A solder feed structure has a solder exit aperture with an elongated shape. The elongated shape can help reduce the incidence of clogging, as it has a dimension that is significantly larger than the wire diameter of solder. The solder feed structure has a bent segment leading up to the solder exit aperture. The arc of the bent segment can cause the solder wire to be in a stable position at one end of the elongated shape of the solder exit aperture instead of wobbling within the solder exit aperture.

In a solder processing device (A) which includes: a substantially tubular iron tip (5) that can be heated and that is extended vertically; and a solder piece supply portion (2, 6) that supplies a solder piece (Wh) from above into the iron tip (5), and in which the heat of the iron tip (5) is used to melt the solder piece (Wh) such that the molten solder is supplied downward, the supplied solder piece (Wh) is forcefully brought into contact with the inner wall of the iron tip (5). In this way, it is possible to more reliably heat and melt the solder piece (Wh) by use of the heat of the iron tip (5).

A substantially tubular iron tip (5) that can be heated and that is extended vertically and a solder piece supply portion that supplies a first solder piece (Wh1) and a second solder piece (Wh2) in which a layer of a flux (72) is provided within a tubular solder layer in this order from above into the iron tip are provided, within the iron tip, the solder pieces are erected such that on the first solder piece, the second solder piece rides and the heat of the iron tip is used to melt the first solder piece and the second solder piece such that the molten solder is supplied downward. In this way, it is possible to more reliably heat and melt the solder pieces in a posture in which they are erected within the iron tip.

The invention is a hand-held portable device for soldering electrical wires to an LED lighting strip. The device comprises mechanisms for positioning and securing LED strip contact pads, wires, and solder in position in proximity to a heating element. When the heating element is engaged, solder is melted and forms a bead which connects the wires to the LED strip contact pads. Various configurations of the device are described, as are methods of using such devices to connect LED strips to power sources.

A modular soldering station includes a first platform having a liquid reservoir and a solder dispenser, a power supply assembled to the first platform and configured to power a soldering iron, and a second platform assembled to one of the first platform or the power supply and having a fluid absorbent medium fluidly coupled to the liquid reservoir.

An intelligent soldering cartridge that includes: a housing; a solder tip; a heater for heating the solder tip; a storage device for storing information about characteristics of the cartridge; a processor for retrieving the information about characteristics of the cartridge, monitoring the power level delivered to the solder tip to detect liquidus occurrence at a solder joint, determining a thickness of an intermetallic compound (IMC) of the solder joint using some of the retrieved information, determining whether the thickness of the IMC is within a predetermined range, and generating an indication signal indicating that a reliable solder joint connection is formed when the thickness of the IMC is within the predetermined range; and an interface for transmitting the indication signal.

An intelligent soldering cartridge that includes: a housing; a solder tip; a heater for heating the solder tip; a storage device for storing information about characteristics of the cartridge; a processor for retrieving the information about characteristics of the cartridge, monitoring the power level delivered to the solder tip to detect liquidus occurrence at a solder joint, determining a thickness of an intermetallic compound (IMC) of the solder joint using some of the retrieved information, determining whether the thickness of the IMC is within a predetermined range, and generating an indication signal indicating that a reliable solder joint connection is formed when the thickness of the IMC is within the predetermined range; and an interface for transmitting the indication signal.