Soldering tips

One of the most important steps in assembling a Keyball is soldering.

The quality of your soldering significantly impacts the stability and durability of the device's operation.

Here are some basic tips to help even beginners avoid common soldering mistakes.

 

① Preparation is key to a good finish

Before you start soldering, check the following points:

・Soldering iron temperature around 350℃

・Is the tip clean?

*A soldering iron tip shaped like a spearhead is recommended as it allows you to apply solder to a flat surface and "scoop up" excess solder.

・Work in a bright, stable area.

In particular, if the tip is dirty, heat will not transfer properly, leading to failure.

 

② Heat the "component" and "pad" simultaneously

The basic soldering process for Keyball is to heat the circuit board pad with the iron tip.

↓

Apply solder to the iron tip to melt it and flow it onto the pad.

↓

Remove the iron.

All soldering work on Keyball generally follows this process.

Solder flows to warm areas, so "heating the pad" is crucial.

If you only melt and apply solder without heating the pad, the solder will simply sit on top of the pad, leading to poor contact.

 

③ "Less is more" is the basic principle

Ideally, there should not be too much solder.

・Piled up like a mountain → Too much

*There is also a risk of short circuits.

・Smooth, shiny surface → Good

*If there is too much, you can reheat it and scoop it off with the iron tip, or adjust it with desoldering wick.

 

④ Take your time and be thorough, one spot at a time

Working continuously can damage the circuit board with heat.

・Do not repeatedly heat the same spot (if repeated heating is necessary, allow it to cool down before working on it again).

・Proceed by checking each spot individually.

・Do not force a rework.

Pad lifting, in particular, occurs when you pull too hard or heat too much.

 

⑤ You can fix mistakes

"I created a solder bridge."

"A pad lifted."

"I broke a component."

These kinds of problems can happen to anyone.

Shirogane Lab also sells replacement parts and offers support for repair methods, so please feel free to contact us if you encounter any difficulties.

Soldering may seem difficult at first,

but by mastering the basic tips, anyone can achieve a clean finish.

Take your time and enjoy the process,

and complete your very own Keyball.

Shirogane Lab Contact Information
https://shiroganelab.com/pages/contact