Today I worked on the blog, helped rearrange the office, opened up all our beautiful PCBs (https://blog.redkeyu2f.com/2018/07/05/u2f-token-building-the-pcbs-arrive/), and started learning about reflow ovens. Now that all our parts are here, we have to learn how to properly use our toaster oven to solder our boards. Apparently there’s quite a bit of technique to this- good thing we have 22 boards to practice on! The hardest part will be placing the tiny components on their pads on the board, and hoping that the solder paste reflows on all the pads.

Here’s what I learned about reflow ovens today:

• The basic steps to using a PCB stencil, soldering paste, and reflow oven. http://www.instructables.com/id/Soldering-Electronic-Components-With-Reflow/
• How to correctly heat a PCB in a reflow oven. There are 4 important stages: preheat, thermal soak, reflow, and cooling. http://info.zentech.com/blog/the-five-stages-of-smt-reflow-ovens
• “EEVblog #558: Beta Layout DIY SMD Thermal Reflow Oven”-https://www.youtube.com/watch?annotation_id=annotation_812539849&feature=iv&src_vid=U7soJAFbKwY&v=FNNRoXZom30
• The data sheet for the solder paste we bought. Includes max temperatures and a simple reflow profile (let’s you know how long to heat board in each phase for a good reflow). http://www.chipquik.com/datasheets/SMD291SNL50T3.pdf