PCB Soldering & Assembly Terms Glossary

A part with metal leads that go through holes in the PCB before being soldered.

A soldering process where the PCB passes over a wave of molten solder to attach through-hole components.

Removing solder from a component so it can be replaced or repaired.

A solder stencil is like a special template that helps apply just the right amount of solder paste, in just the right places, on a PCB.

Reflow soldering is a way to attach electronic parts to a PCB using heat. First, solder paste is put on the pads, then components are placed on top. The whole board goes through a special oven that melts the paste, sticking the parts in place.

Soldering process done purely by hand, with a soldering iron.

A soldering iron is a handheld tool that gets hot and melts solder, which is used to join electronic parts together. It’s like a mini wand that lets you fuse metal with heat.

Solder is a special metal alloy that melts at a low temperature. It’s often made from tin, copper, silver, or other metals. It acts like glue for electronics but is made of metal so it carries electricity.

Flux is a special liquid or paste that helps solder flow smoothly and stick better. It also cleans the metal so there’s no dirt or oxidation that could mess up the connection. Think of it like soap for soldering—it cleans and helps things work better!