Can someone direct me to a reference for learning how to calibrate temperature controllers? I have 6 or 7 soldering irons and want to calibrate them. I need to learn how to do this, and what kind of equipment to purchase. I want to compare the cost of me doing it with one piece of calibrated equipment vs. sending the units to a local house to do the calibration.............

Can someone direct me to a reference for learning how to calibrate temperature controllers? I have 6 or 7 soldering irons and want to calibrate them. I need to learn how to do this, and what kind of equipment to purchase. I want to compare the cost of me doing it with one piece of calibrated equipment vs. sending the units to a local house to do the calibration.............Check out this tester (http://www.palmerwahl.com/product_line.php?cat=7&catl=19&line=186).

Thanks, Al, you da' man! :D

is it a must to calibrate solder iron as far as iso9001 is concern?

is it a must to calibrate solder iron as far as iso9001 is concern?

I suppose it could depend on the application that the tool is being used for. If for example it's for sensitive circuitry that might fail if overheated during the soldering process, it would be important to make sure the heat is well controlled.

is it a must to calibrate solder iron as far as iso9001 is concern?


ISO only requires you to calibrate when needed to ensure valid results.
The calibration of soldering irons is a workmanship question. NASA Workmanship standards require that soldering iron tip temperature be controlled within +/= 5.5°C and that they limit potential differences between ground and tip to 2 mV or less. J-Std-001 has a similar suggests (“should”) that soldering irons be controllable +/= 5°C and “Resistance between the tip of soldering systems and the workstation common point ground should not exceed 5 ohms.”

As Dave said it depends on the application.

do we calibrate or verify the soldering iron? i thought we verify.
what about thermometer?

do we calibrate or verify the soldering iron? i thought we verify.
what about thermometer?


I guess that would depend on your definition of calibration and verification. In my mind calibration is the process of quantifying a piece of equipments deviation from a known standard in order to apply a correction factor if required. If you have to control the tip temperature of a soldering iron to within +/- 5C, and when the temperature is set to 175C the actual tip temperature measures 178C then you meet the requirement, no correction factor needs to be applied. On the other hand if when set to 175C the tip temperature measures 163C then you need to apply a correction factor or replace the equipment. When you verify something you “establish the truth, accuracy, or reality of “ the item (Websters), ISO defines verification as the “confirmation, through the provision of objective evidence that specified requirements have been fulfilled”. I believe verification is the first part of the calibration process meets both of these definitions. So to me verification is a part of the calibration process, and as long as the instrument is within specification there is no need to adjust it or apply a correction factor.


I'm assuming the thermometer is the standard you are using to "calibrate" the soldering iron. To me this should be calibrated to a known standard as well. The standard used would be dependent upon your process needs, it could be traceable to a national body or it could be the thermometer itself. It depends on your process and contractual requirements.

Here is my thought.....

If you have a SPECIFIC NEED for a calibrated soldering iron (e.g. NASA as has been stated), then cal it.....

Otherwise it is like a ruler, a waste of time and money to cal it.

Hershal