Metcal CV-500, User Manual

Page: 4 / 76

4
OPERATION
•
Pick a tip that maximizes contact area between the solder joint and tip. Maximizing contact
area gives the most efficient heat transfer, producing high quality solder joints quickly.
•
Pick a tip that allows good access to the solder joint. Shorter tip lengths allow quicker
response. Longer or angled tips may be needed for soldering densely populated boards.
•
Pick the lowest temperature cartridge that will accomplish the task. This minimizes the
potential for thermal damage
.
1
.
Remove the hand-piece from the work stand.
Clean your tip using a sulfur-free sponge & de-
ionized water or Metcal’s brass pad.
2. Place the tip in contact with the land and lead
to be soldered. This starts the heat flowing to
the connection area. It may be necessary to
apply a small amount of solder to start the
transfer.
If the system does not signal the start of the solder event, your tip selection is too
large for the load or thermal contact with the load to be soldered is insufficient.
The system may flash the green and red lights and an optional beep may sound when
the tip is cleaned or in the work stand. This is normal and does not signal the start of a
solder event.
3
.
The system will
signal the start of
the solder event
with a quick flash
of the green and
red LEDs.
4. The thermal bridge is formed by
touching the solder to the same
junction, then moving the solder
wire to the opposite side of the
land. This causes the liquid solder
to move toward the heat source to
complete the solder joint.
Wait for the LED light to extinguish before starting the next solder joint.
5. Wait for the CV
system to signal the
end of the solder
event.
6. Promptly remove
the soldering tip
from the solder
joint
Success
Or
Failure
•
An immediate red light after solder event detection
indicates the tip is improperly sized to the joint.
•
A red light after approximately 8 seconds indicates too
small of a tip or too low of a temperature was selected.