Originally published at: https://boingboing.net/2018/11/28/nasas-hand-soldering-guide.html
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I’m soldering right now.
Broken link on the PDF that looks more than a little creepy. (Could be just me)
http: // chrome-extension: // oemmndcbldboiebfnladdacbdfmadadm/ http: // www.sal.wisc.edu/docs/Soldering%20Basics.pdf?mc_cid=cbd21cd35c&mc_eid=af9e74639f
This is part you want.
Same here. Looks like it’s the same on Firefox too, so at least the error is not on our end.
I have known Rusty for years. Rusty’s Electric Dreams (an inbox zine for positive deviants). Rusty totally belongs on my favorite 'zine Boing Boing.
Cool you gave her a shout out, so happy she is part of the family!
Cheers!
I good naturedly curse whomever suggested that Rusty was Rob’s alter ego account because the initials lined up and … well … Rob.
I thought that for a year afterward, but it became pretty clear that was not the case as time went on because … well … Rob
+1 to so glad Rusty is here.
There’s also an impressive NASA knotting guide. I just forgot where i got it from. Here or Emily Lakdawalla?
Interesting to note that the “solder dots” technique that all the cool kids are doing these days* would be rejected as “lead not discernible”.
Aesthetics and practicality: not always compatible.
*As mentioned in this Cool Tools post:
Geez, I’m physically disqualified from being an astronaut (not to mention all the other reasons) and the majority of my soldered connections look like the “reject” pictures. I guess it’s time to accept that I’m never having a career with NASA.
mighty fine resistor you got there m’lad yep 3.3k ohms 5% and make no mistake, might even be rated to 1 watt, yep
I remember that! I didn’t say anything because I’m obviously not Rob… I’m Russell Brand… SURPRISE!
If I was bolder, I point out that solder rhymes with folder. But the reception I receive might be colder. I’d be fodder for those who like to say “sodder”, even though it’s odder.
I was hoping that this would have actual soldering tips, and not focus so much on weird old-timey connections last seen when coonskin caps were in fashion, but I guess the photos are useful.
If I were relying on a soldered part to keep me alive in a flimsy metal bubble floating in the remote sub-arctic airless radioactive void of space, I wouldn’t want the joints to be done like that either. It’s pretty obvious how it could go invisibly wrong. However, I will be doing that very thing with my future flashing-light boards. (Along with many other things NASA wants me to reject).
These are great images. I’ve committed most of these soldering sins. Some of theme didn’t ruin my project, but I wasn’t sending it to Mars.
Some people think it’s wrong to solder people’s hands, especially some people whose hands I’m soldering.