The Famous Eggtimer Rocketry Holiday Sale - 2019

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Just ordered some more.

I love these things. Great concept and implementation. Quality is great.

...

I'm organizing an Eggtimer build jam at one of our upcoming CMASS club meetings.View attachment 398856

We did this last year with NRVR and had a blast. If you have a projector in the room and a chance to hook up an inexpensive endocam, have one of the experienced e-people show off their technique as they go. You might also want to bring some extra supplies for the new assemblers (dixie cups for parts, foil for improvised static mats).
 
So the eggtimer instructions are pretty good but am wondering if there are any recommended videos on YouTube somewhere that are like “how to solder” that would be applicable to these units. I do better with videos and it looks like there are dozens on YT but just wondering what y’all recommend.
 
Dave, what are your soldering skills? A newbie? Do you have a good soldering station with variable temps and an iron that can have different siz tips? How good is your near vision?

Just need more info before I will comment.
 
Newbie
Basic soldering iron ... like the $30 model from home Dept - only one temp - super freaking hot
Near vision is pretty good with magnifying glass lol
 
So the eggtimer instructions are pretty good but am wondering if there are any recommended videos on YouTube somewhere that are like “how to solder” that would be applicable to these units. I do better with videos and it looks like there are dozens on YT but just wondering what y’all recommend.

Are you building the Classic, or a kit with surface mount parts?
 
So the eggtimer instructions are pretty good but am wondering if there are any recommended videos on YouTube somewhere that are like “how to solder” that would be applicable to these units. I do better with videos and it looks like there are dozens on YT but just wondering what y’all recommend.

here is a video on assembling them.

https://www.rocketryforum.com/threa...-eggtimer-quark-assembly.144041/#post-1753797

It showed up 3 days after I asked Cris if there were any good soldering videos on YouTube he’d recommend.
 
Built my first soldered-together Heathkit back in the late 60s, early 70s...

Variable heat soldering station is the way to go when soldering. Use just enough heat to do the job and no more. You need much less heat to solder a surface mount chip capacitor than you need to solder a PL259 to RG8.

Remember, heat the joint, not just the solder. You should avoid the temptation to take the solder to the joint with the iron. Heat the joint, then touch the solder to the joint away from the iron and the solder should flow into the joint.
 
I was asking the same questions 3 months ago and I’ve since built a quark, 2 quantum’s, a TR and an LCD receiver and GPS. I hadn’t soldered in 35 years prior to this.

There are a couple of good you tube videos. Watch them and follow along. Definitely buy a practice board or two first. Your skills will improve dramatically over the first couple of sessions.

Get a magnifying station for building and a 10x loop to examine the joints.

A variable heat setup is useful as particularly if you are trying to reheat a joint they often need extra heat to achieve it.

Consider writing off your first kit. Mine was a quark and it technically works but I’m using it as an altimeter only as I don’t really trust some of the solder joints.

N
 
We did this last year with NRVR and had a blast. If you have a projector in the room and a chance to hook up an inexpensive endocam, have one of the experienced e-people show off their technique as they go. You might also want to bring some extra supplies for the new assemblers (dixie cups for parts, foil for improvised static mats).
Extra parts is a great suggestion.


I highly recommend the practice kit that Greg mentioned. " I'd pick up a practice soldering kit like this." It's only $8 and better to screw that up than a good eggtimer kit.

https://www.amazon.com/Gikfun-Weldi...ce+soldering,aps,264&sr=8-8&tag=forumyield-20
 
TX's for $50, Quantums for 30 and Quarks for 15 - Electronics are back on the menu boys!!
 
Since I proved to myself I'm capable putting together one of these, it's time to retrofit the old fleet. A few extra for the new builds of course.

Need to spend more time flying and less time prepping. Gotta burn money faster.
IMG_20191125_215013.jpeg
 
I picked up this Christmas Tree to practice on before working on my Quark and Eggfinder Mini.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0142H2HBQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_Ran3DbFWFG9K1

I built basically the same thing before trying the Egg-stuff. The tree was easy compared to the mini, but it was a good starting point.

