Weller blog

CARI Company is a small subcontractor in France.  They recently switched to lead free solder, and experienced a decrease in soldering tip life to just one day.  They are soldering wires in box assemblies for printers, about two joints per minute at 400°C.  They were using the traditional damp sponge cleaning method, and were leaving the tips untinned after use, which resulted in rapid oxidation, and very shortly, an uwettable soldering tip.

Disappointed with these results, they switched to a dry cleaning method, using the Weller WDC dry tip cleaner.  Mrs. Riou Nadine reports that tip life went from one to seven days instantly after making this change.  The dry cleaning solution does not shock the tip thermally, and it leaves a fine coating of tin on the tip, which protects from rapid oxidation and degradation.   In addition, CARI reduced their operating temperature to 380°C.

In a lead free environment, this is one strategy that will help protect your investment in production supplies.

By Volker Munz and Dr. Werner Kruppa

The switch from lead based solders to lead-free solders gave us many surprises.  In addition to having a high melting point, lead-free solders are very agressive towards metallic materials.  Adapting the soldering parameters to the process conditions required for lead-free soldering often results in degradation of the tools which come directly in cotact with the solder.  In addition to technical problems, economic aspects are a key factor.  The destruction of the soldering tip during lead-free solder was tested.

Read more......

We have received many calls from customers who have forgotten the lock codes they set when locking out the WD series soldering stations.  So we have decided to post the procedure for unlocking the stations here.

1. Activate Special Function menu 1 by holding down the two scroll keys for about two seconds. Scroll through the settings by pressing either of the first two Radio Buttons until you get to the lockout screen (small padlock icon in lower right corner).
    

2. Press Radio Button 1 to reveal three 3-digit unlock codes, which correspond with the three buttons.
   
   
   

3. Find the sequence of the three unlock codes in the master lock code
   list, which can be downloaded in Adobe Acrobat PDF format by clicking
   here.
   
                                             
   

4. Enter the lock code with the scroll keys, and press the Radio Button
   on the right to exit the Special Function 1 menu and return to normal
   operating mode (note: this is Radio Button 3 on the single port stations,
   and Radio Button 2 on dual port stations).
   
                                              
    

Your station is now unlocked, and you may adjust the temperature to whatever setting you desire.

Weller® Soldering Systems are designed and manufactured to strict quality specifications and do not require calibration due to the use of Microprocessor Temperature Control and the use of precision Platinum (RTD - Resistance Temperature Detector) Sensors. Unlike conventional technologies which required the use of potentiometers (pots) to make adjustments to the control parameters for analog circuitry, the Weller WD series of soldering systems provide the use of stored microprocessor control parameters that do not require adjustments.

Weller WD soldering systems meet or exceed the Temperature Stability Requirements for MIL-STD-2000A (± 10° F / ± 6° C) and IPC/EIA J-STD-001C - Appendix A (± 9° F/ ± 5° C) of the idle tip temperature. These requirements address the capability of the soldering system to control the stability of the soldering irons tip temperature under an idle condition (not loaded or under a heat sink condition).

Weller also provides an individual manufacturer's specification for Temperature Accuracy. An "Out of the Box" accuracy tolerance of ± 2% of the station setting (850° F Maximum Setting = ± 17° F). Additionally, for the convenience of our customers who may demand an even greater Accuracy requirement, Weller offers a Tip Temperature "Offset" Feature that allows the individual customer the capability of "fine tuning" the actual tip temperature to a much closer tolerance.

The "Offset" Feature can be performed by activating the Special Functions menu.  The "Offset" Feature is not a requirement for calibration, but is instead an avenue for providing a greater means of accuracy, if desired. If an "Offset" is input into a Weller Soldering System, the Special Functions menu may also be used to revert back to the Factory Default Values by initiating the factory "CAL" Key. At this time, the factory default parameters will be restored.

Note: Tip Temperature Accuracy depends greatly on the method of measurement used. We recommend the use of the Weller Model WA2000 Soldering Tool Analyzer for temperature accuracy or stability. Weller also recommends the use of a calibration tip assembly with a welded thermocouple for the highest degree of accuracy. Consult your nearest Weller representative or distributor for more details on availability.

I. Thou shall not remove tip from soldering iron when power is "On". Causes heating element to rise in temperature to approximately 1300° F resulting in thermal shock and reduced heater life.

II. Thou shall maintain a damp (NOT drenched) iron sponge (preferably with de-ionized water). A drenched sponge will bring the temperature of the tip down too drastically, causing thermal shock and reduced tip life.

III. Thou shall not disconnect soldering iron from base unit when power is turned "On". Disconnecting or reconnecting the soldering tool from the base unit with power applied may cause a short between non-compatible pins resulting in damage to the base unit or pencil.

IV. Thou shall maintain a coating of solder on working area of soldering iron tip. Protects the tip from oxidation.

V. Thou shall never drop soldering iron while heated. Dropping the soldering tool while heated may cause thermal/mechanical shock to the heater, sensor, or tip (fractured plating).

VI. Thou shall not throw soldering iron into soldering tool stand. See Commandment V.

VII. Never use soldering iron as a crowbar or pry tool. Could chip or pit finish on tip rendering it useless.

VIII. Using sharp or serrated objects to remove tip from soldering iron is forbidden. See Commandment VII.

IX. Honor thy "KGB" (Known Good Base). Do not plug a non-working soldering iron into a KGB. Could cause damage to the base.

X. Thou shall turn station down to lowest setting during daily usage when not being used. Turning the station down during non use periods will prevent severe thermal cycling of the tool. However, tools not being used for extended periods of time should not be left on indefinitely.

Many users of LT soldering tips will drop the tip on the wet sponge when changing from one style to another.  We do not recommend this, as it may shorten tip life.  Also, it is important to keep your tip cleaning area clear.

Instead, we recommend that you keep the tip in the tip barrel, and store the tip and the barrel in the stand.  This will allow you to safely and easily change tips without removing the hot tip from the barrel.  Our stands that are compatible with the WP80 and WSP80 are designed to store the tips in the barrel.

Beginning this month, we will begin shipping an informational tag that is attached to each solderng pencil.  The tag is plastic and can be kept as a reminder on how best to store the tips.  Here is what the tags look like:

(click on image for a larger view) 

Please order additional barrels for your iron so you can store your LT tips in this manner.  Keeping the LT tips in the barrel will save time and increase productivity when changing tips.  It will also keep your workspace neater and safer.