2 Types of Reballing Stencils

Q: What is the real difference between using the jig reball method and direct heating other than the large difference in cost?

A: The direct heat stencils don't last as long as the 90mm, if you're not extremely careful with them then they can last as little as 1-2 reballs before they need replacing. The 90mm stencils will never have to be replaced.

Kit

I have finally got around to sorting out the rest of the kit I need. But I need to questions answering and then it might be quicker if I could ring you.

Questions

1. There are 80mm and 90mm reball stations, am I correct that 90mm is the new standard to allow for larger chips?
2. The jigs do not do the smallest chips, how do you do those, by hand?
3. is the best reball station the scotle ht-80/90 and will it be suitable for going under an IR lamp on my scotle ir-360-pro ? I already have one of those big blue ones with the 2 handles but it is awkward to use.
4. is the scotle reball jig better than the honton
5. can 90mm jigs use 80mm templates as a general rule?
6. when using universal templates, do you use Kapton tape to fill the uneeded holes?
7. warranty, I can deal with you rather than sending back to china?
8. do your stencil packs come in separate bags Ie wii/xbox/playstation/nvidia etc.. ?
9. multi-meters with TC, are the TC sensors a standard connector?
10. what are ultrasonic cleaners used for?

I want to buy stencils and a station so I can do most chips without having to buy more stencils and there are/were a few sellers on ebay selling 500+ piece sets, I know you have mentions that you do not have such sets but could build one.

Answers From Karl (bgamods)

1. 90mm is the standard mate, 80mmis available but the prices are virtually the same and 90mm jigs are easier to use.
2. Small chips i do by hand or using a cheap small direct heat jig
3. The HT80/90 should be fine going under the IR head although i have never personally do this as i use a HR wand instead.
4. The scotle jig is better than the honton, the spiral design is better.
5. 90mm jigs cannot use 80mm stencils although the ht8090 spiral jig comes with 2 top stencil holders, 1 sized 80mm and 1 sized 90mm.
6. Yes i would recommend using kapton tape to block off unused holes when using universal stencils.
7. warranty will always be with me rather than china.
8. The direct heat come in separate bags but the 90mm stencils usually come in 1 large pack.
9. the TC connectors on the multimeters i have here are just standard.
10. ultrasonic cleaners are used for cleaning BGA, stencils, jigs etc, they can be used for much more though.

So far this is my wishlist

• external TC - perhaps a cheap multimeter one would be cool + it is a multimeter
• reball jig/station with all stencils
• Kapton tape (not sure what width as the stuff I got was to thin to do anything with)
• Hotplate with a cool zone (might get this late because of cost)
• non slip matt for manualy chip working
• magnifying glass
• pcb holder
• 6 in 1 bga rework tool set
• soldering iron tip cleaner
• scotle aluminium solder scraper / BGA Site Solder Remover Squeegee | eBay
• methyl ethyl ketone | eBay - for cleaning electronic areas, stonger than ISO Propanol
• silicon fixing paste (ie for capacitors, check types)
• INSAT (Honton) HT-1212 BGA Hot/Cold Plate (check for a new version, i think B)
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7YoZYZhJQM
  
  i love the tecnique used in the video but ther is no information on what he is using, what temperatures or methods, so the video is completely useless. do you have a better video showing more indepth of how he does the solderball removals and general usage of the machine.
  The temperature is set to 230 deg C. The solder is simply wiped off with a suitable squeege. We now have a device with a handle to remove the solder. It really is a very simple idea and method.

What I currently have

• scotle ir-360-pro
• kada SMD rework station (hot air + iron)
• kingbow flux
• some solder balls of various sizes
• tweezers of 2 types
• various small cheap wick
• some gootwick
• blue jig with handles (not sure if 80mm or 90mm)
• scotle ht8090 spiral jig (does 80mm and 90mm)
• Honton 90mm silver screw jig
• a small selection of universal templates
• aluminium tape (not bga specific)
• Arctic Cooling MX-2 Thermal Compound 8g Tube (ORACO-MX20001-BL) Artic AC Paste | eBay
• 20g Tin Solder Soldering Iron Gun Tip Cleaner Tinner Flux Lead Free Activator
  How To Use - http://youtu.be/J3OlDsKvzss , different manufacturer but the same way of using.
  what temperature should you set your soldering iron at when using this activator? - 180 deg Celsius should be fine. Don't try to overheat the iron tip during tinning as oxidation process goes faster and could give you opposite effect.
• BGA Site Solder Remover Squeegee - For wiping molten solder balls from a BGA chip easily.
  XBox360 Slim BGA Lift and Site Preparation Without Solder Wick
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgmkiIv1R6w
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7YoZYZhJQM
  

  Description
  This is our solder remover squeegee fitted to an aluminium handle, and includes an extra silicone squeegee.
  
  After lifting a BGA from a PCB, the solder is completely liquidus and it is the right time to simply, squeegee the molten solder onto a clean area of the PCB to avoid using solder wick and soldering iron to remove the old solder.
  
  This method is very quick and is the gentlest by far, avoiding solder mask damage which is often the case when using the abrasive method with solder wick and soldering iron.

  Answers From the Manufacturer
  what is the operating temperature range of the squeegy?
  The silicone used will stand up to nearly 300 deg C.
  

  what temperature should you use it to remove leaded solder?
  For removing leaded solder, it is usually necessary to use around 230 deg C.
  
  what temperature should you use it to remove lead-free solder?
  For removing lead-free solder you will need to use around 245 deg C.
  
  what is the life expectancy of the squeegy, are there signs of wearing out?
  There is no limit to the life expectancy in my view. I hope I will live long enough to outlast mine.