Как научиться паять с нуля: пошаговая инструкция, особенности и рекомендации профессионалов

Как паять? Как правильно пользоваться паяльником и научиться пайке с нуля? С чем надо работать?

С давних времен человечество знакомо с паяльником и техникой его эксплуатации, благодаря чему получается соединить в единое целое несколько разных металлических изделий. Впервые данный метод начали практиковать кузнецы-ювелиры, так как их стандартная сварка не позволяла создавать оригинальные украшения. Чуть позже данная технология стала применяться при починке посуды из нержавейки. А когда человечество освоило электричество, припой стал основным методом соединения электрокомпонентов. Освоить технику спаивания несложно, главное – проявлять особую внимательность, щепетильность и огромное терпение.

Техника безопасности

Любые производственные процессы требуют соблюдения техники безопасности. Особенно важно следовать всем правилам в работе, связанной с высокой температурой и электричеством.

К сожалению, не каждый человек в полной мере оценивает риски процесса паяльных работ. А ведь банальное соблюдение правил безопасности позволяет обеспечить защиту от термических ожогов и удара током. А самое главное – при правильном использовании паяльника предотвращается риск возникновения пожара.

Прежде чем приступать к пайке металлических элементов, необходимо убедиться, что кабель питания паяльника исправен. Жало ни в коем случае не должно соприкасаться с проводом и другими предметами, подвергающимися воздействию высокой температуры. В процессе работы необходимо откладывать паяльник на специальную подставку. Категорически запрещается касаться корпуса прибора и уж тем более хватать его голыми руками.

Как говорят мастера, правильно паять – значит, паять безопасно. Каждый процесс пайки преследует 2 фактора опасности:

• высокий уровень температуры;
• опасные газы, выделяемые при нагреве проволоки и флюса.

Далее предлагается познакомиться с основными правилами техники безопасности, которые должен соблюдать каждый специалист, будь то опытный профессионал или же начинающий мастер.

• Прежде чем подключать устройство к розетке, необходимо внимательно его смотреть. Проверить, чтобы не было каких-либо механических повреждений. Убедиться, что кабель и вилка целые, а жало крепко зафиксировано у основания ручки.
• Так как в процессе пайки выделяются вредные для здоровья газы, необходимо, чтобы рабочее место имело хорошую вентиляцию. В идеале это должно быть помещение, оснащенное вентиляционной вытяжкой.
• Ни в коем случае нельзя нагромождать рабочее место разными инструментами и материалами. Под рукой должны присутствовать только те предметы, которые требуются для выполняемой работы.
• Откладывать паяльник во включенном состоянии необходимо на специальную подставку, которая прочно фиксируется на рабочей поверхности.
• Во время припоя крайне важно защищаться от брызг флюса. Для этого необходимо использовать защитные перчатки, очки и щиток.
• Чтобы соединяемые детали не сдвигались, следует использовать только специальные инструменты: пинцет, зажим, «третья рука».
• Категорически запрещается прижимать спаиваемые элементы руками, нагретым корпусом паяльника или массивными предметами.

Если вдруг капли флюса или припоя случайно попали на кожный покров, требуется незамедлительно промыть участок поражения холодной воды. Сверху обработать рану заживляющим кремом или спреем. В случае если брызги поразили слизистую или глаза, необходимо срочно обратиться к врачу.

Что необходимо?

Для любого процесса соединения металлических изделий важно иметь основной источник тепла. Как становится понятно, речь идет о паяльнике. Работы с открытым пламенем, электрической спиралью или лазерным лучом чаще всего проводят в производственных масштабах. Для дома специалисты предпочитают приобретать привычные электрические модели. С их помощью можно отремонтировать и восстановить разные электросхемы, сконструировать электротехническое оборудование, а также сделать лужение припоя металлических конструкций.

Активация электрического паяльника происходит посредством подключения вилки устройства в розетку. Стандартная длина кабеля большинства моделей составляет 1 м, однако мастера утверждают, что этого размера не всегда хватает для комфортной эксплуатации, поэтому приходится использовать удлинитель. Кабель электрического паяльника встроен в рукоятку, которая может быть выполнена из дерева или пластика. Внешне она напоминает удлиненную ручку, форма которой удобно располагается в руке.

Для пайки электронных изделий предпочтительно использовать паяльник с невысокой мощностью, рукоятка которого отличается пистолетной формой с курком запуска нагрева. Именно на таких моделях жало довольно быстро приобретает высокую температуру.

Для соединения металлических изделий используется припой. Это сплав из олова и свинца. В некоторых случаях добавляются иные виды металлов. Припой представляет собой трубку или проволоку разных диаметров. В трубчатом припое внутренняя часть наполнена канифолью, благодаря чему процесс пайки протекает гораздо проще.

Благодаря введению в сплав свинца уменьшается стоимость расходных материалов. Его количество в составе можно узнать, познакомившись с маркой выбранной трубки. Например, ПОС-62, где «П» означает припой, «ОС» говорит об оловянно-свинцовом содержании, «62» – процент присутствия химического элемента.

В бытовой сфере предпочтительно использовать припой с низким содержанием олова. А для лужения посуды предпочтительно выбирать составы с большим его содержанием. Также в процессе пайки используются мягкие и твердые припои. К мягкой разновидности относятся расходные материалы, плавящиеся при температуре ниже 450 градусов.

Стоит отметить, что обычному электрическому паяльнику очень сложно расплавить твердые припои, именно поэтому мастера рекомендуют использовать в быту только мягкие разновидности.

Обязательное условие пайки заключается в применении флюса – дополнительного компонента, который обеспечивает растворение окислов пленки соединяемых конструкций. Он гарантирует отличное сцепление и улучшает условия растекания сплавов.

В домашней мастерской в качестве флюса применяется обычная канифоль. Ее размягчение начинается при нагреве в 50 градусов. Максимальная температура плавления составляет 200 градусов, но при такой температуре она начинает кипеть.

На сегодняшний день канифольный флюс можно встретить в разных формах: в виде порошка, густоватого раствора и небольших кусков. Но не всегда их можно применять для спаивания металлических элементов. Например, серебро или нержавейку предпочтительнее паять кислотным флюсом.

Наверняка о паяльной пасте слышали немногие, однако этот элемент обязательно используется мастерами в процессе соединения металлических изделий и в ремонте микросхем. Только используют ее в местах, куда сложно дотянуться обычным припоем. Наносится паста непосредственно на компонент, затем прогревается жалом паяльника.

Паяльную пасту можно приобрести в специализированном магазине либо сделать своими руками. Для этого потребуются оловянные опилки. Их необходимо смешать с жидким флюсом до получения густой консистенции. Хранить готовую пасту следует в плотно закрываемой упаковке. Но не стоит забывать, что даже домашняя паяльная паста имеет срок хранения. Использовать ее можно в течение 6 месяцев со дня приготовления.

Во время спаивания различных элементов основная часть работы возлагается на жало, которое нагревается до высокой температуры. После создания каждого соединительного шва паяльник откладывается в сторонку на небольшой промежуток времени. Ни в коем случае нельзя класть его на стол. Для домашних электрических моделей предпочтительно использовать специальные подставки. У мощных паяльников роль держателя выполняют 2 опоры, которые установлены на фанерном основании.

Для бытовых электрических моделей вполне сгодится конусообразный держатель, которой можно сделать самостоятельно либо приобрести в строительном магазине. Современные модели подставок оснащены регулировкой рабочей температуры. Они имеют дисплей, на котором указывается показатель нагрева жала.

Еще одним незаменимым элементом, предназначенным для спаивания металлических изделий, является оплетка. Ее используют только тогда, когда есть необходимость удалить припой. По внешнему виду она напоминает плотный сетчатый материал, поверхность которого покрыта флюсом из тончайших проволок меди. Принцип действия оплетки очень прост: сетка укладывается на рабочее место и впитывает расплавленный припой. Стандартная ширина оплетки составляет 5 мм. Продается она в виде рулонов, диаметр которых равен 5 см.

