Reflow Oven

[dwolsten]

@Kenski

I built a reflow oven using a ControLeo2 a few months ago, and I used a larger Farberware convection oven I got from Walmart for $40.

It seems to work well so far, but I still need to capture the data from it on a run and see how it compares to the ideal profile. It seems to be a bit slow to me, but the ControLeo2 isn't complaining. It does seem like it's not that easy to find ovens which are both on the small side and come with a convection fan, which to me was essential. I reflow a lot of boards at once and I need uniform heating throughout the oven, and this oven does that.

One roll of Reflect-a-Gold was not enough. I used one sheet of Thermo-Tec heat barrier, cut in half, for the top and bottom. This was the perfect size for this oven, and the top part hasn't had any trouble with the adhesive. However, despite only needing to cover the back, sides, and door, I needed a second roll of the Reflect-A-Gold.

My next two projects are to capture the data from a run, and to add a servo to open the door. I've got the servo now, I just need to find a pushrod and figure out how to hook it up.

[RJ_Make]

Ken,
Man I'm sorry, somehow I missed your post... :-(

1 The setup above works very well, I have no complaints, I would like a little more flexibility in profile options, but outside of that works well.

2 I can use this oven with the oven at 10F outside. No problems getting to the target profile temps.

3 8.5"x 11-7/8"

4 1 Roll was "just enough".

5 No, single only

6 I would NOT build one of these oven without the convection fan. That said I don't have any experience with a standard oven ;-)

@Kenski said:

@ServiceXp

Hi,

I really appreciate your comments and build-notes, both here and on the KS thread, too.

Like you, I find the B&D TO1675B an attractive model for turning into a reflow oven.

A few questions (don't worry most are Yes/No, or short answer!):

How well does your larger oven work?
Does it have <some reasonable amount> of excess up-slope heating capacity? Meaning, does it have any trouble getting up to temp, quickly enough? (My concern is 'barely' being able to run a lead-free profile. Like you, I would insulate the shell).

Do you remember the size/dimensions of PCB support plate you made (so I can get one made-to-order)?
Was one roll of the Reflect-A-Gold tape enough? I get that this is a labor-intensive step!
Ever done several boards at once? Any consistency or 'even-heating' problems?
Do you have any real feel for whether having a convection-type oven makes a difference... is the heating any more uniform?

Thanks again for any insights you can offer.

Ken

[bjornhallberg]

These ovens are killing me here. No matter where I look I can't seem to find a convection oven at a reasonable price with quartz elements. It's either one or the other, or crazy prices or ridiculously large volumes that will take ages to heat without the addition of extra heating elements.

Here are my candidates so far:

http://www.amazon.it/Ariete-Cousine-Petit-Forno-Elettrico/dp/B004JLN2EW
10 litres, 1000w. Quartz. High W for the volume if it checks out.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00K22YJEY
9 litres, 800w. Quartz. Looks a lot like the one Rocketscream used with great success.

http://www.harald-nyborg.se/wasco-miniugn-18l-1380w.html
18 litres, 1380W. Not quartz? But can be found locally. A bit low wattage for the volume.

[RJ_Make]

Not sure you need quarts elements

[A Former User]

Hi, here is another ControLeo2 reflow oven for european users :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAqJej8u2kY

Regards,
StaringL

[bjornhallberg]

@Staringlizard Cool! Is it this oven you're using? 14L, 1200W? Are you happy with the temperature ramp-up time?

[Gohper]

I have been looking at the ControLeo for a while.
I already have an oven which I use for baking wet snuff.
Today it has three DS18bB20 sensors which needs to be replaced. And I will try to get the sketch working on a Nano.
Then will need two Nanos, one for board baking and one for baking snuff.

Have anyone run the sketch on an ATMega328?

[blacey]

Peter Easton, the ControLEO inventor, is about to release a servo-based automatic oven-door opener that will use the 4th relay to open the door at the end of the reflow cycle. I saw a prototype when I visited him recently but he is planning to launch it at the Maker Faire in San Francisco, CA this Thu/Fri, I plan to pick one up when I visit his booth.

[RJ_Make]

@blacey I'm hoping, at some point, he offers upper and lower temperature zones and stored temperature profiles.. That would place his product far ahead of the rest.

[blacey]

@ServiceXp Have you sent that request directly to Peter? He is pretty responsive to suggestions...

[RJ_Make]

@blacey Yes Sir.

[bjornhallberg]

So, my reflow build is coming along ... slowly. Looking into plotting curves on a larger LCD, like the Zallus oven and using a small servo or stepper motor to open the door.

One thing that is bugging me though is the reflect-a-gold tape. Costs a fortune and I can't even seem to find any or even an equivalent product in Sweden. What do you guys think about the Ebay / Ali knockoffs? Are they good enough? I mean I don't care if they fall short a few percent in heat reflection, I'm not building a spaceship here, as long as the adhesive holds up.

[RJ_Make]

@bjornhallberg said:

So, my reflow build is coming along ... slowly. Looking into plotting curves on a larger LCD, like the Zallus oven and using a small servo or stepper motor to open the door.

One thing that is bugging me though is the reflect-a-gold tape. Costs a fortune and I can't even seem to find any or even an equivalent product in Sweden. What do you guys think about the Ebay / Ali knockoffs? Are they good enough? I mean I don't care if they fall short a few percent in heat reflection, I'm not building a spaceship here, as long as the adhesive holds up.

Not sure, but I think maybe the more important characteristic is it's "Sticky Power" :stuck_out_tongue: You don't want the tape coming loose..

[A Former User]

@bjornhallberg Sorry for late reply :(, I forgot about my post and did not get any update on mail. But yes, the link you posted is correct :)
I have not checked it very thoroughly yet, but so far it gets the job done with the automatic calibration from ControLeo. I even put a board in the oven 3-4 times without anything breaking.

[Martin Tellblom]

@bjornhallberg Did you find a good oven to use in Sweden? I'm looking in to building one myself now

[stp715a]

Thank you for sharing your build. Wondering since it has been a few years, how the Thermo-Tec adhesive is holding up?

Thank you.

[WVRick]

I have a question. On the convection fan motor is the fan (pictured) for convection or is there another fan inclosed and the one pictured for cooling the motor? I like this build and plan on doing one.