Weller blog

You have been using the basic soldering tip for years. But do you know how that tip is constructed, and why? We're here to answer your questions.

The soldering tip is made up of a copper core, an iron layer, a chromium layer, the wettable area, and lead-free tinning. Each component of the architecture has it's own unique purpose and function.

Copper Core

The base material is comprised of machined copper. Why copper? First, copper is malleable, so it can be machined into a variety of shapes and sizes. Second, it is an excellent conductor of heat, which is of course a necessity.

Iron Layer

Although copper is an excellent conductor of heat, it is very susceptible to the corrosive qualities of tin, the main ingredient in solder. That's where the iron layer comes in. It provides protection to the copper core against the corrosive qualities of tin. So why not just make the tip out of solid iron and forget about the copper altogether? Because iron is not a good conductor of heat. For that reason, the thickness of the iron layer must be "optimized". Too little iron, and the tip will not last very long. Too much iron, and the tip will not conduct heat adequately.

Chromium Layer

Next, a thin layer of chromium is plated over the iron layer. Chromium is not "wettable", meaning molten solder will not adhere to it. So the wettable area of the tip, or the working end, is not chromium plated. This wettable area is masked during the chromium plating process. The chromium covers the non-wettable area of the tip to prevent solder from creeping to the back end of the tip.

Wettable Area

This is the front end of the tip, the business end. This area is not plated with chromium, so that the solder wets to the end. This part of the tip is responsible for the heat transfer.

Tinning (with lead-free solder)

Tin is the thin coating of solder that adheres to the working area. The reason for tinning is to produce an intermetallic bond between the iron layer and the solder alloy. When this intermetallic bond is created, the tip is tinned and remains wettable. The tip should be tinned at all times to prevent oxidation and subsequent blackening of the tip. A tip that is not tinned is exposed to oxygen, which will oxidize the tip, rendering it as "unwettable". An oxidized tip can often be rehabilitated with the use of a tip polishing bar and/or tip activator.

The Weller RT soldering tips are known for their very short heat-up time. The underlying technology features the integration of the heating element and thermo sensor into the soldering tip. This combination provides a perfect and immediate temperature stability. The sensor is reacting immediately even under load and provides the tip with the needed energy. Enhanced productivity is the result.

The ease of use of the tip exchange without additional tools makes this tools so popular. RT tips are used in the ergonomic soldering pencil WMRP and the powerful WMRT micro desoldering tweezers using the same technology with the RTW tweezer tips. RT soldering tips and the WMRP pencil are compatible with Weller soldering WD 1M and WD 2M. We have recently invested in specialized high tech laser-welding equipment, which increases quality and production throughput. This new technology allows for better service and delivery performance.

Please be aware that the desoldering tweezers WMRT are not compatible with the old WMRS micro-soldering stations. RTW tweezers tips actually function with the WMRS, but tip lifetime might be drastically reduced. To avoid unnecessary consumption of these desoldering tips apply the RTW tips and WMRT tweezers only on the soldering stations WD 1M, WD 2M and WR 3M. The WMRT Desoldering tweezers (order no. 0051317299) enables precise soldering and desoldering of very small SMT components with parallel adjusted soldering tips.

Accessory product for WD soldering stations and WRS rework stations......

The Weller WHP80 Preheating Plate is an 80 watt / 24 volt preheater that can be connected to any Weller power supply 80 watts or greater. It is used to slowly increase the temperature of a printed circuit board prior to rework to minimize the risk of damaging sensitive components. The heating surface is 80 x 50 mm (3.15 x 1.97 in.). The housing of the preheater is 150 x 120 x 65 mm (5.90 x 4.72 x 2.56 in.). The temperature range is 150F - 850F (50C - 450C).

The Weller WSB 80 Solder Bath is an 80 watt / 24 volt solder bath that can be connected to any Weller power supply 80 watts or greater. The solder bath is used as a rework preparation tool to tin wire ends and to clean and tin component leads. It can also be used to clean extraneous solder particles in preparation for rework. The temperature range is 150F - 850F (50C - 450C). ESD safe. Compatible with lead free solders.

Get Rock-Solid Temperature Control.....this low cost station is anything but entry level!

Looking for a low cost hot air rework station with high-end features?

Look no further than the new Weller WHA900 self-contained hot air station.

The WHA900 maintains nozzle temperature, regardless of the air flow rate. That's because the built-in closed-loop temperature feedback control, which uses a sensor at the nozzle, instantly adjusts the heat output to maintain the temperature level you have selected.

The WHA900 is the only unit in its class that has a temperature air flow and temperature setback feature that can be pre-selected by the user.

PATENTED NOZZLE TECHNOLOGY

Weller nozzle technology uses conducted heat from an integral hot plate in the nozzle to heat the defective component to a temperature just below the solder melting point. Hot air is then directed precisely on to the legs of the component to melt the solder joint, allowing removal of the component.

A full range of nozzles is available.

Sugg. User Price $499.50

download brochure [580 kb]

REQUEST A DEMO TODAY!

The photo below shows what can happen when you do not use the recommended safety rest with the DXV80 desoldering tool. This is a photo of a disposable solder colletion chamber that was used in a desoldering tool. The operator used a stand that placed the desoldering pencil at a higher than recommended angle. Heat from the tool rises vertically, and in this case charred the colletion tube. For this tool, use only the AKV80 (order no. 0051503999) saftey rest, which will safely hold the desoldering pencil at the ideal angle.

Often the subject of what voltage and plug configuration to use for different countries around the globe. The link below is a good reference for this information, including photos of different plug configurations found in different countries.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_with_mains_power_plugs,_voltages_and_frequencies