Из этого следует, что одного рулона оплетки хватит для длительного использования.

Подготовка

Прежде чем приступать к соединению металлических конструкций или восстановлению микросхем бытовых приборов, необходимо провести предварительную подготовку к предстоящим работам. В противном случае мастеру будет неудобно и некомфортно, а вся последовательность действий собьется.

Рабочего места

Очень важно, чтобы вентиляция в выбранном помещении работала бесперебойно, так как в процессе спаивания происходит образование вредных паров. А при отсутствии вытяжки они будут скапливаться в замкнутом пространстве, постепенно оседая в организме человека.

Если же помещения не оборудовано вытяжкой, можно воспользоваться привычной всем форточкой. Вот только процесс спаивания придется останавливать на некоторое время, чтобы сделать проветривание комнаты.

Очень важно, чтобы освещение в выбранном для работы пространстве было ярким. В качестве дополнительной подсветки на рабочей зоне можно установить лампу-прищепку.

Паяльника

Как известно, паяльники различаются по мощности. Модели с показателем в 20–50 Вт подходят для работы с электроникой. С их помощью можно восстанавливать разрывы тонких проводов. Модели мощностью 100 Вт и выше предназначены для спаивания слоев меди, толщина которых не превышает 1 мм. Инструмент в 200 Вт и выше позволяет специалистам работать с массивными конструкциями. Из этого следует, что для домашней эксплуатации вполне достаточно маломощного паяльника.

Современные модели имеют удобную и красивую форму, напоминающую слегка увеличенную шариковую ручку. Только держаться необходимо не за кончик, а за верхнюю защищенную часть конструкции.

Прежде чем приступать к работе, паяльник необходимо подготовить. Если это первичное включение, с корпуса инструмента необходимо убрать заводскую жидкость. Не сделав этого в процессе нагрева, возникнут задымление и неприятный запах. Если вдруг у мастера не возникает желания производить очистку от смазки, необходимо подключить паяльник к удлинителю и выставить его на улицу примерно на 20 минут. Устройство быстро нагреется, а остатки заводского масла выгорят, растворившись в воздухе.

Далее необходимо проковать молотком жало и придать ему форму. Далее требуется снять с жала оксидную пленку. Для этого необходимо взять мелкозернистую наждачку или бархатный напильник. После очищения жала необходимо облужить припой.

Деталей

Процесс спаивания всегда состоит из нескольких этапов, и прежде всего необходимо подготовить металлическую поверхность, а именно: удалить окисную пленку, обезжирить – и только после приступать к облуживанию.

Обязательное условие подготовки – это зачистка старых проводов. При помощи наждачки снимается окисная пленка, однако лезвием будет гораздо удобнее. При подготовке гибких проводов придется обработать каждую отдельную проволоку. Главный признак готовности деталей к спаиванию заключается в появлении равномерного блестящего цвета поверхности, не имеющего остатков оксидной пленки.

Прежде чем спаивать детали, важно их обезжирить гладкой (неворсистой) ветошью, смоченной в ацетоне.

Что касается новых проводов, у них окисная пленка отсутствует. Их облуживание делается сразу после снятия изоляции. Залужевывать медные провода требуется под флюсом. В случае когда работа происходит с алюминием, процедуры зачистки и облуживания придется совместить.

Как пользоваться паяльником?

Наверняка каждый человек знает принципы действия паяльника, но не каждому приходилось с ним работать. Соответственно, первичные попытки соединить несколько разных деталей не увенчиваются успехом. Профессионалы в данной области советует неопытным мастерам начинать с обрезков проводов. Таким образом, они смогут научиться с нуля правильно держать паяльник, наносить расходный материал и создавать аккуратные соединительные швы.

Начинать лучше всего с одножильных проводов. Освоив технику простого соединения, можно приступать к более сложным работам, а именно к многожильным проводам.

Существует несколько признаков, позволяющих понять, что молодой мастер сделал качественное соединение:

• поверхность твердого припоя приобрела серебристый цвет с небольшим отблеском;
• отсутствуют капли и потеки;
• соединенные элементы прочно зафиксированы относительно друг друга – их невозможно разорвать руками;
• изоляция не имеет признаков оплавления.

После успешного окончания обучения на многожильных проводах можно приступать к жилам большого сечения.

Далее предлагается познакомиться с пошаговой техникой пайки проводов, которую используют профессионалы.

• Необходимо снять примерно 3–5 см изоляции.
• Произвести зачистку и обезжиривание соединяемых жил.
• Требуется сформировать плотную закрутку проводов.
• Сделанный проводной сросток обрабатывается флюсом.
• Жалом паяльника набирается припой – делается спаивания скрутки. Нагрев необходимо продолжать до полного обволакивания припоем. При необходимости данную процедуру придется повторить несколько раз. В готовом исполнении припой должен покрывать все части сростка.
• Спаянный сросток изолируется.

Данная технология предназначена для проведения работ с медными и алюминиевыми проводами, которые чаще всего встречаются в бытовой жизни. По окончании спаечных работ необходимо обработать концы проводов флюсом. А затем убрать его остатки. Далее берется безворсистый тканевый материал, который необходимо обмакнуть в мыльную пену и обработать место спаивания. В качестве просушки можно использовать фен либо сухую ветошь.

Возможные проблемы

К сожалению, не всегда даже у опытных мастеров процесс спаивания разных металлических элементов проходит удачно. В некоторых случаях могут возникнуть проблемы, которые легко выявляются визуально.

• Слабое нагревание соединяемых элементов. Если говорить профессиональным языком, данная проблема называется «холодная пайка». В такой ситуации припой становится тусклым, а его механическая прочность ослабевает. Он очень быстро разрушается.
• Сильный нагрев компонентов. В такой ситуации припой не покрывает поверхность соединяемых элементов. Говоря простыми словами, фиксация полностью отсутствует.
• Случайный сдвиг соединяемых компонентов, произошедший до затвердевания припоя. К сожалению, такая проблема возникает очень часто, когда посторонние шумы и звуки не дают мастеру сконцентрироваться на своей работе. В такой ситуации возникает разрыв пленки припоя, что можно увидеть невооруженным взглядом. Соответственно, соединение между элементами пропадает.

Единственным решением для всех представленных дефектов является повторная процедура пайки.

О том, как правильно паять паяльником, смотрите в следующем видео.

