[Robotgroup] advice needed: soldering Piezo disks

[Andre Lamothe]

When I was a teenager we used to build hot rod cards (in the 80's), and one 
of my favorite things to do after wrenching on the cars all day was go on an 
old road and open the door a bit and drag a crowbar on the ground, it put 
off so many sparks it lit up the sky, lots of fun. Of course, its very 
dangerous and you have to be very careful not to let loose of it or let it 
get caught by the rear tire, otherwise bad things could happen.

Andre'

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Def Egge" <robodigest at innervate.com>
To: "The Robot Group Mailing List" <robotgroup at puremagic.com>
Sent: Saturday, November 17, 2007 3:00 PM
Subject: Re: [Robotgroup] advice needed: soldering Piezo disks


At 18:41  2007-11-17, you wrote:
-=-=-=-=-= begin quoted message =-=-=-=-=-

 >Another way to connect things for example when trying to solder to
 >batteries
 >etc. is to weld the connections. You build a high voltage source
and
 >then
 >discharge it across the leads. I have used it for battery
connections
 >
 >before, kinda cool. For example, here's a company that makes little

 >hobby
 >welders. But, a good technique to use when you just cant solder
 >something.
 >
 >http://www.hobbyspotwelders.com/HSBATTERYPEN.php
 >
 >http://www.hobbyspotwelders.com/basics.php
 >
 >This wouldn't work in your case unless you wanted to weld the brass

 >parts,
 >but its definitely worth storing in your mental ram for a rainy
day.
 >
 >Andre'
 >
 >----- Original Message -----
 >From: "Def Egge" <robodigest at innervate.com>
 >To: "The Robot Group Mailing List" <robotgroup at puremagic.com>
 >Sent: Saturday, November 17, 2007 1:30 PM
 >Subject: Re: [Robotgroup] advice needed: soldering Piezo disks
 >
 >
 >At 00:05  2007-11-17, you wrote:
 >-=-=-=-=-= begin quoted message =-=-=-=-=-
 >
 > >Hmmm, in general, you want to do it quickly and get the solder
 >to >flow fast, so tin the lead itself, put some flux on the surface
 >and >then wet the solder tip with solder and then solder it down
 >dead >center. That usually works pretty well.
 > >
 > >Andre'
 > >
 > >----- Original Message -----
 > >From: "Def Egge" <robodigest at innervate.com>
 > >To: "The Robot Group" <robotgroup at puremagic.com>
 > >Sent: Friday, November 16, 2007 6:43 PM
 > >Subject: [Robotgroup] advice needed: soldering Piezo disks
 > >
 > >
 > >
 > >Has anyone had experience in soldering leads to piezo elements
 > >(crystal layer with brass backing)?
 > >
 > >Soldering a lead to the brass seems pretty straightforward.  Any
 >tips
 > >on soldering the other lead to the piezo crystal layer
itself?  The
 > >crystal layer appears to be epoxied to the brass backing
 >plate.  How
 > >likely is that to be damaged?
 > >
 > >I have examined pre-soldered piezo elements but I cannot tell
what
 > >preparation was made to the crystal layer before soldering the
lead
 > >to it.
 > >
 > >Thanks for any tips y'all might offer.
 > >
 > >
 > >--
 > >
 > >All the best....
 > >
 > >Mike
 > >
 > >_______________________________________________
 > >Robotgroup mailing list
 > >Robotgroup at puremagic.com
 > >http://lists.puremagic.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/robotgroup
 > >
 > >_______________________________________________
 > >Robotgroup mailing list
 > >Robotgroup at puremagic.com
 > >http://lists.puremagic.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/robotgroup
 >
 >-=-=-=-=-= end quoted message =-=-=-=-=-
 >
 >Sounds like the advice I got years ago when learning to solder ...
 >work hot, work fast, use flux.
 >
 >Thanks, Andre'!
 >
 >
 >--
 >
 >All the best....
 >
 >Mike
 >
 >_______________________________________________
 >Robotgroup mailing list
 >Robotgroup at puremagic.com
 >http://lists.puremagic.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/robotgroup
 >
 >_______________________________________________
 >Robotgroup mailing list
 >Robotgroup at puremagic.com
 >http://lists.puremagic.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/robotgroup

-=-=-=-=-= end quoted message =-=-=-=-=-

Thanks for that tip, too.  I frequently see lithium coin cells with
spot-welded tabs.  Soldering would be taking a big chance.

Ah, the memories ... spot-welding metal-wire racks and sheet-metal
panels in a factory ... my first industrial job!

The boss (a$$hole) had a favorite place to stand while he showed
visitors around or chewed out the employees.  I discovered that, if I
used an oil can kept hidden under my welder, I could consistently
shower that distant spot with droplets of molten metal.  ;-)  Nearly
35 years later, I remember the pleasure felt in irritating that
cheapskate, dishonest S.o.B. ... and it brings a smile to my face all
over again.


-- 

All the best....

Mike

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