Re: cleaning paste needles

开云体育

Immediately flush with liquid flux cleaner a few times, followed by water and isopropynol flushes has worked ok for me in the past. Must be done before the paste dries in the needle.

All the Best

Alexis

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From: [email protected] <[email protected]> on behalf of James via groups.io <bitsyboffin@...>
Sent: Wednesday, March 26, 2025 8:54:41 AM
To: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [homebrewpcbs] cleaning paste needles

?

>?How do you clean the needles used to dispense solder paste???

I don't.? Simple as that, I use disposable plastic tips, when the session is done, in the bin.? No point trying to salvage half a gram of plastic that costs a few cents.

Re: cleaning paste needles

#36950

>?How do you clean the needles used to dispense solder paste???

I don't.? Simple as that, I use disposable plastic tips, when the session is done, in the bin.? No point trying to salvage half a gram of plastic that costs a few cents.

Re: cleaning paste needles

#36949

It does help to know the magic words when looking for stuff.

I use them for cleaning glue out of syringe needles.  Do take the time to swipe the tips over some sandpaper, they are quiet sharp.

I prefer to use a torch to burn the plastic out of clogged nozzles, far less hassle.  I don't print "exotic" stuff like carbon fibre so I don't have any ruby ones.  I think they might be a bit of overkill for solder paste, the plain steel ones would be hard enough.

As the other poster said, plenty on AliExpress if you don't mind the wait.

Tony

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-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of
Steve Wiseman via groups.io
Sent: Friday, 21 March 2025 4:59 pm
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [homebrewpcbs] cleaning paste needles

Ah, they're sold as 'printer cleaning needles' on Amazon uk, in handy kits of
different sizes.

(I have also bought a bunch of 3d printer nozzles, including the jewel tipped and
0.1mm versions, to see if they'll dispense solder paste, but they're still on the
'to do' pile. )

Steve

Re: cleaning paste needles

#36948

开云体育

the use not being critical; have a look to Aliexpress.

The lead time is usually 10 - 12 days.

On 21.03.25 05:15, Jim Pruitt WA7DUY via groups.io wrote:

Show quoted text

Hello Steve.

I do not see any acupuncture needles available from Amazon on this side of the pond.? The other site also in the UK that you linked seems to require being a licensed acupuncturist in order to buy the needles.? I do like the idea though.? Now to find a USA supplier.

Re: cleaning paste needles

#36947

Ah, they're sold as 'printer cleaning needles' on Amazon uk, in handy
kits of different sizes.

(I have also bought a bunch of 3d printer nozzles, including the jewel
tipped and 0.1mm versions, to see if they'll dispense solder paste,
but they're still on the 'to do' pile. )

Steve

Re: cleaning paste needles

#36946

Acupuncture needles rock!?

Otherwise a guitar 'E' string ( smallest diameter one ) range from .008(~.2mm) to .012inch(.305mm)

Re: cleaning paste needles

#36945

开云体育

I’ll second the acupuncture needles.

?

The 3D printing folk use them to clear nozzles, eg

?

Tony

?

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From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Jim Pruitt WA7DUY via groups.io
Sent: Friday, 21 March 2025 3:15 pm
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [homebrewpcbs] cleaning paste needles

?

Hello Steve.

I do not see any acupuncture needles available from Amazon on this side of the pond.? The other site also in the UK that you linked seems to require being a licensed acupuncturist in order to buy the needles.? I do like the idea though.? Now to find a USA supplier.

Thank you.

Jim Pruitt

On 3/20/2025 3:48 PM, Steve Wiseman via groups.io wrote:

On Thu, 20 Mar 2025 at 22:25, Jim Pruitt WA7DUY via groups.io

<jpruitt67@...> wrote:

How do you clean the needles used to dispense solder paste?? I thought I had it figured out as I got a 100ml luer lock syringe and ran 100ml of hot water through my #21 and #22 needles but the next time I try to use them I find them clogged and the last one I could not get it opened up again.? I hope the needles are not 1 time use only.

Is there a way to actually clean those needles?

Soak in IPA, and run through with acupuncture needles. I use #26 and

#28 dispensing needles (on a dima dotmaster) and this gets them clean

when they inevitably clog. I also find that I have to warm the paste

and syringe assembly, a 55W headlamp bulb mounted near the home

position and run from a variable PSU does the job.

The acupuncture needles are available all over the place and aren't

expensive - (and far better than trying to poke stripped wire wrap

wire through a clogged needle)

 (or Amazon, ebay etc.)

Some dispensing needles are 'lucky', some clog quickly. I think it's a

function of the transition of the needle tube projecting into the main

body - if there's a step the solder balls get hung up, squeeze the

flux out and start to create a pellet of solid solder under the

pressure. You can finesse this a bit if you need, the needles are just

crimped into the body, you can adjust the depth (with care).

I've also been trying one-piece dispensing nozzles with some success -

like these, but they're not 'better' enough to convince me yet, and

I'd have to modify the dotmaster to suit.

Steve

?

