Soldering Station & Pencil

For precision soldering of strain gages, it is always necessary to use a temperature- or power-controlled soldering station that provides low voltage and adjustable temperature to the soldering iron tip. An unregulated soldering iron, connected directly to the power line, is not ordinarily suitable for strain gage use because the tip temperature is apt to be far too high. This tends to oxidize the tip, and to instantly vaporize the flux, making soldering much more difficult. In addition, the unnecessarily high temperature may damage the strain gage, the bonding adhesive, or even the test specimen. For these reasons, the soldering station should incorporate provision for adjusting the soldering temperature to suit varying installation conditions and requirements. The temperature must be adjusted, of course, to accommodate the melting points of the different solders commonly used for strain gage connections, but also to allow for environmental conditions such as drafts or outdoor soldering in cold weather. Moreover, the temperature controller should be carefully designed to ensure that it does not generate electrical noise that could adversely affect nearby measuring instruments when both are in use.

Design of the soldering pencil also requires special consideration. It should be light in weight, with a very flexible power cord, and with the gripping area thermally insulated from the heating element. These characteristics contribute to the comfort, ease, and precision of soldering, and minimize operator fatigue during long periods of use. The soldering tip itself should be of the flat, chisel, or screwdriver type. Pointed tips should not be used, because they tend to draw solder away from the work area, and thus make it more difficult to achieve a proper joint. In contrast, flat tips act to confine the solder, while offering greater surface area for better heat transfer and more effective soldering, generally.

Micro-Measurements soldering units incorporate all of the above features and a number of others, designed to help the user easily make consistent, reliable solder joints. These soldering units are widely used by professional strain gage installers everywhere, in both stress analysis laboratories and in transducer manufacture.

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