Meanwell LDD driver: for those who want to dim to 0 using Arduino

[O2Surplus]

Sounds like you're getting priority etching these days! LOL

LOL- I should... They screwed up the last order I sent them, so I hadn't used them for over a year. I decided to give them another chance, when I noticed that they'd steam-lined their PcB ordering service, and lifted any restrictions on panelized designs. They now allow you to upload your gerber files directly to them while your still on the PcB ordering page of their website. Much easier than ITead. Gone is the hassle of "renaming" your files with an order number, prior to sending them in an additional Email. Itead also restricts panelized designs to only 5 per single PcB. Seeed no longer places that restriction, so I was able to fit 8 copies of one design on a single 10x10 PcB. That's 80 PcB's for the price of 10. LOL I ordered "20" 10X10 panelized copies that will yield 160 individual PcB's, after I'm done cutting them down to size.
I'm gonna need a few more rolls of 60/40 LOL.

 

[007Bond]

60/40 for smd's??

 

[jedimasterben]

LOL- I should... They screwed up the last order I sent them, so I hadn't used them for over a year. I decided to give them another chance, when I noticed that they'd steam-lined their PcB ordering service, and lifted any restrictions on panelized designs. They now allow you to upload your gerber files directly to them while your still on the PcB ordering page of their website. Much easier than ITead. Gone is the hassle of "renaming" your files with an order number, prior to sending them in an additional Email. Itead also restricts panelized designs to only 5 per single PcB. Seeed no longer places that restriction, so I was able to fit 8 copies of one design on a single 10x10 PcB. That's 80 PcB's for the price of 10. LOL I ordered "20" 10X10 panelized copies that will yield 160 individual PcB's, after I'm done cutting them down to size.
I'm gonna need a few more rolls of 60/40 LOL.

Sweet lawd, you're a busybody! LOL

 

[O2Surplus]

60/40 for smd's??

Nah- 60/40 for just the through hole components. I've got 5 tubes of paste in the fridge for the SMD stuff.

Sweet lawd, you're a busybody! LOL

Yep- People accuse me of being addicted to solder fumes. I'm in complete denial of course. LOL

 

[jedimasterben]

Yep- People accuse me of being addicted to solder fumes. I'm in complete denial of course. LOL

"I'll tell YOU when I've had enough!" Lol

 

[007Bond]

Fridge?? should I be storing that stuff next to last nights meatloaf?

 

[jedimasterben]

Its not like anybody says that a little lead is bad for you or anything.

 

[O2Surplus]

Fridge?? should I be storing that stuff next to last nights meatloaf?

No- Keep it in the door.... right next to the butter. That's where I keep mine!:rollface: "LEAD... It's what's for Dinner".

 

[marspeed]

Thats right where I keep mine next to the butter

 

[007Bond]

Ok next to the butter it is! Hope the neighbor don't stop by wanting to borrow a stick of butter, and come across the hypodermic.lol

 

[rott]

007 what do you think of the solder in a tube

 

[007Bond]

I bought it following O2's advice. http://www.ebay.com/itm/121031309678?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2648

It's low temp.,...I think it works well for smd soldering. I'm by no means any authority on soldering, but a small amount at the point of soldering, then just a touch of the irons tip... done. Watch the link tutorial.---Rick

 

[O2Surplus]

I bought it following O2's advice. http://www.ebay.com/itm/121031309678?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2648

It's low temp.,...I think it works well for smd soldering. I'm by no means any authority on soldering, but a small amount at the point of soldering, then just a touch of the irons tip... done. Watch the link tutorial.---Rick

Rick-

Get your hands on a decent adjustable temperature heat gun with at least 2 fan speed settings and start practicing the "Hot Air" method (Don't be tempted to borrow the Wife's blow dryer LOL. Women can get violent if the catch you "borrowing" their beauty aids) You'll be soldering like a pro in no time.

 

[007Bond]

Oh yeah,...not touching the wife's hair dryer! It seems to work well to just touch the solder for a split second with the iron. Is using a soldering iron too much heat for solder paste? I've seen tutorials using heat guns,....do you lay out the whole board or just one smd at a time?---Rick

 

[007Bond]

Hey O2,... will this one work ok http://www.ebay.com/itm/1500-Watt-Dual-Temperature-Heat-Gun-572-1112-/160795632639?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item25702aa3ff

or this one with nozzles http://www.ebay.com/itm/Brand-new-All-Power-Heat-Gun-4-Nozzles-2-year-warranty-APT2005-/360828053658?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item540307289a

Thanks,---Rick

 

[O2Surplus]

Oh yeah,...not touching the wife's hair dryer! It seems to work well to just touch the solder for a split second with the iron. Is using a soldering iron too much heat for solder paste? I've seen tutorials using heat guns,....do you lay out the whole board or just one smd at a time?---Rick

Here's a 2 speed that should work perfectly-Electric 2 Speed 1500W Heat Gun Set Kit for Strips Paint Varnish and Lacquer | eBay

Lay out all the SMD parts and solder them at one time. You'll need to play with the heat gun's fan speed and temp settings a bit, and practice some before you'll become proficient enough to solder all the components without blowing them off the PcB.

 

[007Bond]

Got it :thumbsup: By the time I get through with this project, you'll be able to ship some of your boards to me for assembly.:crazy1:---Rick

 

[rrasco]

So you're using seeed studio now? And the prices are comparable (or better) to itead?

 

[marspeed]

I got my boards in 10 days from order to delivery from itead one is out for delivery today with dhl that will be 9 days if it shows up I think it has somthing to do with spring festival

marc

 

[O2Surplus]

So you're using seeed studio now? And the prices are comparable (or better) to itead?

The prices between the two companies are nearly identical. I may have paid a couple of bucks more to use Seeed, but the ease of using their new online ordering service and the fact that there's no restriction on panelizing designs made it worth the slight difference. Now the only question that remains is - Is the quality of the PcB's the same between Itead & Seeed? I won't know until I've had a chance to inspect the boards. I'll get the answer tonight.