90000 How To Solder: A Complete Beginners Guide 90001 90002 90003 Learning how to solder w / proper soldering techniques is a fundamental skill every maker should master. In this tutorial, we outline the basics of soldering irons, soldering stations, types of solder, desoldering and safety tips. Whether you’re building a robot or working with Arduino, knowing how to solder will come in handy. 90004 90002 90006 FREE EBOOK (PDF) 90007 — Learn To Solder Guide (17 pages) 90004 90002 If you were to take apart any electronic device that contains a circuit board, you’ll see the components are attached using soldering techniques.Soldering is the process of joining two or more electronic parts together by melting solder around the connection. Solder is a metal alloy and when it cools it creates a strong electrical bond between the parts. Even though soldering can create a permanent connection, it can also be reversed using a desoldering tool as described below. 90004 90002 90004 90002 The good thing about learning how to solder is the fact that you do not need a lot to get started. Below we’ll outline the basic tools and materials you will need for most of your soldering projects.90004 90015 Soldering Iron 90016 90002 A soldering iron is a hand tool that plugs into a standard 120v AC outlet and heats up in order to melt solder around electrical connections. This is one of the most important tools used in soldering and it can come in a few variations such as pen or gun form. For beginners, it’s recommended that you use the pen style soldering iron in the 15W to 30W range. Most soldering irons have interchangeable tips that can be used for different soldering applications.Be very cautious when using any type of soldering iron because it can heat up to 896 ‘F which is extremely hot. 90004 90002 90004 90015 Soldering Station 90016 90002 A soldering station is a more advanced version of the basic standalone soldering pen. If you are going to be doing a lot of soldering, these are great to have as they offer more flexibility and control. The main benefit of a soldering station is the ability to precisely adjust the temperature of the soldering iron which is great for a range of projects.These stations can also create a safer workspace as some include advanced temperature sensors, alert settings and even password protection for safety. 90004 90002 90004 90002 90004 90015 Soldering Iron Tips 90016 90002 At the end of most soldering irons is an interchangeable part known as a soldering tip. There are many variations of this tip and they come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Each tip is used for a specific purpose and offers a distinct advantage over another. The most common tips you will use in electronics projects are the conical tip and the chisel tip.90004 90002 90006 Conical Tip 90007 — Used in precision electronics soldering because of the fine tip. Because of its pointed end, it’s able to deliver heat to smaller areas without affecting its surroundings. 90004 90002 90006 Chisel Tip 90007 — This tip is well-suited to soldering wires or other larger components because of its broad flat tip. 90004 Image Credit — Sparkfun.com 90015 Brass or Conventional Sponge 90016 90002 Using a sponge will help to keep the soldering iron tip clean by removing the oxidation that forms.Tips with oxidation will tend to turn black and not accept solder as it did when it was new. You could use a conventional wet sponge but this tends to shorten the lifespan of the tip due to expansion and contraction. Also, a wet sponge will drop the temperature of the tip temporarily when wiped. A better alternative is to use a brass sponge as shown on the left. 90004 90002 90004 90015 Soldering Iron Stand 90016 90002 A soldering iron stand is very basic but very useful and handy to have.This stand helps prevent the hot iron tip from coming in contact with flammable materials or causing accidental injury to your hand. Most soldering stations come with this built in and also include a sponge or brass sponge for cleaning the tip. 90004 90002 90004 90015 Solder 90016 90002 Solder is a metal alloy material that is melted to create a permanent bond between electrical parts. It comes in both lead and lead-free variations with diameters of .032 «and .062» being the most common.Inside the solder core is a material known as flux which helps improve electrical contact and its mechanical strength. 90004 90002 For electronics soldering, the most commonly used type is lead-free rosin core solder. This type of solder is usually made up of a Tin / Copper alloy. You can also use leaded 60/40 (60% tin, 40% lead) rosin core solder but it’s becoming less popular due to health concerns. If you do use lead solder, make sure you have proper ventilation and that you wash your hands after use.90004 90002 90004 90002 When buying solder, make sure NOT to use acid core solder as this will damage your circuits and components. Acid core solder is sold at home improvement stores and is mainly used for plumbing and metal working. 90004 90002 As mentioned earlier, solder does come in a few different diameters. The thicker diameter solder (.062 «) is good for soldering larger joints more quickly but it can make soldering smaller joints difficult. For this reason, it’s always a good idea to have both sizes on hand for your different projects.90004 90015 Helping Hand (Third Hand) 90016 90002 A helping hand is a device that has 2 or more alligator clips and sometimes a magnifying glass / light attached. This clips will assist you by holding the items you are trying to solder while you use the soldering iron and solder. A very helpful tool to have in your makerspace. 90004 90002 90004 90002 Now that you know what tools and materials are required, it’s time to briefly discuss ways of staying safe while soldering. 90004 90002 Soldering irons can reach temperatures of 800 ‘F so it’s very important to know where your iron is at all times.We always recommend you use a soldering iron stand to help prevent accidental burns or damage. 90004 90002 90004 90002 Make sure you are soldering in a well ventilated area. When solder is heated, there are fumes released that are harmful to your eyes and lungs. It’s recommended to use a fume extractor which is a fan with a charcoal filter that absorbs the harmful solder smoke you can visit sites like Integrated Air Systems for air filtration systems. 90004 90002 It’s always a good idea to wear protective eye wear in case of accidental splashes of hot solder.Lastly, make sure to wash your hands when done soldering especially if using lead solder. 90004 90002 Before you can start soldering, you need to prep your soldering iron by tinning the tip with solder. This process will help improve the heat transfer from the iron to the item you’re soldering. Tinning will also help to protect the tip and reduce wear. 90004 90002 90006 Step 1: 90007 Begin by making sure the tip is attached to the iron and screwed tightly in place. 90004 90002 90006 Step 2: 90007 Turn on your soldering iron and let it heat up.If you have a soldering station with an adjustable temp control, set it to 400 ‘C / 752’ F. 90004 90002 90006 Step 3: 90007 Wipe the tip of the soldering iron on a damp wet sponge to clean it. Wait a few seconds to let the tip heat up again before proceeding to step 4. 90004 90002 90006 Step 4: 90007 Hold the soldering iron in one hand and solder in the other. Touch the solder to the tip of the iron and make sure the solder flows evenly around the tip. 90004 90002 90004 90002 You should tin the tip of your iron before and after each soldering session to extend its life.Eventually, every tip will wear out and will need replacing when it becomes rough or pitted. 90004 90002 To better explain how to solder, we’re going to demonstrate it with a real world application. In this example, we’re going to solder an LED to a circuit board. 90004 90002 90106 90107 90004 90002 90006 Step 1: Mount The Component 90007 — Begin by inserting the leads of the LED into the holes of the circuit board. Flip the board over and bend the leads outward at a 45 ‘angle. This will help the component make a better connection with the copper pad and prevent it from falling out while soldering.90004 90002 90004 90002 90006 Step 2: Heat The Joint 90007 — Turn your soldering iron on and if it has an adjustable heat control, set it to 400’C. At this point, touch the tip of the iron to the copper pad and the resistor lead at the same time. You need to hold the soldering iron in place for 3-4 seconds in order to heat the pad and the lead. 90004 90002 90004 90002 90006 Step 3: Apply Solder To Joint 90007 — Continue holding the soldering iron on the copper pad and the lead and touch your solder to the joint.90006 IMPORTANT 90007 — Do not touch the solder directly to the tip of the iron. You want the joint to be hot enough to melt the solder when it’s touched. If the joint is too cold, it will form a bad connection. 90004 90002 90004 90002 90006 Step 4: Snip The Leads 90007 90132 90133 — Remove the soldering iron and let the solder cool down naturally. Do not blow on the solder as this will cause a bad joint. Once cool, you can snip the extra wire from leads. 90004 90002 A proper solder joint is smooth, shiny and looks like a volcano or cone shape.You want just enough solder to cover the entire joint but not too much so it becomes a ball or spills to a nearby lead or joint. 90004 90002 90004 90002 Now it’s time to show you how to solder wires together. For this process, it’s recommended to use helping hands or other type of clamp device. 