In Japan, an unusual miniature reflow station for soldering has been unveiled. Despite heating up to 350°C, the gadget operates via USB with Power Delivery.
The Japanese marketplace Shigezone offers the portable USB PD Reflow Plate, which is powered by USB. The device's top plate reaches a default maximum temperature of 280°C, or 350°C when adjusted. The gadget is priced at ¥4400, approximately $29.
The dimensions of the top plate are 55 x 55 mm. According to the original store page, it can accommodate a single-board mini PC like the Arduino Uno comfortably. However, with caution and experience, the device could be suitable for reflowing graphics cards and other boards.
Typically, this process occurs in significantly larger devices, and a professional will likely need a conventional reflow oven or soldering station. The reflowing process doesn't resolve as many issues as proper resoldering, but in cases where contacts are intact yet not functioning for some unknown reason, reflowing might help. Nevertheless, soldering will still be necessary to restore fully broken connections.
The cost of most reflow ovens starts at around $60 and can easily reach hundreds of dollars. The small form factor may be more convenient in certain situations, yet it also poses a greater risk to the user.
Source: Tom's Hardware
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