Metcal Blog

If you take good care of your soldering tips, they'll take care of you and improve your return on investment. Download this handy solder tip care infographic. 

We are very excited to have received a 2017 SMT China Vision Award in the category of Hand Soldering for the CV-5200 Connection Validation™ Soldering Station. The award was presented to the company on April 25, 2017 at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Center during NEPCON China. This is the second award that the company has received for Connection Validation since its introduction in early 2017.

One of the questions we're frequently asked is "why don't Metcal soldering irons require calibration." In fact, there are a number of soldering stations that no longer require calibration, partly because the IPC standards have changed.

Traditionally, a conventional soldering station uses a temperature measuring sensor that feeds back the heating element temperature (not the tip temperature.) In many systems, the temperature that is displayed is somewhere between the tip (working surface) and the heater, and then is fed back to the temperature control PCB. These temperature sensors can and do vary over time. This variance can cause the displayed temperature to be different from the measured tip temperature.

While Hoa has been with OK International for years, he's been driving the many new innovations you're seeing in 2017 and beyond. It seems like a great time for Metcal fans to learn more about him!

Today Metcal was awarded the third award for the CV-5200 Connection Validation™ Soldering Station.

Contactless solder cleaning is rapidly replacing manual cleaning methods in more and more rework applications. Metcal’s Scarab system provides an easy to use and cost effective solution for PCB cleaning challenges faced by most rework manufacturers today.

Paired on a bench top with the Metcal Scorpion Advanced Package Rework System, any rework operation can now effectively and economically clean a board and also ensure accurate component placement and custom tailored reflow profiles in a single bench top operation.

Metcal’s Solder Wire Feeder adds control and convenience to the soldering process. With digital controls, high performance, and its ability to handle multiple solder wire diameters, it provides repeatability and functionality to any hand soldering process. The Solder Wire Feeder pairs with Metcal’s MX-5200 series or MX-500 Soldering and Rework Stations.

Recently, SMT Magazine caught up with Metcal Product Support Engineer, Robert Roush to discuss Metcal’s new patented Connection Validation Hand Soldering System.  The discussion gets into how originally with the introduction of SmartHeat, Metcal allowed customers to achieve a new level of process control in their hand soldering operation and how with Connection Validation, Metcal is taking process control into greater heights.

Christopher Larocca describes Connection Validation (CV), the latest Metcal innovation in hand soldering. CV provides close loop feedback to the operator via a LED ring integral to the hand-piece that detects successful intermetallic compound (IMC) formation - resulting in more reliable solder joints.