90004 90002 Begin by removing the insulation from the ends of both wires you are soldering together. If the wire is stranded, twist the strands together with your fingers. 90004 90002 90004 90002 Make sure your soldering iron is fully heated and touch the tip to the end of one of the wires.Hold it on the wire for 3-4 seconds. 90004 90002 90004 90002 Keep the iron in place and touch the solder to the wire until it’s fully coated. Repeat this process on the other wire. 90004 90002 90004 90002 Hold the two tinned wires on top of each other and touch the soldering iron to both wires. This process should melt the solder and coat both wires evenly. 90004 90002 90004 90002 Remove the soldering iron and wait a few seconds to let the soldered connection cool and harden. Use heat shrink to cover the connection.90004 90002 90004 90002 The good thing about using solder is the fact that it can be removed easily in a technique known as desoldering. This comes in handy if you need to remove a component or make a correction to your electronic circuit. 90004 90002 To desolder a joint, you will need solder wick which is also known as desoldering braid. 90004 90002 90004 90002 90006 Step 1 90007 — Place a piece of the desoldering braid on top of the joint / solder you want removed. 90004 90002 90006 Step 2 90007 — Heat your soldering iron and touch the tip to the top of the braid.This will heat the solder below which will then be absorbed into the desoldering braid. You can now remove the braid to see the solder has been extracted and removed. Be careful touching the braid when you are heating it because it will get hot. 90004 90002 90004 90002 90006 Optional 90007 — If you have a lot of solder you want removed, you may want to use a device called a solder sucker. This is a handheld mechanical vacuum that sucks up hot solder with a press of a button. 90004 90002 To use, press the plunger down at the end of the solder sucker.Heat the joint with your soldering iron and place the tip of the solder sucker over the hot solder. Press the release button to suck up the liquid solder. In order to empty the solder sucker, press down on the plunger. 90004 90002 90004 90002 90006 FREE 90007 — Learn To Solder Guide (17 pages) 90004 .90000 How to Solder: Through-Hole Soldering 90001 Favorited Favorite 54 90002 Introduction 90003 90004 Soldering is one of the most fundamental skills needed to dabble in the world of electronics. The two go together like peas and carrots. And, although it is possible to learn about and build electronics without needing to pick up a soldering iron, you’ll soon discover that a whole new world is opened with this one simple skill.We here at SparkFun believe that soldering should be a skill in everyone’s arsenal. In a world of increasing technological surroundings, we believe it is important that people everywhere be able to not only understand the technologies they use everyday but also be able to build, alter, and fix them as well. Soldering is one of many skills that will empower you to do just that. 90005 90004 In this tutorial we will go over the basics of 90007 through-hole soldering 90008 — also known as plated through-hole soldering (PTH), discuss the tools needed, go over techniques for proper soldering, and show you where you can go from there.We will also discuss rework as it pertains to through-hole soldering and give you some tips and tricks that will make fixing any piece of electronics a breeze. This guide will be for beginners and experts alike. Whether you’ve never touched an iron before or are looking for a little refresher, this tutorial has a little something for everyone. 90005 90010 Suggested Reading 90011 90004 As stated earlier, you can learn about and build electronics without touching a soldering iron. If you would like to learn more about electronics theory before learning to solder, we recommend starting with some of these tutorials: 90005 90010 What is a Circuit? 90011 90004 Every electrical project starts with a circuit.Do not know what a circuit is? We’re here to help. 90005 90010 What is Electricity? 90011 90004 We can see electricity in action on our computers, lighting our houses, as lightning strikes in thunderstorms, but what is it? This is not an easy question, but this tutorial will shed some light on it! 90005 90004 If you would like to know more about building circuits without needing to pick up a soldering iron, check out our solderless breadboard tutorial: 90005 90010 How to Use a Breadboard 90011 90004 Welcome to the wonderful world of breadboards.Here we will learn what a breadboard is and how to use one to build your very first circuit. 90005 90004 Lastly, we will be building upon some previous tutorials, so it is suggested that you read about and understand these subjects before moving forward in this tutorial: 90005 90010 PCB Basics 90011 90004 What exactly IS a PCB? This tutorial will breakdown what makes up a PCB and some of the common terms used in the PCB world.90005 90010 Polarity 90011 90004 An introduction to polarity in electronic components. Discover what polarity is, which parts have it, and how to identify it. 90005 90038 90004 If you’re all caught up on the above reading, let’s dive right in! 90005 90038 90002 What is Solder? 90003 90004 Before learning how to solder, it’s always wise to learn a little bit about solder, its history, and the terminology that will be used while discussing it.90005 90004 90007 Solder 90008, as a word, can be used in two different ways. Solder, 90049 the noun 90050, refers to the alloy (a substance composed of two or more metals) that typically comes as a long, thin wire in spools or tubes. Solder, 90049 the verb 90050, means to join together two pieces of metal in what is called a 90007 solder joint 90008. So, we solder with solder! 90005 90049 Solder wire sold as a spool (left) and in a tube (right). These come in both leaded and lead-free varieties.90050 90010 Leaded vs. Lead-free Solder — A Brief History 90011 90004 One of the most important things to be aware of when it comes to solder is that, traditionally, solder was composed of mostly lead (Pb), tin (Sn), and a few other trace metals. This solder is known as 90007 leaded solder 90008. As it has come to be known, lead is harmful to humans and can lead to lead poisoning when exposed to large amounts. Unfortunately, lead is also a very useful metal, and it was chosen as the go-to metal for soldering because of its low melting point and ability to create great solder joints.90005 90004 With the adverse effects of leaded soldering known, some key individuals and countries decided it was best to not use leaded solder anymore. In 2006, the European Union adopted the Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive (90007 RoHS 90008). This directive, stated simply, restricts the use of leaded solder (amongst other materials) in electronics and electrical equipment. With that, the use of 90007 lead-free solder 90008 became the norm in electronics manufacturing. 90005 90004 Lead-free solder is very similar to its leaded counterpart, except, as the name states, it contains no lead.Instead it is made up of mostly tin and other trace metals, such as silver and copper. This solder is usually marked with the RoHS symbol to let potential buyers know it conforms to the standard. 90005 90010 Choosing the Right Solder for the Job 90011 90004 When it comes to manufacturing electronics, it’s best to use lead-free solder to ensure the safety of your products. However, when it comes to you and your electronics, the choice of solder is yours to make. Many people still prefer the use of leaded solder on account of its superb ability to act as a joining agent.Still, others prefer safety over functionality and opt for the lead-free. SparkFun sells both varieties to allow individuals to make that choice for themselves. 90005 90004 Lead-free solder is not without its downfalls. As mentioned, lead was chosen because it performs the best in a situation such as soldering. When you take away the lead, you also take away some of the properties of solder that make it ideal for what it was intended — joining two pieces of metal. One such property is the melting point.Tin has a higher melting point than lead resulting in more heat needed to achieve flow. And, although tin gets the job done, it sometimes needs a little help. Many lead-free solder variants have what’s called a 90007 flux core. 90008 For now, just know that flux is a chemical agent that aids in the flowing of lead-free solder. While it is possible to use lead-free solder without flux, it makes it much easier to achieve the same effects as with leaded solder. Also, because of the added cost in making lead-free solder, it can sometimes be more expensive than leaded solder.90005 90004 Aside from choosing leaded or lead-free solder, there are a number of other factors to consider when picking out solder. First, there are tons of other solder compositions out there aside from lead and tin. Check out the Wikipedia solder page for an extensive list of the different types. Second, solder comes in a variety of gauges, or widths. When working with small components, it’s often better to use a very thin piece of solder — the larger then number, the smaller the gauge. For large components, thicker wire is recommended.Last, solder comes in other forms besides wire. When getting into surface-mount soldering, you’ll see that solder paste is the form of choice. However, since this is a through-hole soldering tutorial, solder paste will not be discussed in detail. 