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What does a Hot Air soldering iron consist of?
The principle of operation of this type of equipment is relatively simple, and the Hot Air soldering iron itself resembles a blowtorch slightly. The heart of the device is the station, which contains a transformer and a system of potentiometers that allow you to adjust both the temperature of the air stream and the strength of the blowing air.
Setting the operating temperature is done with a knob or buttons. In addition, some models of Hot Air soldering irons also have a built-in memory that allows you to program the most frequently used settings.
The Hotair soldering station is also equipped with a flask connected to the device with a flexible cable. Inside the flask there is a heater and a blower type fan, responsible for providing the required air flow.
The last element is the nozzle through which the Hot Air soldering iron blows hot air. A good quality unit has an interchangeable nozzle system, which allows you to adjust the shape of the hot air stream and then direct it precisely at the electronic component.
The Hotair soldering station can also be equipped with a traditional soldering tip, thus providing the maximum degree of versatility.
Why is a Hot Air soldering iron a must-have for every electronics technician?
The soldering iron is a piece of equipment probably familiar to every DIY electronics enthusiast. With it you can make permanent connections through which electrical charges will flow in the future.
However, the traditional soldering iron has many limitations, which make it difficult or even impossible to work with many modern BGA and SMD integrated circuits.
The biggest of them is the difficulty of mounting small components such as resistors and transistors. Due to their microscopic size and low weight, they require great precision, and even the slightest touch with the tip of the soldering iron can change their position on the PCB, making it necessary to reposition the circuit correctly.
This problem is completely solved by the Hot Air soldering iron, where the soldering joints are made by gradually heating the solder with a stream of hot air. Thanks to this, it is not necessary to directly touch the soldering tip during work, which eliminates the risk of unintentional movement.
Hot Air soldering station is also a phenomenal equipment for servicing damaged electronics. The ability to set a specific temperature of the air stream and the use of precise nozzles allows for a very easy desoldering of broken components. All you need to do is to use flux to protect the paths adjacent to the chip to be removed, and then start heating the lucive surface evenly.
What parameters should a good Hotair soldering station have?
First of all, the Hot Air soldering iron should have sufficient power reserve. This will allow it to reach the set working temperature efficiently and, consequently, significantly speed up the work progress.
Powerful equipment also allows the use of a powerful air supply system, which enables increased airflow. This is particularly important when soldering out damaged components, where a large working area needs to be heated at one time.
The Hot Air soldering station must also provide precise temperature control. Otherwise, there may be a risk that the component will overheat during soldering and therefore be damaged.
It is also good if the Hot Air soldering station comes with a set of interchangeable nozzles. By changing them, you can affect the airflow characteristics and also the angle of the airflow, which is useful when working in hard to reach places.
