Computer component level repair.

quilb · 19th October 2006, 1:10 PM

Hi,

I have just been promoted at work to working in the component level repair section of the computer company i work for. This means i will be playing with surface mount components as well as normal leaded components.

The job i have is an entry level one for the section eg. i will be starting by working on HDD's and CD-ROM's before moving towards mainboard repair eventually.

Wondering if anyone has any tips of this sort of work? And books that would be good to read. Havn't really done much troubleshooting on this level, anyone recommend any books?

Job does include training but i want to know what you guys recommend.

-KoMoD0- · 19th October 2006, 3:16 PM

Where do you work at?

Most places just bin the $15 cd drive and RMA hdd's, cant imagine what you plan to fix on mobos other than the caps

cooperx · 19th October 2006, 3:54 PM

PC Repair For Dummies?

luke o · 19th October 2006, 3:56 PM

Jobs like this actually exist? Crazy! I've repaired a few video cards and mainboards myself and its not easy even with good gear. M/B Caps are about the only thing I can safely replace if they pop without damaging the tracks and multilayered pcb's. The voltage regulator on an old 9600pro was about the most complex thing i've replaced and actually had work again, multi layer pcb's suck.

Repairing hard disks and dvd drives sounds like fidely work, what can go wrong with them really? Plastic cogs break maybe? Motors burn out?

quilb · 19th October 2006, 3:58 PM

lol, yeah, they have a way of saving money by repairing any parts that are not covered by suppliers warranty. I don't know all the details yet. But it includes soldering and SMT parts.

lol. Don't want to mention my employer... :P

quilb · 19th October 2006, 4:02 PM

Electronics side of it. I'm guesing replaceing/repairing controller boards on hdd and optical drives. Won't know more details until im in the department. But yeah its interesting. I also thought that multilayer boards caused lots of problems here. But guess i will see.

Wanted more info thats why i was asking for books. eg. ones covering how this stuff is actually repaired. Multi-layer board repair is of interest and i have seen the techs fix mainboards using soldering irons.

nux · 19th October 2006, 4:59 PM

If you are doing SMD soldering, its easier if you use a hot air rework gun rather than a soldering iron.

dakiller · 19th October 2006, 5:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nuxie1

If you are doing SMD soldering, its easier if you use a hot air rework gun rather than a soldering iron.

I must say that I have no problems soldering anything SMD with just a hand soldering iron, as long as it has exposed pins i can solder it which is basically excluding bga and the likes. I've never used a hot air reworker before so I cannot compare them, but they probably help with desoldering a lot more, the only things i would want more dedicated tools for is desoldering QFP parts with pins down all four sides if destroying the chip in the process wasn't an option

Multilayer boards are no problems at all either, they all have plated through holes and vias connecting the layers and just as long as you don't go ripping up tracks, which usually only happens on poorly made pcb's, their just as easy to deal with as single layer boards

nux · 19th October 2006, 5:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dakiller

I must say that I have no problems soldering anything SMD with just a hand soldering iron, as long as it has exposed pins i can solder it which is basically excluding bga and the likes. I've never used a hot air reworker before so I cannot compare them, but they probably help with desoldering a lot more, the only things i would want more dedicated tools for is desoldering QFP parts with pins down all four sides if destroying the chip in the process wasn't an option

True, you can do it with a soldering iron. And I am not talking from experience either, just from what I've read. But most people say a hot air rework station makes things much easier to remove and resolder SMD parts, as well as making it much quicker.

mAJORD · 19th October 2006, 7:17 PM

Hot air to remove multi leaded components with delicate tracks or none at all on some legs.

Good, light, fine tipped iron for the rest.

to remove 2 - 3 leaded SMD components just heat the leads alternatlely, swapping faster every time until the whole thing is loose then push it aside.

for multileaded ICs with tracks to all pins. you can add a big pile of solder to the leads and run your iron up and down the same as above, then clean your mess with wick.

All takes a bit of practice to perfect and not damage things. Ditto with making a call on what is going to lift up and what shouldn't. Can allways practice on dead boards of course. I still lift stuff up, but only when I'm being blase' or didn't notice there are pads with no tracks.

19th October 2006, 1:10 PM	#1
quilb Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Central Coast, NSW, Australia Posts: 75	Computer component level repair. Hi, I have just been promoted at work to working in the component level repair section of the computer company i work for. This means i will be playing with surface mount components as well as normal leaded components. The job i have is an entry level one for the section eg. i will be starting by working on HDD's and CD-ROM's before moving towards mainboard repair eventually. Wondering if anyone has any tips of this sort of work? And books that would be good to read. Havn't really done much troubleshooting on this level, anyone recommend any books? Job does include training but i want to know what you guys recommend.

19th October 2006, 3:54 PM	#3
cooperx Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Chapel St, Mel Posts: 915	PC Repair For Dummies? __________________ <insert signature here> This line is intentionally left blank

19th October 2006, 3:56 PM	#4
luke o Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: WA Posts: 3,139	Jobs like this actually exist? Crazy! I've repaired a few video cards and mainboards myself and its not easy even with good gear. M/B Caps are about the only thing I can safely replace if they pop without damaging the tracks and multilayered pcb's. The voltage regulator on an old 9600pro was about the most complex thing i've replaced and actually had work again, multi layer pcb's suck. Repairing hard disks and dvd drives sounds like fidely work, what can go wrong with them really? Plastic cogs break maybe? Motors burn out? __________________ i7 920@3.8ghz/thermright 120 ultra extreme/6GB Ram/6970/Dell 24" TFTx2 OCAU Camera Club Member Nikon D7100, Nikon 35mm/50mm/85mm F1.8,Sigma 10-20mm, Nikon 80-200mm F2.8, Nikon 17-35mm F2.8 (plus the kit 18-55 and 55-200mm VR)

19th October 2006, 3:16 PM	#2
-KoMoD0- Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Western Sydney Posts: 7,735	Where do you work at? Most places just bin the $15 cd drive and RMA hdd's, cant imagine what you plan to fix on mobos other than the caps

19th October 2006, 3:58 PM	#5
quilb Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Central Coast, NSW, Australia Posts: 75	lol, yeah, they have a way of saving money by repairing any parts that are not covered by suppliers warranty. I don't know all the details yet. But it includes soldering and SMT parts. lol. Don't want to mention my employer... :P

19th October 2006, 4:02 PM	#6
quilb Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Central Coast, NSW, Australia Posts: 75	Electronics side of it. I'm guesing replaceing/repairing controller boards on hdd and optical drives. Won't know more details until im in the department. But yeah its interesting. I also thought that multilayer boards caused lots of problems here. But guess i will see. Wanted more info thats why i was asking for books. eg. ones covering how this stuff is actually repaired. Multi-layer board repair is of interest and i have seen the techs fix mainboards using soldering irons.

19th October 2006, 4:59 PM	#7
nux Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Melbourne Posts: 16,790	If you are doing SMD soldering, its easier if you use a hot air rework gun rather than a soldering iron.

19th October 2006, 7:17 PM	#10
mAJORD Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Griffin , Brisbane Posts: 6,726	Hot air to remove multi leaded components with delicate tracks or none at all on some legs. Good, light, fine tipped iron for the rest. to remove 2 - 3 leaded SMD components just heat the leads alternatlely, swapping faster every time until the whole thing is loose then push it aside. for multileaded ICs with tracks to all pins. you can add a big pile of solder to the leads and run your iron up and down the same as above, then clean your mess with wick. All takes a bit of practice to perfect and not damage things. Ditto with making a call on what is going to lift up and what shouldn't. Can allways practice on dead boards of course. I still lift stuff up, but only when I'm being blase' or didn't notice there are pads with no tracks.