90005 90010 Purchasing Solder 90011 90004 SparkFun offers many sizes of spools of solder in both leaded and lead-free varieties. Whether you just need enough for one project or are stocking up for the coming winter, SparkFun has what you need. 90005 90004 You can visit the Soldering category of the SparkFun catalog for more solder options as well.90005 90038 90004 Now that you know how to choose the best solder for the job, let’s move on to tools and more terminology. 90005 90038 90002 Soldering Irons 90003 90004 There are many tools that aid in soldering, but none are more important than the soldering iron. If nothing else, you need at least an iron and some solder to accomplish the task at hand. Soldering irons come in a variety of from factors and range from simple to complex, but they all function roughly the same.Here, we’ll discuss the parts of an iron and the different types of irons. 90005 90010 Soldering Iron Anatomy 90011 90004 Here are the basic parts that make up a soldering iron. 90005 90100 90101 90007 Soldering Tips 90008 — No iron is complete without an iron tip. The tip is the part of the iron that heats up and allows solder to flow around the two components being joined. Although solder will stick to the tip when applied, a common misconception is that the tip transfers the solder.The tip actually transfers heat, raising the temperature of the metal components to the melting point of the solder, and the solder melts accordingly. Most irons give you the option to change your tip, should you need to replace an old tip or if you need to switch to a different style of tip. Tips come in a variety of sizes and shapes to accommodate any component. 90104 90105 90004 90049 Several types of tips. From left to right, the bevel tip (aka hoof tip), two conical tips with varying widths, and the chisel tip.90050 90005 90004 Changing the tip is a simple process that consists of either unscrewing the wand or simply pushing in and pulling out the tip 90005 90007 Tip: 90008 The efficiency of the heat transferred from the tip to the joint is dependent on the the size of the soldering iron tip that you are using. Usually, you want to have a soldering tip that is about the same width as the soldering pad you are soldering to. For more information, check out this article by Hakko. 90100 90101 90007 Wand 90008 — The wand is the part of the iron that holds the tip.This is also the part that is handled by the user. Wands are usually made of a variety of insulating materials (such as rubber) to prevent the heat of the tip from transferring to the outside of the wand, but they also house wires and metal contacts that transfer heat from the base or outlet to the tip . This dual role of heating and preventing burns makes a high quality wand much appreciated. 90104 90105 90004 90049 Two varieties of wands. Notice how the tips screw into the wand allowing for interchangeability.Some wands have tips that simply push in and pull out without any attaching mechanism. 90050 90005 90004 Some irons consist of just a wand that plugs into a wall outlet. These irons are as simple as they come, and they do not have any controls to vary the temperature. In these irons, the heating element is built directly into the wand. 90005 90049 A simple soldering iron that consists of just the wand. Some of these irons do not offer interchangeable tips. 90050 90100 90101 90007 Base 90008 — The base of the soldering iron is the control box that allows the adjusting of temperatures.The wand attaches to the base and receives its heat from the electronics inside. There are analog bases, which have a dial that controls the temperature, and there are digital bases, which have buttons to set the temperature and a display that tells you the current temperature. Some bases even have extra features such as heat profiles that allow you to quickly change the amount of heat provided to the tip for soldering a variety of components. 90104 90105 90004 90049 Two variations of a soldering iron base.On the left, a digital base, complete with control buttons and a digital display. On the right, an analog base that uses a dial to control the temperature. 90050 90005 90004 The base typically is comprised of a large transformer and several other control electronics that safely allow you to vary the heat of your tip. 90005 90004 90049 The insides of a soldering iron base 90050 90005 90100 90101 90007 Stand (Cradle) 90008 — The iron stand (often referred to as a cradle) is what houses the iron when it is not in use.The stand may seem trivial, but leaving an unattended iron laying around on your desk or workbench is a potential hazard: it could burn you, or, worse, it could burn your desk and start a fire. Again, they can be as simple as a metal stand, or they can be complex, offering an auto-shutoff feature that reduces the temperature of the tip when the wand is placed in the cradle. This helps prevent the wearing of your tip over time. 90104 90105 90004 90049 Different types of iron cradles. Notice some allow for a regular sponge while others hold a brass sponge.90050 90005 90100 90101 90007 Brass Sponge 90008 — As you solder, your tip will tend to 90007 oxidize 90008, which means it will turn black and not want to accept solder. Especially with lead-free solder, there are impurities in the solder that tend to build up on the tip of your iron, which causes this oxidization. This is where the sponge comes in. Every so often you should give your tip a good cleaning by wiping off this build-up. Traditionally, an actual wet sponge was used to accomplish this.However, using a wet sponge can drastically reduce the lifespan of your tip. By wiping your tip on a cool, wet sponge, the tip tends to expand and contract from the change in temperature. This expansion and contraction will wear out your tip and can sometime cause a hole to develop in the side of the tip. Once a tip has a hole, it is no good for soldering. Thus, brass sponges have become the standard for tip cleaning. Brass sponges pull the excess solder from your tip while allowing the tip to maintain its current heat level.If you do not have a brass sponge, a regular sponge is better than nothing. 90104 90105 90049 A brass sponge. If your iron stand does not have a spot for a brass sponge, you can get one with its own base. 90050 90038 90002 Purchasing a Soldering Iron 90003 90004 Whether you’re just beginning or a seasoned pro we’ve got a soldering iron for you! 90005 90010 Our Recommendations: 90011 90004 Looking for more options for soldering iron? Click on the button below for additional options in the catalog! 90005 Click to Here for More Soldering Iron & Stations 90038 90002 Soldering Accessories 90003 90004 Now that you know the ins and outs of a soldering iron, it’s time to discuss the other tools that will aid you on your soldering adventure.90005 90100 90101 90007 Solder Wick 90008 — is the eraser to soldering’s pencil. When dealing with issues such as jumpers or the removal of parts (desoldering), solder wick comes in very handy. Solder wick — aka desoldering braid — is comprised of thin copper wire braided together. Solder is soaked (wicked) up by the copper allowing you to «erase» extra globs of solder. 90104 90105 90100 90101 90007 Tip Tinner 90008 — is a chemical paste used to clean the tip of your soldering iron.It is composed of a mild acid that helps remove baked on residue (like when you accidentally melt your tip on a component) and helps prevent oxidation (the nasty black stuff) that accumulates on your soldering tip when not in use. 90104 90105 90100 90101 90007 Solder Vacuum (Solder Sucker) 90008 — is a great tool for removing solder left behind in through-holes when delsodering components. We’ll go over how to use this tool a little later in the tutorial. 90104 90105 90010 Solder Vacuum 90011 In stock TOL-13203 90004 The Solder Vacuum, a great (and sometimes under appreciated) little tool for solder rework.It allows you to pull the molten … 90005 7 90100 90101 90007 Water Soluble Flux Pen 90008 — Flux is a chemical agent that aids in the flowing of lead-free solder. Flux pens allow you to dab stubborn components with liquid flux to create better looking solder joints. It is recommended to clean and remove any remaining water soluble flux residue on the board.90104 90105 90100 90101 90007 No Clean Flux Pen 90008 — Flux is another chemical agent that aids in the flowing of lead-free solder. Flux pens allow you to dab stubborn components with liquid flux to create better looking solder joints. Cleaning and flux removal is not required. For those interested in removing the flux residue, isopropyl alcohol (IPA) is required. 90104 90105 90010 Other Suggested Tools 90011 90004 These tools are not necessary, but they sure do make soldering easier at times.90005 90100 90101 90007 Third Hand (Third Arm) 90008 — Third hands are great for holding PCBs, wires, and components in place while you solder. 90104 90105 90010 Third Hand 90011 In stock TOL-09317 90004 This is a solderer’s best helper, the third hand. Comes with a heavy base, two alligator clips, a soldering iron holder, and … 90005 10 90010 SparkFun Third Hand Kit 90011 15 available TOL-11784 90004 Are you frustrated with the lack of dexterity from most third hands? The SparkFun Third Hand gives you the ability to hold a … 90005 56 90100 90101 90007 Panavise Jr.- Vacuum Base 90008 — Another great tool for holding PCBs, wires, and components in place while you solder and reworking your board. 