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SMD Stickvise

Atomic Particles Spin Hack

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Did you ever tried to measure a SMD with normal probes?
It feels like the SMD is struggling to free itself from the probes. It usually flip over, then jump out and pop itself into nowhere. To avoid this is simple. Using the spin of the atomic particles, confine the SMD into a strong non-conservative field.
:o)

In other words, just put a magnet underneath, so the SMD won't jump.

Just another instant hack.

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  • 1 × Neodymium magnet Recovered HDD magnet
  • 1 × Cling film Food plastic film
  • 1 × SMD under test

  • Don't swallow more then one magnet! Ever.

    RoGeorge06/13/2015 at 23:49 0 comments

    C'mon, does it really need to be three log entries for each and every project?

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  • Most of the SMD parts are magnetic

    RoGeorge06/13/2015 at 23:44 0 comments

    Most of the SMD (Surface Mount Device) parts are ferromagnetic, so a magnetic field can be used to keep the SMD in place while measuring it.

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  • Recover a Neodymium magnet

    RoGeorge06/13/2015 at 23:40 0 comments

    The Neodymium magnet can be recovered from a defective HDD (Hard-Disk Drive).

    Open the HDD case and dismount the heads actuator.

    Recover the two magnets.

    Be careful with the magnets, so not to broke or peal them by mistake.

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  • 1
    Step 1

    Wrap the Neodymium magnet in cling film, so it can not interfere with the measurements.

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Discussions

danjovic wrote 01/26/2016 at 00:44 point

Nice Tip! I'll try it!

  Are you sure? yes | no

matseng wrote 07/13/2015 at 05:00 point

Well, I really don't have any issues using regular probes to measure a loose smd part.  But I like the idea in general and I'll try it out to see if if can be used when soldering as well.  But probably the part will just align with the magnetic field and not stay put at the pcb where I place it.

It would be awesome to just being able to have a bigass (or at least decently sized) magnet at the backside of the pcb, then just plunk down a handful of smd's that will stick where I put them, and then being able to solder them all without holding them with tweezers and tacking down one end first.  ^_^ 

  Are you sure? yes | no

RoGeorge wrote 07/15/2015 at 09:54 point

Indeed, if the probes have a big radius tip, then the SMD can be caught under the tips curvature, but if the probes are sharp, then the SMD tend to flip or twist, depending how you press the sharp tips.

It would be nice to keep all parts in place with a big magnet, but the SMDs are just slightly magnetic. Not sure if they will stay in place. Also, there is a tendency to move and align to the strongest magnetic field lines. But you should give it a try, maybe it works!

Another interesting idea will be to use an electromagnet as a head for a pick and place machine, instead of a vacuum head. Not sure if all the SMDs are magnetic, but small resistors and capacitors were magnetic enough.

Sometimes, when the SMD remains on the iron after unsoldering, and is floating in a blob of melted solder, a HDD magnet can be used to extract the SMDs from the tip of the soldering iron.

  Are you sure? yes | no

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