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- November 2, 2022
- PCB knowledge
- (0)
- 06 mins
How to do through-hole soldering
What is through-hole soldering?
Through-hole soldering is a method of soldering electronic components to the printed circuit board (PCB). It uses special “through-hole” components, which are inserted into the holes in the PCB and connected to pads on their sides. The term “through hole” refers to a component that has been drilled through its entire length, with no part of it being cut away or partially removed during manufacturing.The benefits of through-hole soldering
Through-hole soldering is used for PCB fabrication when a high degree of rigidity is needed, especially for power electronics where high voltages and/or currents are handled. This technology uses a process to insert the legs of components into the holes in the PCB and then solder them together.
Through-hole technology provides excellent mechanical stability and can be used with many different types of components, including surface PCB mount type devices (SMD).
Through hole soldering can be employed in all areas of electronics: from low-power devices such as digital radios to high voltage and current applications such as transformers. Types of through-hole soldering
The three types of through-hole soldering are as follows:Manual soldering
Manual PCB soldering is a type of through-hole soldering that requires you to physically hold the components in place. Manual soldering can be done with a soldering iron, which has an electrical tip and heating element that melts solder onto the surface of each component you wish to attach together. Alternatively, you can use a solder paste board for manual soldering; this allows you to heat up your parts manually instead of using an iron or hot air gun by simply sticking them on top of the board prior to placing them into your project assembly.Drag soldering
Drag soldering is a manual process that requires good technique and experience. It is used for through-hole soldering, so you’ll need to have all of your parts ready before you begin by using a solder paste that is easy to apply. This can be done with the help of an automated system (such as robotic arm), which will do its best to position each part as accurately as possible without human intervention.Wave soldering
Wave soldering is used in through-hole technology. The process of wave soldering involves the use of a wave of molten solder that spreads out from one component on the board to another component on the same board, thus creating a circuit connection between them. Wave soldering is used for large scale production of electronic components and can be done by hand or machine.What does solder mean?
Solder is a metal alloy of lead and tin. Solder is melted in order to adhere to and connect the pieces together after cooling, which requires that the soldered joint can withstand the stresses it will be subjected to.
Soldering is a good way to make connections between two solid pieces of matter and enable it to use in a wide variety of joining applications. It is the process of joining two or more components together by melting a protective coating on each component. The solder melts and flows into the gaps between the parts, filling them up with a solid metal bond.
Soldering can be done with an iron or other equipment designed for this purpose, but most people use an iron because it’s easier to control and less messy than other tools like torches or lasers. This can be done with various metals, including tin (Sn), lead (Pb), silver (Ag) and gold (Au).
Which types of solder is appropriate for through-hole soldering?
There’s a lot to consider when selecting the right solder for through-hole soldering. You need to know what type of PCB connector you’re connecting, how much current it can handle, and how much heat your iron can handle.
For through-hole soldering, you need a solder that melts at temperatures that are achievable with your iron. The most common type of solder for this application is 60/40 tin/lead alloy. This is because it has a low melting point and can be easily melted by an iron without burning your fingers.
It can be used with mostly all types of leaded components including through holes (1″ diameter), surface mount devices (SMDs) and even some leadless components like microcontrollers.
What is through-hole technology?
Through hole technology (THT), refers to the mounting scheme used for electronic components that involves the use of leads on the components that are inserted into holes drilled in printed circuit boards (PCB) and soldered to pads on the opposite side either by manual assembly (hand placement) or by the use of automated insertion mount machines.
In general, through-hole technology has been used since 1970s when integrated circuits with no solder masking technology were developed. Before this time, most PCBs were assembled manually using hand placement techniques.
Wires are connected to each other using vias. Vias are holes in the board that allow wires to pass through. They can be found at different locations on a printed circuit board (PCB), and they’re used to connect different layers of the PCB together.
Vias can be used for two main reasons:
●To connect one side of a PCB with another.
●To connect one layer of metal with another metal layer.
Procedures for soldering through hole components
Before going forward to procedures used in soldering through-hole components, get your tools and components ready. This kit should contain all the essential tools you need for soldering through-hole components.
♥ The kit should contain all the essential tools you need for through-hole soldering.
●Soldering iron (60W-100W)
●Flux paste, such as rosin core or flux pen
●Lead wires (1mm diameter)
♥ Follow these steps when through-hole soldering:
★ Insert the components into the PCB
Use a soldering iron to heat up the PCB. Use a pair of tweezers to place components onto the PCB. Place one component at a time, making sure that any legs or pins fit well in their respective holes on your board’s design.
★ Apply heat to the PCB
Now that you have your soldering iron and a good hot air tool, it’s time to solder.
First, apply heat to the PCB with your hot air tool and add flux. This will help make sure that you only use one layer of solder on top of each component when connecting them together. It also helps prevent oxidation from occurring between components if there isn’t enough heat being applied during soldering because oxidation can cause shorts in circuits or even damage parts inside a device!
★ Next, apply some solder onto your soldering iron tip before touching it against each component pin on your board (if there are any). Hold down this tip while heating up until all solder has melted completely.
★ Solder one end of the lead wire and inspect it with a magnifying tool.
★ Move on to solder the other leg and inspect the process
Once you’ve finished soldering the legs, check for solder bridges, shorts and cold joints. If any of these are present, clean them up with a wet sponge or brush. Then you can move on to inspect the pins for heat damage.
★ Finally, check that your work looks good by looking at it through magnification glasses or magnifying glass; if something looks wrong then try again until everything is right!
Clean off any unwanted flux residue with alcohol or cleaning agents.
Conclusion
Through-hole soldering is a type of electronic assembly. It is used in through-hole technology to connect components to a printed circuit board, which is then inserted into another electronic device. It requires a manual or drag tool that has two prongs, one for each leg of the component you are trying to solder.
You then use the tool to apply heat and pressure to melt the connections between the legs, which allow them to connect together permanently. The most common way to do this would be by hand with flux and solder paste, but there are also automated systems available which will make it easier when you want something done quickly.
