SMT how-to guides

The most confusing part of SMT setup — where the rotation offset comes from, and how to fix it once per package.

OpenPnP, Charmhigh, Neoden or LumenPnP? What actually matters for a small bench.

Which supply format to pick for a prototype vs a production run — and how each one feeds.

From 0402 chips to QFN and BGA — what the names mean and which you can hand-solder.

How paste gets onto the board before placement — which stencil to order and how to print a clean deposit.

The nozzle lifts each part off the feeder — the wrong size drops parts or fouls neighbours.

Preheat, soak, reflow, cool — what each stage does and why the curve matters.

Why small boards get grouped into a panel — and what a pick-and-place needs to run one.

You don't need a pick-and-place to build SMD — the right iron, flux and technique go a long way.

The two files that turn your board into an assembled one — what goes in each, and how they differ across CAD tools.

Flux makes good joints — and sometimes needs cleaning off afterward. Which type, and when to wash.

Surface-mount dominates modern boards — but through-hole still earns its place. How to choose.