90104 90105 90100 90101 90007 Needle Nose Pliers 90008 — Mini pliers are a must have for any hobbyist or electrical engineer. Crucial for inserting devices into breadboards and bending pins. 90104 90105 90010 Needle Nose Pliers 90011 Out of stock TOL-08793 90004 Mini Pliers.These are great little pliers! A must have for any hobbyist or electrical engineer. Crucial for inserting device … 90005 1 90010 Electronic Snippers 90011 In stock TOL-10447 90004 While our small diagonal cutters are great for hobby use, sometimes you need something with a little more bite.These electro … 90005 5 90010 Diagonal Cutters 90011 Out of stock TOL-08794 90004 Mini Diagonal Cutters. These are great little cutters! A must have for clipping leads and extra solder tails.4 «long. 90005 2 90100 90101 90007 Flush Cutters 90008 — Giving you a way to cut leads very cleanly and close to the solder joint. Diagonal cutters are good, but if you really need to get up close and personal, flush cutters are the way to go. 90104 90105 90010 Flush Cutters — Xcelite 90011 In stock TOL-14782 90004 These are simple flush cutters from Excelite that give you a way to cut leads very cleanly and close to the solder joint.90005 1 90010 SparkFun Safety Glasses 90011 In stock SWG-11046 90004 With these SparkFun Safety Glasses you’ll have a pair of lightweight, economical, and stylish lenses to protect your precious … 90005 3 90100 90101 90007 Monocle 90008 — Useful for inspecting your solder joints and SMD components on a PCB.The LED provides sufficient light at the working distance. 90104 90105 90007 Bundled Kits! 90008 Check out the following tool kits with some of the soldering irons and accessories listed earlier! 90010 SparkFun Tool Bag Kit 90011 Out of stock TOL-14683 90004 This assortment of tools is great for those of you who need a portable tool assembly with plenty of room to add your own.90005 90038 90002 Soldering Your First Component 90003 90004 Let’s put all these tools into action. This first video will go over the basics of soldering your first component — headers! 90005 90285 90286 90004 Check out the Vimeo version here. 90005 90010 Recap 90011 90004 It’s really that easy! Follow Dave’s simple rules to make every solder connection a good one. 90005 90100 90101 Be cautious when handling hot irons 90104 90101 Use third hands or vices to hold boards while you solder 90104 90101 Set your iron at a good medium heat (325-375 degrees C) 90104 90101 If you see smoke coming from your solder, turn down the heat 90104 90101 Tin your tip with solder before each connection to help prep the joint 90104 90101 Use the side of the tip (aka the sweet spot), not the very tip of the iron 90104 90101 Heat both the pad and the part you want to solder evenly and at the same time 90104 90101 Pull the solder away, then the iron 90104 90101 A good solder joint should look like a volcano or Hersey kiss, not a ball or clump 90104 90105 90004 We’ve also put together this digram to help you better understand what makes a good solder joint.90005 90004 90049 Click for a larger image. 90050 90005 90004 When you are finished, tin the tip to increase its life before turning your soldering iron off. 90005 90038 90002 Advanced Techniques and Troubleshooting 90003 90010 Advanced PTH 90011 90004 Once you get the basics of creating good solder joints, it’s time to learn some of the more advanced PTH techniques that you can utilize. This video goes over using flux, removing solder jumpers, desoldering components, along with some other tips and tricks.90005 90004 90329 90286 90005 90004 Here are some other tips for PTH soldering: 90005 90100 90101 90004 Desoldering can often be the best way to learn how to solder. There are many reasons to desolder a part: repair, upgrade, salvage, etc. Many of the techniques used in the video aid in the desoldering process. 90005 90104 90101 90004 There is another method of removing solder from through-holes that we refer to as the slap method. 90005 90104 90101 90004 If you’re ever unsure if the solder joint you created is making an electrical connection, you can use a multimeter to test for continuity.90005 90104 90105 90010 Holding Headers Against a Board 90011 90004 For those that have the dexterity, you can install a row of headers by holding the pins against the board! You can try to use tape and sticky tack as mentioned earlier. Below is an example of installing female headers on the ProtoShield. However, you can follow along with male headers or use this technique to solder headers on any board. 90005 90004 Grab a female stackable header and slide it from the top side of a shield.With your soldering hand, pull the header with your index finger and thumb toward the edge of the board. Using your other hand, push against the header using your index finger and grip the board with your thumb. Hold the header down with your middle finger. Make sure to avoid touching any header pins where the soldering iron will touch. 90005 90354 90355 90356 90357 90356 90357 90360 90361 90004 Grab the soldering iron with your soldering hand and tack on one pin. Repeat for each header.After tacking one pin for each header, you will want to ensure that the pins are straight and perpendicular to your board. If they are not, you can try to reheat the header pin and adjust the header’s alignment. 90005 90004 If the headers are aligned, you can solder the rest of the header pins on the board to finish installing the headers on the board! 90005 90010 Advanced SMD 90011 90004 Looking for more tips and tricks with just your soldering iron? Check out these advanced techniques to rework SMD components according to Pete.90005 90004 90371 90286 90005 90010 Cleaning Flux Residue 90011 90004 When working with lead-free solder, flux tends to get everywhere, be it from the flux in the solder or from external flux applied by the user. Certain types of flux can corrode the PCB and components over time, thus it’s good to know how to clean your PCBs so they’re free of any flux residue. This can also cause a high-resistance shorts between pins as a result of the moisture in the air and tiny dendrites forming.Common problems can range from uploading code to an Arduino using a serial-to-USB converter to errors when sending data through I 90377 2 90378 C. 90005 90004 How do they look like? Well, lets take a look at the images below. The image on the left shows water-soluble flux residue on the solder joints. These can appear as a yellow or brown coating on or around the solder joints. The image on the right shows no clean flux that was used on the SparkFun Edge. These can appear gunky and white on the board.It’s non-conductive so it can be left on the board. 90005 90004 If you have water-soluble flux residue on the board, you will want to remove it from the board. No clean flux, you should not need to remove it. The simplest way to clean water soluble-flux from the board is to use a small brush with stiff bristles (toothbrushes work great) or a Q-tip. Then scrub the solder joint with hot, de-ionized water to remove the water-soluble flux. Isopropyl alcohol can be used as a substitute for water.If you must remove no-clean flux from the board, the best approach would be to use isopropyl alcohol, rather than water. Keep in mind, you’ll have to check the documentation for your solder for the proper cleaning methodology as other types of flux may require acetone. 90005 90354 90355 90356 90357 90356 90357 90356 90357 90360 90355 90356 90395 Removing Water Soluble Flux with a Brush 90396 90357 90356 90395 Removing Water Soluble Flux with a Q-Tip 90396 90357 90356 90395 Removing No Clean Flux with a Q-Tip 90396 90357 90360 90361 90004 If you are soldering more than a few boards, it may be necessary to clean them in batches.For this, we recommend a crock pot filled with distilled water. The distilled water keeps other impurities and contaminants away from your circuit. Below shows an image of a battery holders being cleaned. Not all boards can be dunked in water like this. So you may need to manually clean the solder joints. Having a crock pot full of hot, de-ionized water will make the process faster. 90005 90354 90355 90356 90357 90356 90357 90360 90355 90356 90395 Dunking Boards in a Crock Pot 90396 90357 90356 90395 Manually Cleaning an LED Strip’s Solder Joints 90396 90357 90360 90361 90004 Make sure to avoid getting water sensors or components that can retain water.Certain components are sensitive to water, so you should avoid dunking those boards in water and be careful about getting these components wet. Here is a short list of components that should avoid contact with water. If water gets trapped in them and you power the board, it will probably damage the component. 90005 90100 90101 Character LCDs 90104 90101 7-Segment LED Displays 90104 90101 Batteries 90104 90101 GPS Modules 90104 90101 Wireless Modules 90104 90101 Barometric Pressure Sensors 90104 90101 Slide Potentiometers 90104 90101 Microphones 90104 90101 Speakers 90104 90101 Heart Rate Monitor ICs 90104 90105 90004 When you are finished cleaning the board, you’ll want to remove any excess water off the board.Compressed air works wonders so that you do not have to wait for it to evaporate. You can also paper towels to dry a board but it may leave pieces of lint behind. Thus low-lint wipes to dry a board would be better. If you have a hot air gun, you can also use it to heat the board up. Just make sure to not melt anything on the board. 90005 90354 90355 90356 90357 90356 90357 90360 90355 90356 90395 Compressed Air to Dry Board 90396 90357 90356 90395 Low Lint Wipes Drying a Board 90396 90357 90360 90361 90004 It’s not 100% necessary to clean your board, however, it will increase the life of your circuit tremendously.Additionally, data sent through serial will be reliable when the board is clean. For more information on PCB cleaning, click below. 