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Lead free solder on microcontrollers
(lemm.ee)
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this post was submitted on 11 Jun 2024
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Look at your solder spool, and see if it says multi-core? If you're not sure go ahead and show us a photo or write out the type of solder you're using.
You need flux and solder together, flux prevents the board from oxidizing especially when you heat it up, it makes it easier for the metal to flow. A lot of solder has the flux built into the solder itself. When you put a hot soldering iron up to the solder and you see the smoke, the smoke is the flux, the antioxidation element not the metal. The metal does not smoke
If you're using flux in addition to your solder, like a flux paste or a flux gel or a flux liquid you brush on, that's fine too. Just don't breathe the fumes.
If you have a real n95 or n100 mask kicking around, wear that, do your soldering next to an open window or under your vent hood, let it keep venting after you're done for a couple minutes. And wash your hands and you'll be fine
The solder I’m using is this one: https://www.jaycar.com.au/lead-free-solder-1mm-15g-hobby-tube/p/NS3092?pos=1&queryId=f28fc8a65a86eab148b5f9ae9b304dcc
This is the description:
1mm lead free resin core solder. Contains tin and copper 99.3/0.07
Thanks again for the advice. I’ll wear a mask when soldering.
Anytime! It looks good. Have fun making your keyboard!
Lot of good points here. I work in electronics manufacturing so I'll add on a bit. Yes, much of what has been explained about solder and flux is correct. I will caution about trying something like conformal coating a board in this setting. It is hard to work through and can beat up your iron. Lead free is great but sucks for working it into the joints. It just doesn't heatt the same. Even IPC build standards have explicit instructions about visual inspections of non leaded joints looking like shit.
If you are planning to coat the board, I would do outdoors as well. Extraction fans are great for general soldering but we use fume hoods for conformal coat. Just something to keep in mind.