Author Topic: Stupid headers falling out... (Read 2490 times)

Razor Concepts · « **on:** April 12, 2009, 11:26:57 PM »

Soldering pin headers.

What a pain.

Right now I have a weird set up to solder those things in. I pop them in place, and loosely tape them in. I solder in one pin, then grab the board and heat the pin up again, and fit the pins in properly. Then repeat for the pin on the other end for support, and then solder the rest in... wow a lot of work to get a nice good fit with pin headers.

But I found this:
http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/tutorial_info.php?tutorials_id=114

Hopefully this idea will catch on.

HyperNerd · « **Reply #1 on:** April 13, 2009, 02:24:38 AM »

That's actually a really ingenious solution to the problem...
I for one have always found this task incredibly hard. I have tried jigs, taping the pins, but none of it works quite as well as this does.

Well done to that man with the wonky drill holes!

-HyperNerd

SmAsH · « **Reply #2 on:** April 13, 2009, 03:55:45 AM »

damn these guys are smart, i gotta test this out sometime!

paulstreats · « **Reply #3 on:** April 13, 2009, 05:49:31 AM »

I use blu tac to hold them in place

SmAsH · « **Reply #4 on:** April 13, 2009, 05:52:30 AM »

Quote from: paulstreats on April 13, 2009, 05:49:31 AM

I use blu tac to hold them in place

blu-tac works wonders with headers, what ive been using up until now. and probably will keep using it!

Soeren · « **Reply #5 on:** April 13, 2009, 07:28:40 AM »

Hi,

Just drill the holes for a tight fit. Much better than creating tensions that will, at some time, do damage to either board or headers.

If the holes are a little too big, use a finger nail or a tool to hold the plastic part tight to the board when soldering, then it will come out right.

BANE · « **Reply #6 on:** April 14, 2009, 06:58:27 PM »

I use a dab of hot glue, but i really like the idea of staggering

Bane

SmAsH · « **Reply #7 on:** April 14, 2009, 07:09:58 PM »

lol bane, hot glue. i never thought of using that before, it would just take a bit of time to position them a glue em down. smart! but then it may interfere with closer components. has this ever effected you?

Razor Concepts · « **Reply #8 on:** April 15, 2009, 01:17:55 AM »

Peel the hot glue off after soldering

SmAsH · « **Reply #9 on:** April 15, 2009, 01:32:13 AM »

i never thought of that! thanks razor!

GearMotion · « **Reply #10 on:** April 15, 2009, 09:18:39 AM »

I hold it in place with a finger, use tape, or use a small clip (alligator clip or heat-sink clip) to hold a header in place.

SmAsH · « **Reply #11 on:** April 15, 2009, 03:36:55 PM »

Quote from: GearMotion on April 15, 2009, 09:18:39 AM

I hold it in place with a finger, use tape, or use a small clip (alligator clip or heat-sink clip) to hold a header in place.

the only problem it the pin melts through the tape, they're in the middle of the board so alligator clips cant reach, and they burn my fingers

the only thing that's worked for me before would be blu-tac. and is there a difference between heat sink clip and alligator?

GearMotion · « **Reply #12 on:** April 15, 2009, 04:06:47 PM »

I hear you, though. There needs to be several different things to try.

Weird Fishes · « **Reply #13 on:** April 15, 2009, 04:22:44 PM »

Especially with two sided boards, I like to put it in a breadboard and then solder a pin or two. With one sided boards I like to do the same and put a wad of tape or something on the other side to keep it level. Works (most of the time

).

TrickyNekro · « **Reply #14 on:** April 15, 2009, 04:34:37 PM »

With one sided boards it's hell easy....
You solder only one pad, without the header on... with some solder... a little bit more than usual...
Then you place the header... and as you force it gently in you apply heat with the gun on the soldered pad...
and Geronimo...... solder rest of the pads... and you are done!!!

SmAsH · « **Reply #15 on:** April 15, 2009, 04:55:54 PM »

wait tricky, so you solder the pad, place the header on top of the board, heat the solder and push the header in? normally i solder one pin then check whether its straight then solder the rest in, tricky that's a good idea, ill try it next time im at school with the vices!

Canabots · « **Reply #16 on:** April 15, 2009, 05:58:07 PM »

A nice little trick I learned from here is to use a little shunt (or an empty housing) to shield your finger from the heated pins. I've done this with both Molex connectors and servo pin headers.

SmAsH · « **Reply #17 on:** April 15, 2009, 06:08:11 PM »

lol! does the molex have crimp pins in it?

Canabots · « **Reply #18 on:** April 15, 2009, 06:32:42 PM »

Quote from: SmAsH on April 15, 2009, 06:08:11 PM

lol! does the molex have crimp pins in it?

I don't quite understand what you mean...if you meant in the picture, I don't believe so...I never use ones with crimp pins in it for the shunting...

SmAsH · « **Reply #19 on:** April 15, 2009, 06:38:57 PM »

ohh so you use a 2 pin shunt? i thought you meant a molex with the holes in the top. with the molex connectors, they have quite a bit of wriggling room without the crimp pins in them. so i was asking if you use them with crimp pins in or out.

Canabots · « **Reply #20 on:** April 15, 2009, 07:07:42 PM »

Quote from: SmAsH on April 15, 2009, 06:38:57 PM

ohh so you use a 2 pin shunt? i thought you meant a molex with the holes in the top. with the molex connectors, they have quite a bit of wriggling room without the crimp pins in them. so i was asking if you use them with crimp pins in or out.

Ah! I don't think it woud make much difference either way, so long as you apply a steady, firm amount of pressure on the housing.

SmAsH · « **Reply #21 on:** April 15, 2009, 07:13:08 PM »

and keep it straight of coarse;) thanks for the help guys, im up for a 14+ km ride down to jaycar to get some drill bits cause i broke my stupid 1mm

cya:D

Metal Slug 2 · « **Reply #22 on:** April 15, 2009, 08:44:57 PM »

I was browsing instructables.com the other day ago for kool projects to build and came across this:

http://www.instructables.com/id/Third-Hand-A-multi-use-helping-hand-for-electro/

If your up for it, I think those helping hands would be very useful for holding header pins to your board.

Quote from: paulstreats on April 13, 2009, 05:49:31 AM

I use blu tac to hold them in place

me too.

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Author Topic: Stupid headers falling out... (Read 2490 times)

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