90005 Electronics Assembly: Washing 90010 Testing and Troubleshooting Solder Joints 90011 90004 Once you are done cleaning, feel free to check your solder joints with a multimeter set to continuity mode as stated earlier. This is useful if you run into problems and need to check if a pin is soldered correctly to a board. For more information, check out our tutorial on how to use a multimeter.90005 90004 Looking for troubleshooting tips? Check out the hardware checklist in our tutorial for more information! 90005 90002 Interested in learning more foundational topics? 90003 90004 See our 90007 Engineer 90008 90005.90000 How to Become a Programmer: 8 Steps to Building an App from Scratch 90001 90002 Intro 90003 90004 90005 «What’s the best way to learn how to code?» 90006 90007 90004 90005 «How to become a programmer» 90006 90007 90004 90005 «How to build an app» 90006 90007 90004 These are common questions asked everyday by beginners who are eager to learn how to code. No doubt you’ve already googled something along those lines and read enough articles / answers to the point where you’re sick of the «standard» advice.90007 90004 If you have not, or if you somehow think I have something new to say and want to hear it anyway (I do not), here is a short and pretty much pointless answer (I shall give it a SEO-friendly click- bait name: «3 Steps to Becoming a Programmer»): 90007 90004 90021 Step 1: Pick a Language 90022 90007 90004 90021 Step 2: 90022 Learn the Language 90007 90004 90021 Step 3: 90022 Build Stuff and Keep Learning 90007 90004 90007 90004 Hey, do not throw shoes at me. As much as I’d like to say there’s a one-size fits all method to learning how to code, there really is not.(Let me add a 90005 Step 0: 90006 accept that everyone learns differently). 90007 90004 Countless more detailed answers elaborating steps 1 & 2 already exist on the web, but the common answer to step one is to learn Python or Ruby as your first language (do not get too hung up on the language, you’ll never get started). If you need learning resources, we’ve curated several guides you can check out: 90007 90004 Several of you’d get to this point: 90007 90004 90043 90007 90004 If you’re having that moment when you’ve become a lost sheep, do not freak out because you’re not alone.90007 90004 Pretty much every time you ask «how do I become a programmer», developers will tell you to build stuff, as building things is how you can improve as a programmer and it’s the best way to learn, etcetera etcetera. 90007 90004 But 90005 how 90006 do you build your own app? 90007 90004 90007 90004 You can always follow existing tutorials on how to build a Twitter / Pinterest / Instagram / etc clone with whatever language & technology you’re using, but keep in mind that the authors of those tutorials have actually done most of the work for you, and all you are doing is understanding the code and their logic.90007 90004 This article will attempt to provide you an outline you can follow when building 90021 your 90022 own app from scratch. 90007 90002 Pre-requisites 90003 90004 Most apps would need a database, so if you’re going to be building your own app by yourself (ergo the front and back end), you’ll likely have to know a database query language (usually SQL). Unless you’re building something that does not need to interact with a database like Flappy Bird, for example. 90007 90004 What’s more, if you’re looking to build a web app, you’ll need to know some basic DevOps to be able to set up your development environment / server, and to be able to actually launch the app.90007 90004 If you’re only aiming to be a front-end web developer, you can hone your HTML, CSS, and JavaScript skills at Codepen or JSfiddle. If you only know JavaScript and do not want to learn another language, then you can try Node.js, as it’s a JavaScript platform for back-end development (You can also use MongoDB as your database since it’s also based on JavaScript.) 90007 90004 Otherwise, you should also know one of the following languages ​​(and usually a web framework) if you intend to build a complete web app: 90007 90071 90072 Ruby 90073 90072 Python 90073 90072 PHP 90073 90072 Java 90073 90072 Go 90073 90072 C # 90073 90084 90004 If you’re looking to build games, then you can consider learning Lua, though C # is also a very good choice thanks to the Unity 3D game engine and its massive community.As for native mobile app development, you’ll need to know Swift / Objective-C for iOS development and Java for Android development. 90007 90004 Without further ado, let’s get to how to build an app from scratch. 90007 90002 Step 0: Understand Yourself 90003 90004 First and foremost, build something that you’re passionate about. Interest is the best way to keep yourself motivated, so ask yourself what do you care about or what do you like to do. 90007 90004 For example: 90007 90071 90072 What apps do you enjoy using the most? 90073 90072 What apps can not you live without? 90073 90072 Do you like playing games? 90073 90072 Do you enjoy designing things? 90073 90072 Etc.90073 90084 90004 Identify your interests so you’ll be working on something you’ll have fun with. This way, you are less likely to fizzle out and give up halfway. 90007 90002 Step 1: Pick an Idea 90003 90004 Now that you’ve hopefully figured yourself out, it’s time to pick an idea to build. 90021 Start simple 90022. 90007 90004 90007 90004 Yes … even if you’re thinking about building a game, right now you should not be thinking about building the next CounterStrike but instead you should be thinking about how to build games as simple as the infamous Flappy Bird.Hey, do not look down on Flappy Bird─it was a sensation that made people all over the world discover their inner masochist. But I digress. 90007 90004 So, based on your interests, come up with an idea for a simple app that will do something neat. It does not matter if the app already exists (in fact it may help you if similar projects already exist). 90007 90004 Here are some pointers to help you get some inspiration: 90007 90071 90072 If you like cooking, maybe you can think of building an app for people to showcase their homemade recipes.90073 90072 If you always wanted to know how Twitter works, try building a super simple Twitter clone. 90073 90072 If you’re a forgetful person who relies on task managers, try building one yourself. 90073 90072 If you’re addicted to the League of Legends, you can try looking through Riot’s API and build a site that can obtain & display game information. 90073 90072 If you like playing card games, try building a simple one (e.g. Black Jack) 90073 90072 If you’re on a diet, try building an app that will log your calorie intake.90073 90084 90004 And so on, so forth. Here’s a list of project ideas if you need more inspiration. 90007 90004 Once you have a direction, write down in 90005 one sentence 90006 the purpose, and, if applicable, the most important target users for this app. 90007 90004 For example: A pet adoption app for people who pick up stray animals. 90007 90002 Step 2: Define the Core Functionalities 90003 90004 90148 90007 90004 Think about what your app should be able to do and list them out.If you end up listing a bunch of things, take a better look and ask yourself if this app REALLY needs, for example, Facebook login to work? Does it REALLY need to upload data to some cloud to work? 90007 90004 It’s great to have a dream project with awesome specs, but right now the point is not building something that’s complete with a lot of cool features. Keep in mind that no app is ever complete, and everything starts out simple. 90007 90004 90021 Do not ever try building an all-in-one app 90022.Do not go there. I’ve seen it happen even in a professional environment, and the result is a lot of pain and little progress. 90007 90004 Unless you have an iron will or you really 90005 love 90006 challenges, you’ll just end up frustrated and discouraged if your first project is too hard to build. You’re a beginner … the point right now is to have fun. Fun is the most efficient way to learn. 90007 90004 So, take a look at the list of functions you’ve made, and if it’s too long, start crossing out functionalities your app can work without.90007 90004 Remember, this is your version 1 and you should just keep things simple. Focus on things that will allow the app to perform whatever it’s supposed to do-everything else can be left for a different project. 