Advice on reflowing boards (I know there's hundreds of these!)

[artois7]

I appreciate there are plenty of threads like this, but stick with it.

I've been doing a lot of thinking over the last couple of days with regards to reflowing, reballing etc. I have around 120 faulty laptops in stock here, and probably 70-80 of them could benefit from a reflow/reball.

Reballing is way beyond my capabilities at the moment, so I'm mostly thinking about how to get into accurate reflowing.

My problem with reflowing has always been reliability; can a reflow be done in a way that I can confidently sell a laptop to a customer and called it refurbished? I've had success with a PS3 in the oven which lasted 18 months before selling it on, but with the laptops I'm more thinking about purchasing a hot air station with an appropriate nozzle (A post from The Unique suggests a 41mm x 41mm nozzle?), temperature probes and a lot of flux.

Do any of you reflow boards and are happy with the repair as a result? Happy enough to move the boards on as working?

If there's enough positive feedback that reflowing is a serious method of repair, then I'll be looking into investing in a hot air & soldering all in one station hopefully, and I'll then need to find a way to make a pre heater / bottom heater.

[cephei328]

Re: Advice on reflowing boards (I know there's hundreds of these!)

Hi artois7, Well you cannot sell laptops with confidence with re-flowed BGA chips for sure: It can fail anytime. Re-balled BGA chips can last little longer than re-flowed ones but still it can fail too. The best way is to replace with new Chip with recommended heat profile. But if you want to experiment a bit and want to train yourself in re-balling (its little time consuming and need hands on skills: which you may get through practice) and learn more about it.

Cheers

[stj]

Re: Advice on reflowing boards (I know there's hundreds of these!)

oven?

and you cant do BGA with a handheld unit - you need a pre-heater under the board.

[dj_ricoh]

Re: Advice on reflowing boards (I know there's hundreds of these!)

The infamous "OVEN"
You better believe it that you need a BGA Station.
Even if the oven got a bad reputation you can still manage to do basic work so you can get work and money for a BGA.
If you think that you can only use small tool and air stations and ovens , bla bla bla NO!
You actually need a BGA Station if you go with this type of work.
Think of it like this. After work you surf FleeBAy and you want to make some side money.
there is a auction for a notebook with video problems and the only person who bid on it its the guys who own a BGA station or have access to it because they need to change that chip. TAM TAM. they win the aucion with 70 GBP and they sell it after with 200 with "seller refurbished" Name.

[ktmmotocross]

Re: Advice on reflowing boards (I know there's hundreds of these!)

or u can build your own ;-)

top heater - ebay 30$
bottom heater - halogen light 200w - 8$
2x pid controllers with thermocouple ebay - 27$
a little work and u have it

[artois7]

Re: Advice on reflowing boards (I know there's hundreds of these!)

What would you suggest for a top heater?

[dj_ricoh]

Re: Advice on reflowing boards (I know there's hundreds of these!)

i think he is referring to air station.

[trebo]

Re: Advice on reflowing boards (I know there's hundreds of these!)

more like a heat gun at 30$ maybe???

[Agent24]

Re: Advice on reflowing boards (I know there's hundreds of these!)

more like a heat gun at 30$ maybe???

That would certainly have enough power... but you need to be able to accurately control it, otherwise you'll toast everything.

[trebo]

Re: Advice on reflowing boards (I know there's hundreds of these!)

That would certainly have enough power... but you need to be able to accurately control it, otherwise you'll toast everything.

I was only assuming, that was what ktmmotocross in his post was using, as I don't think you can get a hot air station on ebay for 30$.
I have a heat gun and a hot air station, but have never attempted even a reflow yet, I acquire many laptops with graphics problems but have to break them up for parts etc
will have to bite the bullet one day

[dj_ricoh]

Re: Advice on reflowing boards (I know there's hundreds of these!)

I was only assuming, that was what ktmmotocross in his post was using, as I don't think you can get a hot air station on ebay for 30$.
I have a heat gun and a hot air station, but have never attempted even a reflow yet, I acquire many laptops with graphics problems but have to break them up for parts etc
will have to bite the bullet one day

the secret it's in the wrist

[ktmmotocross]

Re: Advice on reflowing boards (I know there's hundreds of these!)

a dont recomend hot air for reballing

top heater i mean is ashi/scotle ir stations top heater
on ebay can buy top and bootom heaters from this stations, cheap and good quality

ricoh> buy 2-3 bad boards and test

the magic is in slow heating and good flux.

[ktmmotocross]

Re: Advice on reflowing boards (I know there's hundreds of these!)

i cannot find that low price now but it looks like this
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Top-Bottom-H...item2a2a76191e