SOLDERING WITH LIGHT / 1.55W 445nm L.A.S.E.R

[JLSE]

A while back I melted some solder with a class 4 405nm, and have also tried it with
a high power 445nm. Today I decided to try this again, but with the idea of actually
soldering with one. The results can be seen in the below video.

While it is nothing new, its an interesting idea which can be done by anybody with a high
power 445. I would however recommend that you have a decent set of goggles as the
reflections are intense. When the solder melts, its like pointing into a mirror.. Although
very scattered, do not attempt this unless you know your goggles will protect you.

I was amazed at the speed that I could flow the solder onto the PCB as well as various
SMD components such as 0805 resistors and caps.

*The laser featured in this video is for sale, link in my sig.

Enjoy :beer:

 

[jakeGT]

Re: SOLDERING SMD / PCB WITH A 1.55W 445nm L.A.S.E.R + VIDEO

That... Is.... So.... Nails!

Pretty epic, one less tool you need in the laser hobby. If you have a high powered 445 (most around here do) you can toss that old soldering iron in the garbage

 

[JLSE]

Re: SOLDERING SMD / PCB WITH A 1.55W 445nm L.A.S.E.R + VIDEO

Not sure if i'd toss out my solder iron for it, but the coolness factor is certainly there..
I honestly did not think that it would be able to solder onto a PCB, I figured a couple
of resistors would not be too much trouble, but thought the board would draw off too much heat.

Whats interesting is that when the laser is shut off, there is barely any warmth to the solder joint.

Also standard resin core solder was enough, and no additional paste was needed. With
an iron, and the temps I solder at, the flux burns of quickly and usually requires some
help via extra paste.

The only problem I find is that this is not a computer controlled procedure, and moving
things around results in a puff of smoke, this goes for the cap that was soldered on in
the video. Though the resistors did not do this...

Like I mentioned in the video description, this is by all means not practical, but the fact that it can be done is just awesome

 

[jander6442]

Re: SOLDERING SMD / PCB WITH A 1.55W 445nm L.A.S.E.R + VIDEO

I've done this with solder paste dap it and hit it with the beam... good job try the paste.

 

[foulmist]

Re: SOLDERING SMD / PCB WITH A 1.55W 445nm L.A.S.E.R + VIDEO

haha nice one wannaburn, one thing though - try putting goggles on the camera as well...

for 2 reasons at least:

1. The Camera will capture the dot and overall action better without overexposing.
2. Protect the sensor from the laser as I can see a few direct hits from the reflections
3. Something else I can't think of right now

:beer:

 

[Benm]

Re: SOLDERING SMD / PCB WITH A 1.55W 445nm L.A.S.E.R + VIDEO

Thats pretty cool

I would have thought solder would be too reflective to absorb energy from the beam, guees not

 

[piferal]

Re: SOLDERING SMD / PCB WITH A 1.55W 445nm L.A.S.E.R + VIDEO

Always experimenting haha, thanks for sharing this with us :beer:

No doubt, solder with a bisible wavelength you must have a very good dark goggles haha.

Not so with professional welding machines because they use IR.

 

[jander6442]

Re: SOLDERING SMD / PCB WITH A 1.55W 445nm L.A.S.E.R + VIDEO

Always experimenting haha, thanks for sharing this with us :beer:

No doubt, solder with a bisible wavelength you must have a very good dark goggles haha.

Not so with professional welding machines because they use IR.

IR is still frying your eyes you just can't see it happening:na:

 

[lasersbee]

Re: SOLDERING SMD / PCB WITH A 1.55W 445nm L.A.S.E.R + VIDEO

A while back I melted some solder with a class 4 405nm, and have also tried it with
a high power 445nm. Today I decided to try this again, but with the idea of actually
soldering with one. The results can be seen in the below video.

While it is nothing new, its an interesting idea which can be done by anybody with a high
power 445. I would however recommend that you have a decent set of goggles as the
reflections are intense. When the solder melts, its like pointing into a mirror.. Although
very scattered, do not attempt this unless you know your goggles will protect you.

I was amazed at the speed that I could flow the solder onto the PCB as well as various
SMD components such as 0805 resistors and caps.

*The laser featured in this video is for sale, link in my sig.