Re: cleaning paste needles

#36944

开云体育

Hello Steve.

I do not see any acupuncture needles available from Amazon on this side of the pond.? The other site also in the UK that you linked seems to require being a licensed acupuncturist in order to buy the needles.? I do like the idea though.? Now to find a USA supplier.

Thank you.

Jim Pruitt

On 3/20/2025 3:48 PM, Steve Wiseman via groups.io wrote:

Show quoted text

On Thu, 20 Mar 2025 at 22:25, Jim Pruitt WA7DUY via groups.io
<jpruitt67@...> wrote:

How do you clean the needles used to dispense solder paste?  I thought I had it figured out as I got a 100ml luer lock syringe and ran 100ml of hot water through my #21 and #22 needles but the next time I try to use them I find them clogged and the last one I could not get it opened up again.  I hope the needles are not 1 time use only.

Is there a way to actually clean those needles?

Soak in IPA, and run through with acupuncture needles. I use #26 and
#28 dispensing needles (on a dima dotmaster) and this gets them clean
when they inevitably clog. I also find that I have to warm the paste
and syringe assembly, a 55W headlamp bulb mounted near the home
position and run from a variable PSU does the job.
The acupuncture needles are available all over the place and aren't
expensive - (and far better than trying to poke stripped wire wrap
wire through a clogged needle)

 (or Amazon, ebay etc.)
Some dispensing needles are 'lucky', some clog quickly. I think it's a
function of the transition of the needle tube projecting into the main
body - if there's a step the solder balls get hung up, squeeze the
flux out and start to create a pellet of solid solder under the
pressure. You can finesse this a bit if you need, the needles are just
crimped into the body, you can adjust the depth (with care).
I've also been trying one-piece dispensing nozzles with some success -
like these, but they're not 'better' enough to convince me yet, and
I'd have to modify the dotmaster to suit.


Steve

Re: cleaning paste needles

#36943

On Thu, 20 Mar 2025 at 22:25, Jim Pruitt WA7DUY via groups.io
<jpruitt67@...> wrote:

How do you clean the needles used to dispense solder paste?  I thought I had it figured out as I got a 100ml luer lock syringe and ran 100ml of hot water through my #21 and #22 needles but the next time I try to use them I find them clogged and the last one I could not get it opened up again.  I hope the needles are not 1 time use only.

Is there a way to actually clean those needles?Soak in IPA, and run through with acupuncture needles. I use #26 and
#28 dispensing needles (on a dima dotmaster) and this gets them clean
when they inevitably clog. I also find that I have to warm the paste
and syringe assembly, a 55W headlamp bulb mounted near the home
position and run from a variable PSU does the job.
The acupuncture needles are available all over the place and aren't
expensive - (and far better than trying to poke stripped wire wrap
wire through a clogged needle)

 (or Amazon, ebay etc.)
Some dispensing needles are 'lucky', some clog quickly. I think it's a
function of the transition of the needle tube projecting into the main
body - if there's a step the solder balls get hung up, squeeze the
flux out and start to create a pellet of solid solder under the
pressure. You can finesse this a bit if you need, the needles are just
crimped into the body, you can adjust the depth (with care).
I've also been trying one-piece dispensing nozzles with some success -
like these, but they're not 'better' enough to convince me yet, and
I'd have to modify the dotmaster to suit.


Steve

cleaning paste needles

#36942

开云体育

How do you clean the needles used to dispense solder paste?? I thought I had it figured out as I got a 100ml luer lock syringe and ran 100ml of hot water through my #21 and #22 needles but the next time I try to use them I find them clogged and the last one I could not get it opened up again.? I hope the needles are not 1 time use only.

Is there a way to actually clean those needles?

Thank you.

Jim Pruitt

Re: Sadder but wiser

#36941

开云体育

The usual way is to print a 100x100mm square, then measure it.? Suppose you measure it at 101mm, your scaling factor becomes 100/101, or 99%.

?

If the software can’t do it then the print dialog has a “Scale” entry, so you’d type in 99%, print it and measure again.

?

If like most people you’re laying things out on a 0.1” grid (even us metric folk do that), a quick dummy check is you grab a 40 pin header and put it up against the component holes and see if it matches up.

?

Tony

?

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From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Clark Cone via groups.io
Sent: Wednesday, 28 August 2024 10:35 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [homebrewpcbs] Sadder but wiser

?

got it! Thanks!

Clark

?

On Mon, Aug 26, 2024 at 7:12?PM Morris Odell via <vilgotch1=[email protected]> wrote:

Hi again Clark,
?
I calibrated the printer by printing successive images on plain paper with different cal factors and measuring them until I got it right. A bit wasteful of paper but better that using anything more expensive. Also I had the printer set for A4 paper. I think US Letter will give a different image size again and will require a different cal factor. The printer is a Brother MFC-L8690
?
Morris

Re: Sadder but wiser

#36940

got it! Thanks!

