CHAPTER 21 ■ SOLDERING EQUIPMENT
Steps of a Typical Soldering Session
The following is an example of a typical soldering setup and breakdown routine:
- Set up the soldering equipment in a location with adequate ventilation, away
from combustible (flammable) materials.
■ Tip You can’t go wrong by investing in a small fire extinguisher for your home or laboratory. Having it
nearby may save your robot and your home.
- With the soldering iron stored in the stand and turned off, moisten the sponge
with distilled water. - Put on goggles and an apron or other protective clothing.
- Plug in and turn on the soldering iron.
- Wait two to five minutes for the soldering iron to heat up.
- Remove the heated soldering iron from the stand and wipe and roll the tip
against the moist sponge to remove contaminants. - If necessary, apply a little flux to the soldering-iron tip to remove oxide build-up.
- Touch the soldering-iron tip to some solder wire so that a thin, shiny layer of
solder forms over the tip. Not only does this protect the tip, but the molten solder
also improves heat transfer to the joint. This is called “tinning.” - Proceed with soldering (details discussed in the next chapter).
- As the tip becomes soiled during soldering, repeat tinning (steps 6 through 8).
- At the end of soldering, give the tip a final tinning before storing.
- Return the soldering iron to the stand. Turn off and unplug the soldering iron.
- After the soldering iron has cooled, remove the sponge from the stand and wash
the sponge. - Place the cool soldering iron, stand, and all other soldering supplies in a locked
cabinet or out of reach of children and other untrained personnel. - Thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water.
Get Ready to Solder
Soldering requires a few more tools than many other operations in robotics. But when you think about it,
the equipment quantity isn’t that much different than what’s required for metalworking, such as for making
the wheel couplers. The value of each tool and part in a soldering operation will become clearer in the next
couple of chapters as you actually begin to solder.