Consumables

[Gopher]

Everyday things used in Surface Mount, that I use or have done:

Splicing Tool, brass splicing shims, Covertape extenders, Tape tabs to tidy up started reels :KH Benz http://www.benzltd.com/ less important now Farnell and RS provide most things on production packaging if you wait another day.

Solder Paste : Multicore LF318, best pricing from RS surprisingly. Downside:500g pots, used to use 250g pots from Warton Metals.

3M Double Sided 50mm tape from wherever! Stick down cut tape to place with a manual P&P, or if you are so inclined programming said stuck tape into your RV4 as a custom matrix tray. Tricky part is getting the component tape down straight, and finding a sticky tape that is not too tacky (or plastic tapes with holes in each pocket will annoy you).

[Mike]

I find 4mm wide double-sided tape (ebay) very useful for joining cover tapes and sticking cover tape to pickup reels.
I've found Farnell's re-reel service brass splices don't tend to travel well through RV feeders, and the feeder design can make clearing a jam a PITA to do without disturbing other lanes.

For leaded paste this stuff seems OK & pretty cheap, although a bit thick for use on plastic stencils.

[davidc]

Talk to mark day at www.mrtechservices.co.uk he is a great guy with lots of stuff and no bullshiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
Tell him vivo sent you!

[Gopher]

You do love your ebay . While many Versatronics customers seems to be pure OEM's and one man bands, we do a lot of small batch sub-con and that includes the automotive sector, If I bought that paste they'd shoot me . Couldn't comment on what LF318 is like to use on plastic stencils as I have never used one and hope to keep it that way.

The main problem with Farnell's splicing is mainly caused by the fact its been done sloppily (and sometimes wound on backwards, muppets), otherwise it works quite well, I use the same tools and that works really well.

David - link is handy, always nice to have selection of places to go to, looks like he has the same steier catalogue lol.

[Gazza]

Hi   we supply new & Used production equipment and have a competitvely priced consumables

can be purchased on-line   www.grovesales.co.uk   

Please take a look.

Gary