Alex's Page

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Hello friends,

Today I used my soldering kit for the first time, and only slightly burned myself once.

Why Solder?

Soldering is something I'll have to get comfortable with I believe the more and more I get into electronics. The alternative which I've seen in some older tech is just to glue the shit out of everything together- which I hope to not have to resort to.

But it seems like a simple and efficient way to connect electrical components and just requires some patience and belief in yourself.

A big plus of having a bunch of junk electrical devices is I have a real playground of opportunity to practice and learn the basics of soldering. The main use being what I did today, DE- soldering.

Why Ruin A Good Thing?

From my current understanding of looking at circuits, their main use is to efficiently bunch together the wire connections in the circuit, and leave open holes for any IC's, resistors, capacitors...

But essentially all these electronics are just threaded through the circuit, and soldered into place. Meaning the way to harvest them is to just, remove the metal.

I've never done something like this and quite frankly, it scares me, with a touch of excitement.

So I booted up my solder, heated it up, and started pokin'. I really have no idea of the various methods of makin' metal melt. My basic understanding for desoldering was to use some pump thing, or some braided copper wire. I tried both methods and found the pump is in most cases, the best. Maybe I just didn't get the hang of the wire but it surprisingly, it really does just suck up all the metal.

Back to the title of this section, I needed the encoder. An encoder that I wanted to use in my servo motor was on the circuit and I found it the perfect excuse to finally try this new skill out.

Additionally, I had a couple unnecessary circuits attached to the various printer motors to remove.

Once that was all said and done, I was left with a bunch of bits of scrap lead, a few useless circuits, and my now freed motors and encoder. But above all, I was left with a new skill, soldering, hell ya.

Day 263Desoldering

Why Solder?

Why Ruin A Good Thing?