[SBE] IR vs HotAir BGA rework stn?

[Jack Davis]

It generally involves a bit of luck.  Yes the connections are all small dots
under the device.  You are correct there is no way to inspect them you have
to try and judge when the solder has melted.  My son had an Apple IBook G3,
they are notorious for losing the video display due to the BGA video chip
coming loose from the pc board. I used a small pencil propane torch I got at
Harbor Freight to heat up the chip while my son applied some pressure with a
dental pick.  I heated the chip until a piece of solder rubbed on the top
would readily melt.  I used a piece of aluminum foil to make a shield to
keep the heat off the other surrounding components.  I got another year out
of that crappy laptop and it was still working when it finally failed to
other causes.    

I must admit this appears a bit crude, but it worked like a champ!  I had
nothing to lose so that made me a bit more inclined to go for it.  The look
on the kids face when I got the torch on his computer was well worth the
experience alone.  Especially when it booted right up and had normal video.

Jack
K6YC
-----Original Message-----
From: sbe-bounces at sbe.org [mailto:sbe-bounces at sbe.org] On Behalf Of Jeff
Carter
Sent: Thursday, October 15, 2009 8:46 PM
To: sbe member discussion mail list
Subject: Re: [SBE] IR vs HotAir BGA rework stn?

This may sound stupid, but aren't the BGAs the ones that sit totally
over and on top of the connections?  How do you ever inspect those
once you've done them?

Do you heat the board, or the part?

My old eyes and shaky hands miss through-hole parts.  I could do 44
pin PLCC sockets for CPLDs pretty easily, but that was the end of the
road before moving to hot air and SMD stuff.

Jeff/KD4RBG

On Thu, Oct 15, 2009 at 11:23 PM, Jack Davis <jack.davis at engineer.com>
wrote:

> The positioning of BGA devices is so critical I gave up on moving air,

> sounds a bit crude but a mini propane torch is very effective.  Sometimes

> the BGA junctions get intermittent and if you are really lucky you can

> reconnect them by simply reheating the device.  If you have to re-ball

them

> that is a lot tougher to get a uniform job.  The ROHAS versions are just

> plain Butt Ugly!

>

>

>

> Gotta love that lead!

>

>

>

> Jack

>

> K6YC

>

>

>

> ________________________________

>

> From: sbe-bounces at sbe.org [mailto:sbe-bounces at sbe.org] On Behalf Of Edwin

> Bukont

> Sent: Thursday, October 15, 2009 12:22 PM

> To: tech-assist at radiolists.net; sbe

> Subject: [SBE] IR vs HotAir BGA rework stn?

>

>

>

> This may be more of a question for the TV and repair folks.   I am looking

> for some guidance on the purpose of a BGA rework station.  Anyone with

> experience?

>

> Do you prefer IR or hot air?

>

> Any manufactuers that are preferred, or to run away from?

>

> Any recommended vendors?

>

> Ideally I want a unit for under $1k that includes the ability to rework,

not

> just reflow the target.  Rework usually includes lift, support and place

of

> the chip.

>

> Off line reply is fine.

>

> Thanks

>

> Edwin Bukont CSRE, DRB, CBNT

> V- 240.417.2475; F- 240.368.1265

>

>

>

>

>

>

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