Operating and Maintaining the Mark V Soldering Station
Document No.:11144
1 of 3
Revision 14-Oct-11
Micro-Measurements micro-measurements@vishaypg.com www.micro-measurements.com
Instruction Bulletin
B-144-7
Micro-Measurements
Operating and Maintaining the Mark V Soldering Station
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The Mark V Soldering Station is designed to provide
precision and ease of operation for delicate soldering
applications, particularly strain gage installations. The
Mark V consists of a control unit, soldering pencil, and a
general-purpose screwdriver-style tip. The standard
115Vac, 50-60 Hz, control unit can be converted to 230
Vac operation by simple adaptation (see wiring diagram
on the inside cover of the unit). It is rated at 25W, with
overload protection afforded by a fused power supply. A
17-position selector switch regulates power to the heating
element, and a 6-ft [1.8 m] 3-wire grounded line cord
eliminates potential shock hazards.
Although the 1.1-oz [31-g] pencil is rated at 25W, the 12V
fast-recovery element outperforms conventional 40W and
50W irons. It is isolated from the main power supply to
prevent electrical damage to the gage. A Teflon heat
shield and flexible burn-resistant cord enhance operation.
Four styles of easily replaceable tips are available. Each
tip is of one-piece construction. Three of the tips are pre-
tinned, iron-clad, solid copper, with the tip shank over-
plated with nickel/chromium to retard oxidation during
continuous use. The fourth tip is a special nickel-plated
copper designed to minimize loss of tip tinning at highest
temperature settings. The design of each tip provides the
high thermal capacity needed to take full advantage of the
fast heating-element recovery rate. Refer to Micro-
Measurements Catalog A-110 for a description of each
tip.
Read through the following instructions thoroughly before
operating the Mark V Soldering Station.
OPERATING PROCEDURE
Setup
1. Check the heater selector switch for ease of rotation
through all 17 heat positions. As a precaution, reset the
selector switch to 7 or 8 to eliminate the possibility of an
inappropriately high temperature setting.
2. Adjust the soldering tip to a snug, but not binding, fit;
carefully insert the pencil element to the full depth of the
tip cavity. To tighten, remove tip from element and gently
squeeze the slotted shank with fingers or small pliers. To
loosen, remove tip from element and gently spread
slotted shank with a wedged instrument, such as a small
screwdriver blade. To prevent rotation and possible
damage to the heating element within its tubular handle,
always use a straight pulling motion to remove tip.
3. A prerequisite to proper soldering is adequate tinning
of the soldering tip. To ensure that the tip is properly
tinned, prepare the clad surface, prior to initial use, by
wrapping 2 to 3 in [50 to 75 mm] of solder wire around the
soldering portion of the tip. If rosin core solder is used, no
external flux is required; however, if uncored solder is
used, dip the wrapped tip into M-Flux AR so that sufficient
flux is available for initial tinning.
PRECAUTIONS
1. Cross-alloying of solders can change the electrical,
chemical, thermal and mechanical integrity of the solder
being used. To prevent cross-alloying of solders, it is
recommended that only one type of solder be used with
each tip.
2. Never power the heating element without a soldering
tip in place.
3. Do not use the soldering pencil with any power source
other than the Mark V control unit.
4. Warranty is void if:
(a) An anti-seize compound is used to lubricate the tip.
(b) The heating element is twisted.
(c) Pliers are used to grip heating element.
(d) The unit is operated without a tip in place.
Operation
1. Connect the soldering pencil to the control unit. The
connector on the front panel of the unit is keyed to
maintain the proper power supply polarity to the pencil
element.
2. Set the selector switch to the melting range of the
solder being used.
3. Turn the control unit on and allow to heat until the
solder wrapped around the tip melts completely. Remove
excess melted solder from the tip with a gauze sponge.
Never knock or rap a heated iron on any surface to
remove excess solder.
To retard oxidation of the tinned, clad surface, reapply an
excess of solder to tip between use. It is normal for the tip
