Hi Guys,

I'm no expert in this, but solder "Pots" are generally small (inch or so)
diameter pots that contain solder. Generally they are used to "tin" wires
etc

I've been looking for one for a while for this purpose - anyone in Australia
have one they want to get rid of?

Where as "Wave" soldering machines are a bit different.

The ones that I have seen are about 2 to 3 metres long with a track system
to move the populated board along through the machine.. Most of the length
of the machine is used to "pre-heat" the board and components so as not to
damage them with the big temperature shock of molten solder.

As the boards move though, the first encounter a flux bath, this is
basically a liquid flux pumped out of a slot near the bottom of the board,
the flux is collected about and re-circulated.

Then its on to the solder "wave".

Think of a large chunk of aluminium.. This has a rectangular raised portion
which goes across the width of the track but isn't very "long".. the one
I've seen is probably about 2 inches in the direction of PCB travel.

The rest of the aluminium chunk forms a collector and reservoir for the
solder. The hole thing is heated so as to melt solder. Then a pump is used
to pump liquid solder up the central part. It forms quite a high meniscus
and flows off the sides to be re-circulated. The constant circulation keeps
it oxide free.

BAD ASCII art:

    ,-------------, Top view
    |    +---+    |
    |    |   |    |   ,------------,
    |    |   |    |   | <--- PCB   |
    |    |   |    |   | <---       |
    |    |   |    |   '------------'
    |    +---+    |
    '-------------'

          @@@ <--- solder "wave"
         || ||
    |   / | | \   | Side view
    \--/  | |  \--/

           ^
           | Molten Solder

The board move through this static wave of solder and are positioned so it
just touches the solder, and surface tension makes sure the right amount of
solder stays on. quite cool to watch.. :)

Cheers,
Ash.

---
Ashley Roll
Digital Nemesis Pty Ltd
www.digitalnemesis.com
Mobile: +61 (0)417 705 718

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