I would proceed in this order: tree->quark->mini. And have fun while doing it. Learning to solder has been a rewarding “bonus skill” that I’ve learned from this hobby.
 
Thanks for sharing all this info. I ended up watching a vid of someone assembling a Quark. Know what they say about a hobby? If you aren't having fun you aren't doing it right and that soldering stuff does NOT look like fun to me. Connor McGrath just got a bunch of my business lol. This Eggtimer stuff is still worth it to me though. I mean, who else as a WiFi switch I can use on all my old altimeters? I'm going to try this one out and I see myself buying more in the future.
 
I picked up this Christmas Tree to practice on before working on my Quark and Eggfinder Mini.

That's a cool kit, but it looks like all through-hole components, and both the Quark and Mini have SMT components. If you've never soldered, the tree is a good starting point, but you might also want to tackle the practice project previously recommended before moving on to the Quark/Mini:

https://www.amazon.com/Gikfun-Weldi...ce+soldering,aps,264&sr=8-8&tag=forumyield-20
 
...If you've never soldered, the tree is a good starting point, but you might also want to tackle the practice project previously recommended before moving on to the Quark/Mini:

https://www.amazon.com/Gikfun-Weldi...ce+soldering,aps,264&sr=8-8&tag=forumyield-20

I was thinking about getting one of those too. I have only soldered various bits to wires and not very much on a PCB. I might pick up another Quark or two as a practice board too. At least that way if it works, I have an altimeter to use instead of just flashing lights.
 
That's what I did, for the price it makes for a good test and you get something you really want if it works.
I was thinking about getting one of those too. I have only soldered various bits to wires and not very much on a PCB. I might pick up another Quark or two as a practice board too. At least that way if it works, I have an altimeter to use instead of just flashing lights.
 
My first kit was a WiFi switch. I bought a practice board, but didn’t use it. Can’t say the WiFi switch is pretty, but it works. On the other hand, my best soldering was on a Proton, but I still haven’t figured out why it won’t work. It’s the only one of a dozen or so I’ve soldered that doesn’t do what it’s supposed to do. If I can learn to solder, anyone can.
 
I just finished my second Quantum. This time I used my Olympus Stereo Microscope. What a difference. My first Quantum has problems, the main chute channel doesn't work. But with my stereo scope the second on went flawlessly. :) If you are going to do any SMT soldering I would highly recomend a stereo Microscope. You can find some deals on eBAy. Olympus & Nikon are very good.
 
Just a reminder that we still have our sale going on, through Monday Dec. 2nd. We have stock on most items, including the Eggfinder trackers, and the ones that we're out of we have parts on the way. The only exception is the Eggtimer Classic altimeter... we had a large school order which wiped out our stock, and I'm having to reorder PC boards which will add about two weeks to the shipping time.
 
I've heard Cris has a 22 lb turkey cooking for 2nd Thanksgiving. Don't be surprised if your order arrives with a complimentary slice of turkey.

But not gravy though. That would be silly.
 
Because of some complex SMD projects, I've invested in some SMD tools ... a solder paste dispenser and a toaster oven with a reflow controller.

The photos show the process for a Quantum.

- Put a dab of solder on each SMD pad. The paste dispenser has a syringe and a foot petal control.
- Pick and place the parts.
- Flow the solder in the oven
- Inspect, fixing any joints that require attention
- Repeat for bottom

Voila!



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Doing reflow with a template is even better... the solder paste coverage is more even. I published templates for the Proton, the other SMT boards will be posted in early 2020... I was supposed to do them this year but never got around to it. Oshstencils.com is a good place to get the Gerber cream files made into templates, they're cheap and the polyimide stencils work just fine with the relatively large pads that we use. You don't really NEED an oven controller... if you set your toaster oven to 350F or so they'll come out just fine, put the board in with the door open for about a minute, close the door and leave the board in for about 2 minutes, turn it off for about a minute or so with the door open for a cool-down cycle then remove the board to cool at room temperature.
 
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