Enjoy :beer:

No wonder you haven't been around the forum for a while.
You've been experimenting in your Dr. Mad Science Lab....:eg:

Nice Laser Soldering video... Thanks for sharing...:gj:

Jerry

 

[piferal]

Re: SOLDERING SMD / PCB WITH A 1.55W 445nm L.A.S.E.R + VIDEO

IR is still frying your eyes you just can't see it happening:na:

Obviously you still NEED goggles too, but need not be dark :na:

 

[jakeGT]

Re: SOLDERING SMD / PCB WITH A 1.55W 445nm L.A.S.E.R + VIDEO

Lol I wasn't being serious wannaburn

I wouldn't throw my iron out either

 

[JLSE]

Re: SOLDERING SMD / PCB WITH A 1.55W 445nm L.A.S.E.R + VIDEO

haha nice one wannaburn, one thing though - try putting goggles on the camera as well...

for 2 reasons at least:

1. The Camera will capture the dot and overall action better without overexposing.
2. Protect the sensor from the laser as I can see a few direct hits from the reflections
3. Something else I can't think of right now

:beer:

An interesting note on this, if this laser was a 405, i'd have scorch marks in the CCD.. I
have damaged the original CCD in this very cam with 405 @ 130mW, where 445 does
not seem to bother it other than the flicker etc. No marks. Strange how a slightly
higher wavelength has no effect on the CCD. I was going to shoot this with a set of
goggles in place but then it would be as lack luster as performing this with IR

Thats pretty cool

I would have thought solder would be too reflective to absorb energy from the beam, guees not

This wavelength seems to impose its will with ease. I also took a video etching glass
with it.. I was attempting to remove a 808nm AR coating off a prism pair, and ended
up scribing the glass

No wonder you haven't been around the forum for a while.
You've been experimenting in your Dr. Mad Science Lab....:eg:

Nice Laser Soldering video... Thanks for sharing...:gj:

Jerry

You know the routine, lasers are the mother of all distraction :san: keeps your mind
off things long enough to get some clarity.

Lol I wasn't being serious wannaburn

I wouldn't throw my iron out either

Haha, missed that.. My sarcasm radar goes down after 3am :undecided:

 

[Benm]

Re: SOLDERING SMD / PCB WITH A 1.55W 445nm L.A.S.E.R + VIDEO

Its good to be surprised once in a while

Solder just looks very silvery to me, but i guess thats deception. I would have expected copper or even golden pads to absorb 445 fairly well, but as you are melting the solder straight off the roll that clearly isnt a factor. I think i'll have a go with the 445 at a roll of solder here

 

[JLSE]

Re: SOLDERING SMD / PCB WITH A 1.55W 445nm L.A.S.E.R + VIDEO

Its even more reflective when it melts, and the dirt or whatever on the surface
moves or is burnt off..

I would attribute some of the heat absorption to the rosin core, but this will
also work just hitting the outside of the solder where the core is protected.

To solder the PCB, I heated the pads only as I would if using an iron. I also tried
some regular through hole resistors with the leads twisted together first, but that did not
work.. I was unable to heat the leads enough to get the solder flowing.

 

[foulmist]

Re: SOLDERING SMD / PCB WITH A 1.55W 445nm L.A.S.E.R + VIDEO

An interesting note on this, if this laser was a 405, i'd have scorch marks in the CCD.. I
have damaged the original CCD in this very cam with 405 @ 130mW, where 445 does
not seem to bother it other than the flicker etc. No marks. Strange how a slightly
higher wavelength has no effect on the CCD. I was going to shoot this with a set of
goggles in place but then it would be as lack luster as performing this with IR

I had scorched my CCD on my phone 5mpx camera with 445nm you'd better take measures next time as it might have been pure luck

 

[JLSE]

Re: SOLDERING SMD / PCB WITH A 1.55W 445nm L.A.S.E.R + VIDEO

Maybe its just this cam.. I bought this one new a while back, in the first few days
damaged the CCD via 130mW 405.. It was my fault, so there was no way I was going to use the
warranty being my mistake. I picked up a used cam on ebay, the same make but
was broken. Switched out the CCD and it was like new again.

Since I have hit it a few times, even a direct hit with 445. The only damage I have
ever had was from the shorter 405's.

405 was also responsible for the damage in my old panasonic. Though it was weird
that the 445 did nothing, maybe just got lucky on the make of the cams. :thinking: