Learning to solder tiny SMD components again - With hot air this time!

So I decided to give SMD soldering another go but this time I used hot air with the popular 858D hot air station. I also decided to skip the cheap boring kits and had a custom PCB made. This was my first time ever ordering a custom PCB - I've always made my own in the past - and I was very pleased with what I received. JLCPCB is not a sponsor of this video, but they delivered an excellent product!
If you want to make some of these boards, you can download the Gerber files on GitHub
github.com/Kaouthia/LED-Sampl...
Soldering SMD with hot air definitely has its challenges - like not melting your components - but it's a lot more fun than doing it with a soldering iron. I've done some more practicing since making this video and I think I've finally figured out how to solder those LEDs without liquefying them!
858D Hot Air Station (220V) - s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DcI...
Mechanic 63/37 183° Solder Paste - s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DFS...
SMD LEDs in various sizes and colours - s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DeL...
Eventek KPS1505D 30V 10A benchtop variable power supply (US) - amzn.to/3xFxgTV
Eventek KPS1505D 30V 10A benchtop variable power supply (UK) - amzn.to/3BWPN0l
TS100 Soldering Iron - s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_Dks...
Pinecil Pine64 Soldering Iron - s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DBo...
AIM 62/36/2 Solder - www2.mouser.com/ProductDetail...
MG Chemicals 835 Rosin Liquid Flux (US) - amzn.to/49bTtJR
MG Chemicals 835 Rosin Liquid Flux (UK) - amzn.to/49awe32
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00:00 Introduction
00:29 Why learn to solder SMD?
01:09 The SMD LEDs
02:03 My first ever custom PCB order!
03:05 Supplying power to the board
04:40 The resistor/LED layout
05:28 Mechanic Solder Paste
05:46 80s Retro Cocktail Sticks
06:04 The correct USB-C socket
06:42 LED Polarity
09:48 I hate yellow LEDs!
10:32 Applying the solder paste
11:25 Bring on the hot air!
13:05 Testing the LEDs on the board
13:47 I still hate yellow LEDs!
14:11 It was at this moment, he knew he...
15:24 But what about that breadboard LED?
16:40 Figuring out the resistors
17:50 Forward voltage and current
20:21 The Maths (sorry!)
22:02 More LEDs made wrong!
22:29 Melting LEDs
23:44 Soldering the resistors
26:07 First test!
26:26 Soldering Type-C USB Port
27:53 Soldering Type-B USB Port
28:10 Firing it up
29:29 Wrapping up
Gear used or mentioned in this video series...
US Links
Panasonic GH5 - amzn.to/3UwEsht
Panasonic G85 - amzn.to/49awgYI
Panasonic GX85 - amzn.to/4bxMjkK
Behringer U-Phoria UMC404HD - amzn.to/4bBTngf
Rode NTG5 shotgun microphone - amzn.to/42ENNWn
Feelworld FW279 - amzn.to/4byq1iL
UK Links
Panasonic GH5 - amzn.to/49uI0Vx
Panasonic G80 - amzn.to/3SRubLw
Panasonic GX80 - amzn.to/4bvU9eN
Behringer U-Phoria UMC404HD - amzn.to/4bxMe0q
Rode NTG5 shotgun microphone - amzn.to/3OFbDvg
Feelworld FW279 - amzn.to/3SRINun
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[@JohnAldred]

If you want some LED sample boards of your own, the Gerber files are up on GitHub - github.com/Kaouthia/LED-Sample-Board

[@udijw]

This was a great watch John

[@JohnAldred]

Thanks, Udi! :)

[@justaguy4real]

15:15 what if you just bridge them? and what airflow are you using?

[@IAmOrion]

Nice project! Another nice addition would be 2 x CR2032 coin cell batteries and an smd switch making it portable.... why? Why not? "Just because" :)
Edit: Side question - which of the camera is your Macro one? I've been thinking of getting a Macro camera for zooming SMD and PCB stuff in general

[@JohnAldred]

The main issue is that the coin cell batteries probably wouldn't be able to provide enough current for all of the LEDs. Even without a resistor, you can run a single LED off a coin cell battery without blowing it. If you've got this fully loaded with 42 LEDs, it's going to struggle! As it is right now, it's already quite portable. All you need to power it is a USB power bank and most of us carry one of those around these days for phone battery emergencies.
Side answer - It's the same camera I always use for filming overhead stuff (the Panasonic GX80/85). The only difference is the lens. I'm using the Nikon 105mm f/2.8D AF Micro-Nikkor with the Viltrox NF-M43 adapter so I can mount it on a Micro Four Thirds camera. :)