like a pro in no time.