Soldering Irons

MachineInfoBox Soldering Irons
Synonyms:	DE: Lötkolben
Material:	solder
Access Requirements:	Soldering Iron Introduction
Tutors:	Lukas NitramLegov Pakue Mitja Johannes Luzian Leo
Similar (More or Less):	hot air soldering station

A soldering iron is a basic hand tool used to connect electronic components. The principle of working with a soldering iron lies in melting – as the name suggests – solder in order to conductively connect electrical components.

The normal soldering temperature is around 300°C varying from solder types and thermal capacity of the electronic parts or the soldering iron. Also the higher the power output of the soldering iron is the better it will melt larger amounts of solder or heat up bigger components.

How to Use

Preparations:

• make room for soldering – crowded and messy workplaces only make the work more difficult
• get solder (should be in the top drawer on the left side of the e-bench)
• wet the cleaning sponge (if needed, usually in the soldering station)
• check if your electronic parts are ready and nothing is missing

Next, heat up the soldering iron to around 300°C. When the solder melts by touching to tip, the iron is ready for use.
Try not to melt the solder directly on the tip but rather heat your components with the soldering iron and then apply solder to the parts. This will result in an optimal flow of the liquid solder and avoid "cold solder joints". If the joint is shining like a polished piece of metal then the soldering was successful and a reliable electrical connection was made.
Clean the tip afterwards with the brass wool and/or the wet sponge that's usually integrated into the iron's "station".

Ask a tutor if you have any questions or want an introduction into soldering. This video tutorial on splicing and soldering wires or the mikrocontroller.net page "Löten" (DE) may also be interesting.

Safety

• Please be careful while handling a soldering iron as it gets very hot! Mind your surroundings and other people to avoid injuries.
• Avoid breathing in the smoke forming after melting solder. It isn't as much the lead vapor but the flux which is quite unhealthy when inhaled. If you plan on soldering for an extended amount of time consider using an extraction fan to reduce exposure.
• Be aware to wash your hands after handling electronic components as the flux and the lead in the solder are toxic when absorbed through mucous membranes. Avoid touching your face or food while soldering to minimize contact.

MaxTrack ZLS 2

MachineInfoBox MaxTrack ZLS 2 L
Synonyms:	DE: Lötkolben
Material:	solder
Access Requirements:	Soldering Iron Introduction
Tutors:	Lukas NitramLegov Pakue Mitja Johannes Luzian Leo
Similar (More or Less):	hot air soldering station

This is a solid soldering station. It takes some time for heating up and uses a sponge for cleaning. Please use the sponge only when it is wet!

Known issue: if the displayed temperature stays at 26°C, the iron is actually still heating up! Fix: Unplug the soldering and plug it back in.

KSGER T12 V2.1

MachineInfoBox KSGER T12
Synonyms:	DE: Lötkolben
Material:	solder
Access Requirements:	Soldering Iron Introduction
Tutors:	Lukas NitramLegov Pakue Mitja Johannes Luzian Leo
Similar (More or Less):	hot air soldering station

The KSGER soldering station used the T12 heating cartridges from Hakko (or their aftermarket copies). These are directly heated with an integrated temperature sensor and are therefore faster to heat up.

Note: During first heat up the station may show an error, but it should go away once it is at the desired temperature.