Reading .scch/.brd files or fixing/modifyng components on Huxley electronics board..

[Paul Schulz]

Greetings,

My huxley electronics has some dry solder joints on the connectors and I'm tryng to figure out the best way to fix it up.

My first (half baked) resoldering attempt has failed, as it appears as though I really need to desolder and make use of some flux. This is not something that this hack is so familiar with, given that I am usually using new components (building from new, rather than fixing stuff up).

So.. I am probably going to need help on that front.

On the plus side, I can use this opportunity to replace the connectors with something like these:  http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=HM3104 (with specification).

- Can anyone tell me if these will fit?

There are two sizes of connector on the board, and 3 types, and (idealy) I would like the Jaycar part numbers that will fit.

  Documentation: http://reprap.org/wiki/Melzi

  Data Files: https://github.com/mosfet/melzi

The github files are '.sch' and '.brd'. Can I get the specification for the holes from the '.brd' file? or should I just measure the width? Is it safe to assume hole dimensions?

Regards,

Paul

[Ken]

Hi Paul.
Just adding flux to bad joints won't necessarily help.

My guess is that the non-wetting (adherence of solder to metal) has occurred on the connector pins.
-The copper on the PCB would have to be bloody awful for it to be there. And it would show up on other joints elsewhere on the PCB.
That means a film of corrosion or some such on the connector pins, which would have to be mechanically or chemically removed.
The usual resin based flux won't do that.  Corrosive flux might, but would then need to be neutralised afterwards.

So your safest bet would be using new connectors, with clean pins, unless you can successfully tin the existing connectors while off the PCB.

When you solder in the old or new connectors, heat the connector pins up first, running the solder from them to the PCB track, not the other way around.

My two cents worth.
Ken.

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[Paul Schulz]

Thanks Ken. I'm thinking new connectors are way to go. I might invest in a couple of sets of plugs. Might be useful for the Hackespace Huxley as well.