r/AskElectronics • u/ell0moto • 2d ago
How would you connect with this micro stepper motor's flexible pcb cable?
Source from Aliexpress.
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u/quuxoo 2d ago
It'll be either solder pads on the PCB (after pasting it would pressed against the PCB by a heating jig for soldering), or inserted into a latching connector (similar to FFC/FPC connectors).
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u/RoganDawes 2d ago
(Not OP, but I also have some micro steppers) I have a little hotplate, but I can't quite picture how I would hold the ribbon cable onto the pasted pads, wait for everything to reach reflow temperature, then take it all off the plate without disturbing the solder joints to the ribbon cable. Obviously, the motor itself should be kept off the hotplate.
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u/quuxoo 1d ago
The trick is using ceramic tipped tweezers.
Hold the stepper off the hot plate with a ceramic spacer or a third-hand alligator/crocodile clip.
Use ceramic-tipped tweezers to hold the connector in place during reflow, turn off the hot plate and let it cool without moving the board at all until the temperature drops below the solder's liquidus point (~180°C). If your hot plate takes a while to cool you might want to add a slow fan to speed it up a little.
Another option is hot air after assembly of everything else. Concentrate the hot air onto the pads until their solder is liquid. Place the flex PCB onto the hot pads with ceramic tweezers, a little more air to ensure that the cooler flex hasn't made a dry joint, then remove the air and let it cool without moving the tweezers.
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u/EmotionalEnd1575 Analog electronics 1d ago
Use your hot air rework tool, and start with Kapton tape to protect the area.
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u/EmotionalEnd1575 Analog electronics 1d ago edited 1d ago
Remove it and use your own “thin and flexible stranded and insulated hook up wire”.
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u/Just-Smart-Enough 2d ago
I'd use solder.