90007 90004 For a sample 90021 core 90022 functionality list for a Reddit clone: ​​90007 90071 90072 users can create an account 90073 90072 users can retrieve lost passwords 90073 90072 users can change their passwords 90073 90072 users can post new links 90073 90072 users can comment on links 90073 90072 users can upvote / downvote links 90073 90072 users have a profile showing their history / activity 90073 90084 90004 The features listed above are the core functionalities you should focus on first.Other features such as: 90007 90071 90072 users can share to social media 90073 90072 users can delete comments 90073 90072 users can edit comments 90073 90072 users can delete their own account 90073 90084 90004 Are secondary and can be saved for version 1.x-only work on these after you can actually launch version 1.0 90007 90002 Step 3: Sketch Your App 90003 90004 90203 90005 CC License 90006 90007 90004 Nothing is quicker than a pen & paper. By now you should have a pretty solid idea of ​​what your app should do, so sketch out the wireframe of your app’s UI (user interface).Where buttons should be located, what the purpose of that button is, and so on. 90007 90004 Write down notes and flesh out how the app should work. You’re still in the brainstorming stage, so change stuff around until you’re somewhat satisfied with it. 90007 90004 Remember, 90021 keep things simple 90022. If you shortened your list from step 2, stick to only sketching functions listed there-don’t get carried away. If you can not help yourself, then sketch 2 versions: a basic version and the final version in your dreams.90007 90004 All in all, this is not the final look but rather just a step to help you get a firmer grasp of your app. 90007 90002 Step 4: Plan Your App’s UI Flow 90003 90004 All right. You have a good idea of ​​what your app will look like, what every element should should do, and how users can interact with your app. Now it’s time to figure out your app’s UI flow. Meaning, how a user should use your app from start to end. Chart out every step they have to take, and every scenario they might encounter.Try to consider every use-case. 90007 90004 90222 90005 (CC License) 90006 90007 90004 Include all the actions your user can take in the flowchart. For example, if your app requires users to log in, how do they create an account? What if users forgot their password? What if they inputed the wrong password? What should a user be able to do on each interface (add new list item> save; edit> save / delete)? So on, so forth. This is done the quickest with a pen and paper. 90007 90004 Again, as your app should be fairly simple, your diagram should not be 90005 too 90006 massive.90007 90002 Step 5: Designing the Database 90003 90004 All right! After you planned out every possible scenario, take a look at it to determine what sort of data you would need to keep. For example, if your app requires users to create an account, you’d need to keep track of things such as the username, user ID, the user’s email, the password, whether user’s email is confirmed, when the account was created as well as every time the user has logged into your app. 90007 90004 If you’re building a Twitter clone, you’d need to know the tweet’s ID, the tweet’s content, when the tweet was published / retweeted, how many retweets it has, and how many stars it has.You’d also need to keep a record of a user’s retweets and stars. 90007 90004 You can draw an ERM (Entity-Relationship Model) diagram to map out the data relationship. 90007 90004 90005 An example of a course selection site’s Entity-Relationship Diagram CC License 90006 90007 90004 In addition, if you have any future features planned, this is the time to plan them into your database. Here is a nice article to check out while you design a database. 90007 90246 Advanced 90247 90004 If the app you’re planning is going to interact with a server (e.g. if you’re building a fullstack web app) or if your app is going to interact with an API (eg you’re trying to get information from Yahoo! Weather), then it’s likely a good idea to draw a sequence diagram for you to get a better idea of ​​how the processes should operate. 90007 90004 90005 From Wikipedia 90006 90007 90002 Step 6: UX Wireframes 90003 90004 Okay, you have the back-end planned. Now, it’s time to plan your front-end. 90007 90004 90007 90004 Hopefully, you’re still as excited as the minions above.You know what you need-now you have a much better idea of ​​what your app should look like. 90007 90004 90263 90005 CC License 90006 90007 90004 Since humans are mostly visual creatures, you’d have a better time understanding what you should do if you have a visual of every view you’ll be coding. However, if you’re like me and your drawing is so messy you can hardly understand the obscure piece of … 90005 cough 90006 masterwork … you’ve created, it’s naturally unwise to proceed with the this step through abusing your poor artistic braincells.90007 90004 Luckily, many wireframing and mockup tools exist online to help you plan your UX / UI flow (e.g. Gliffy, Mockflow, Framebox, Wireframe.cc, Invisionapp). 90007 90002 Step 6.5 (Optional): Design the UI 90003 90004 This is an optional step, but if you intend to specialize in front-end development or if you care a lot about what your app is going to look like to the point where a prettier app would motivate you to code, definitely go ahead and design the app so all those wireframe UI elements can be replaced with nicer-looking ones.90007 90004 If you love designing, you’re probably going to design the app before you start anyway-maybe you already designed it during step 2. 90007 90004 If you do not do design but still care about how your app will look like, consider using elements from UI kits. Here are a few resources for UI elements: 90280 (Note: Photoshop required) 90007 90004 90283 90007 90004 UI ​​Cloud 90280 Graphicburger 90280 UI Dock 90007 90004 For games: 90280 Spriters Resource 90007 90004 Do not get too hung up on the app’s appearance, however.Right now you should be focusing on building an app’s functions instead. 90007 90002 Step 7: Researching Solutions 90003 90004 Great! You’re done with the planning stage … but how are you supposed to code all that stuff? 90007 90004 An important skill you’ll have to learn as a programmer is to evaluate when you should use something another developer has already written, and when to build the function yourself. 90007 90004 90007 90004 Since everyone is building a unique app, not every use case is the same.Thus, 90021 you 90022 have to judge when to use an existing solution and when to build your own, and you’ll get better at doing so with experience. 90007 90004 90007 90004 If you’re feeling like a directionless boat lost on a vast ocean, take a deep breath and do not panic. You can do this. 90007 90004 As you gain more experience with researching, honing your «Google-fu», and building things, you’ll eventually get a hang of this process. 90007 90246 Looking at Solutions 90247 90004 Take a look at all diagrams you’ve drawn as well as the functionality list you’ve made in step 2.90007 90004 What are some things you have absolutely no idea how to build? 90007 90004 For example, do users need to create an account? Does your app rely on real-time updates? What functions do you need? 90007 90004 Most of the time it is a good idea to just use an existing solution for large functions such as handling real-time syncing (eg Firebase), networking / routing (eg AFNetworking for iOS apps), authentication, and UI-related components ( eg flipboard or pinterest-esque app). 90007 90004 Many online databases exist for you to search for backend-related components / packages / gems / etc, but you need to be careful with your evaluation of what other people have written-don’t just use them blindly.You’re hopefully not going to be building anything too complex right now, so right now you’re probably not going to need components other people have written. 90007 90004 At any rate, the best way to start out is to 90021 study what other developers have done before you 90022 and learn the logic behind their decisions. GitHub is your best friend. 90007 90004 90007 90004 For a real-life example of an experienced developer’s research process for a particular function, you can check out this post about how Angular-Plunker’s creator built Plunker’s drag-and-drop directives.90007 90246 Choosing Tools to Get Started With 90247 90004 If you’re building a web app, perhaps you can check out Yeoman as it aims to help you quickly kickstart new projects by helping you set up the structure of your project. 90007 90004 90007 90004 If you’re building a React app, you can also check out starter kits and existing Flux implementations. HTML5Boilerplate and Bootstrap are popular front-end templates for your app. More often than not, boilerplates use Gulp or Grunt for task management.90007 90004 Since you’re likely going to be using some existing components or solutions, you should also install bower for dependency management (npm for those using Node.js and CocoaPods for iOS developers). Do not worry-most of the time these tools come with tutorials that will teach you how to install them. 90007 90002 Step 8: Building the App 90003 90004 90007 90004 Yes! You’re ready to build the app now! Here are some tips you should keep in mind when building your app. 90007 90246 Checklist 90247 90004 90351 90007 90004 You should focus on building the app function by function.Thus, if you’re not done with one task such as a commenting system, do not suddenly start to build a user profile view. In other words, if you’re building a form, for example, you should work on both the front and back-end code until the function is complete. 90007 90004 All in all, to keep track of your progress, you can write down a to-do list of functions and use it as a checklist. 90007 90246 Write Tests First 90247 90004 Unless your building a game app, it’s a good idea to write a test for your function first before you actually begin to code the feature.Bugs are inevitable, but testing will greatly reduce your mistakes and your chances of releasing buggy code to production. 90007 90004 Granted, writing unit tests take time and you may sometimes question whether it’s worth it. However, if you’re looking to build bigger projects in the future in which you’d continue to add new features, this may happen to your app: 90007 90004 90007 90004 Then this (is an exaggeration of what) may happen: 90007 90004 90368 90007 90004 Or god forbid: 90007 90004 90373 90007 90004 And this would be you, trying to fix the app: 90007 90004 90378 90007 90004 … More or less.90007 90004 So, it’s a good idea to start small and get into the habit of doing Test-Driven Development (TDD), especially since you’re starting fresh and building something simple. 90007 90004 You’re not on some deadline with a project manager 90007.