Clark

Show quoted text

On Mon, Aug 26, 2024 at 7:12?PM Morris Odell via <vilgotch1=[email protected]> wrote:

Hi again Clark,

?

I calibrated the printer by printing successive images on plain paper with different cal factors and measuring them until I got it right. A bit wasteful of paper but better that using anything more expensive. Also I had the printer set for A4 paper. I think US Letter will give a different image size again and will require a different cal factor. The printer is a Brother MFC-L8690

?

Morris

Re: Sadder but wiser

#36939

Great advice! They are only thinking of printing letters for office use, and we come along with our odd purposes.

--

Steven Greenfield AE7HD

Re: Sadder but wiser

#36938

Hi again Clark,

?

I calibrated the printer by printing successive images on plain paper with different cal factors and measuring them until I got it right. A bit wasteful of paper but better that using anything more expensive. Also I had the printer set for A4 paper. I think US Letter will give a different image size again and will require a different cal factor. The printer is a Brother MFC-L8690

?

Morris

Re: Sadder but wiser

#36937

Hi Clark,

?

If you are using Sprint-PCB,? when you click on the Print icon a window opens for printing. Along the top of that window there is a series of buttons for various functions including a "Calibrate" one that allows you to set a calibration factor for vertical and horizontal printing.

?

That's what I use in Sprint, I don't know whether other software packages have anything similar.

?

Regards,

?

Morris

Re: Sadder but wiser

#36936

Morris, what is your calibration method, please?

Clark Cone

Show quoted text

On Sun, Aug 25, 2024 at 7:20?PM Morris Odell via <vilgotch1=[email protected]> wrote:

Hi all,

?

I had an unpleasant experience recently but fortunately not a complete disaster.

?

I have been making PCBs for years using the toner transfer method. The software I use is Sprint PCB and I have used a succession of HP laser printers. Recently I had to get a new printer and went for a Brother. It works very nicely and the toner actually seemed to give better coverage than the HP. After I made my first PCB which was a little one with a few passive components and transistors on it everything looked pretty good and I was quite happy.

?

Yesterday I made a bigger board with several DIP packages on it and it still looked good. But when I went to populate it, it became apparent that the new printer was producing images that were slightly too small. Sprint allows a calibration factor to be specified and after some experimentation it turns out that factor of 1.04 gives properly sized images.

?

All it cost me was some time and some PCB material but it was quite frustrating and a waste of a few hours.

?

So be warned - if you change software or a printer make sure you check the sizing before making a board!

?

Regards to all,

?

Morris

?

?

Sadder but wiser

#36935

Hi all,

?

I had an unpleasant experience recently but fortunately not a complete disaster.

?

I have been making PCBs for years using the toner transfer method. The software I use is Sprint PCB and I have used a succession of HP laser printers. Recently I had to get a new printer and went for a Brother. It works very nicely and the toner actually seemed to give better coverage than the HP. After I made my first PCB which was a little one with a few passive components and transistors on it everything looked pretty good and I was quite happy.

?

Yesterday I made a bigger board with several DIP packages on it and it still looked good. But when I went to populate it, it became apparent that the new printer was producing images that were slightly too small. Sprint allows a calibration factor to be specified and after some experimentation it turns out that factor of 1.04 gives properly sized images.

?

All it cost me was some time and some PCB material but it was quite frustrating and a waste of a few hours.

?

So be warned - if you change software or a printer make sure you check the sizing before making a board!

?

Regards to all,

?

Morris

?

Re: Converting Gerber files for use with a laser

#36934

Thanks. I'll check it out.

Sam Reaves

ARS W3OHM

Owner / Moderator of:

LeCroy Owners Group on 开云体育

Sencore Owners Group on 开云体育

Sprint Layout Group on 开云体育??

Pulsonix EDA Group on 开云体育

LPKF Owners Group on 开云体育

Electronics and Mechanical Hardware Design Engineering Manager

Staff Scientist Andritz Rolls Global Research Center (RETIRED)

Show quoted text

On Sun, Jan 7, 2024 at 11:23?PM Zoran A. Scepanovic <zastos@...> wrote:

You can use FtatCAM

On 8. 1. 24. 08:17, Sam Reaves wrote:

Is there an easy way to convert 274-X files into files that a laser can understand? The Laser is 10W and can AFAIK accept G-Code.
I would like to try etching isolation layers by painting the copper clad black.

Ideas?

Sam
W3OHM

Re: Converting Gerber files for use with a laser

#36933

开云体育

You can use FtatCAM

On 8. 1. 24. 08:17, Sam Reaves wrote:

Show quoted text

Is there an easy way to convert 274-X files into files that a laser can understand? The Laser is 10W and can AFAIK accept G-Code.
I would like to try etching isolation layers by painting the copper clad black.

Ideas?

Sam
W3OHM

Converting Gerber files for use with a laser

#36932

Is there an easy way to convert 274-X files into files that a laser can understand? The Laser is 10W and can AFAIK accept G-Code.
I would like to try etching isolation layers by painting the copper clad black.

Ideas?

Sam
W3OHM