Make Your Own Solder Paste Dispenser

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpgOYNB1Kng]

Sparky’s Widgets built this very cool solder paste dispensing system using a custom Arduino board packing two relays, as well as a pair of airflow-controlling solenoid valves, an off-the-shelf syringe, and an el-cheapo air compressor from Lowes.

After he shows how to make the dispenser, the narrator (Sparky?) goes into a lengthy demonstration of actually using it to apply solder to the pads of a couple of surface mount projects he’s working on, then demonstrates reflowing the solder in a toaster oven with a multimeter’s thermocouple inside so he can monitor the temperature.

You may recall Sparky’s Widgets from their GarData Aeroponics display at Maker Faire Bay Area earlier this year.