What is a disturbed joint?
A disturbed joint is one of the most common problems in soldering. A joint can be identified as disturbed when it is bloated, distorted or flaky in appearance. A disturbed joint is often confused with a cold joint due to the similar appearance, however, they are in fact different issues with different remedies.
How is a disturbed joint formed?
Disturbed joints are formed when a joint is moved after solder has been applied before the solder paste solidifies and hardens. Moving the solder before solidification disturbs the molten solder, causing it to misshapen as it cools down and hardens.
How to prevent a disturbed joint?
-
Stabilize the work area: This is to immobilize the joint and to prevent any movement during the soldering phase.
-
Identify any vibration sources: This could consist of other electronic devices or even a human error in the workplace.
- Avoid moving the workpiece or circuit board: This is to ensure that the components will not be accidentally misaligned due to knocking.
How to fix a disturbed joint?
Easily fix a disturbed joint with the following steps:
1) Flux the disturbed joint with the FS-210 Brush Tip Flux Pen |
|
2) Reheat the solder joint using a preheater or the FV-310 Heat Gun to re-melt the solder |
|
3) Allow the solder joint to cool down undisturbed |