Keyword: pcb holder, PCB, PCB layout, PCB hole, pcb board, printed circuit board
There are several effective methods for removing solder from a PCB hole. Excess solder filling a hole happens quite often pcb board. Usually, the clog is residual solder that occurs when an existing electronic component is desoldered and removed pcb board.
Desoldering Bulb My favorite desoldering tool is a desoldering bulb, which is also called a solder sucker pcb board. To remove excess solder from a hole: The printed circuit board is held in a vise or PCB holder. The tip of the desoldering bulb is placed behind the hole and the bulb is squeezed pcb board. The tip of a heated soldering iron is pressed against the hole to melt the solder Keeping the bulb against the hole pcb board, the bulb is released (unsqueezed) either with the soldering iron in place or just as the iron is being withdrawn. Ive found both techniques helpful depending on the size of the hole and amount of remaining solder. In either case, the molten solder is drawn into the desoldering bulb.
Unfortunately, the vacuum action of the bulb also removes the solder from the tip of the soldering iron. To prevent damage and to allow for maximum transfer of heat to the next clogged hole, regularly reapply a coating of fresh solder to the tip of the soldering iron pcb board. (This is called tinning.) Drill Another effective technique is to use a small hand drill or a pin vise (McMaster-Carr #8455A31 or #8455A16) with a miniature drill bit printed pcb circuit board. For many PCB layout programs, the default hole size is 0.029 inches, which is a #69 drill (McMaster-Carr #2912A247). Of course pcb board, you'll want to purchase a variety of drills depending on the sizes of the holes that you need to unclog. Be careful. Using an oversize drill will remove the through-hole plating that connects the trace from one layer of the board to another layer. The loss of electrical connectivity may prevent the circuit from working. Select carbon, cobalt, or high-speed steel drill bits pcb board, not carbide. Carbide will stay sharper longer, but is brittle. Therefore, carbide is only appropriate for industrial pcb board repeated drilling in a rigid setup, not a hand drill printed pcb circuit board.
Only the tip of a drill has cutting blades. The sides of a drill are dull channels for the material. So, reinsert the tip multiple times if necessary rather than spinning pcb board the sides of the drill in place. I find that sucking out the solder with a desoldering bulb and then drilling out any remaining solder is great combination.printed circuit board Desoldering Braid On the other side of the aisle, there are people that swear by desoldering braid. It consists of tiny woven copper wires that wick up adjacent solder when heated.
The idea is that you place fresh desoldering braid on top of the hole (or anywhere with excess solder), and then apply heat to the braid using the tip of the soldering iron. pcb board When the braid is saturated with old solder, you simply snip off the end. Pencil Lead, Stainless Steel Needle, or Toothpick pcb board Other people recommend pressing a thin rod into the solder-clogged hole while heating printed circuit board it from the other side with a soldering iron. The rod mechanically pushes out the molten solder.
To prevent the rod from becoming soldered in the hole, pcb board people use materials that are difficult or impossible to solder. Examples include: carbon pencil lead, stainless steel, or wood (toothpick). Leave the Solder in the Hole. There is one last approach that is practical if only one printed circuit board hole is clogged per component -- do nothing. Later on, when you want to solder a wire or component in the hole, simply heat the wire or component lead while pressing it into the hole. The solder will melt pcb board.
