JBC’s arrival in the M5 SMT Lab

Surface-mount technology demands precision.
To meet that need, the M5 SMT lab has newly installed JBC tools — known for their rapid thermal recovery, ergonomic design, and exceptional control. This decision came after hands-on evaluation and feedback from lab users.

Our SMT lab was in need of a summer makeover, which is why, I decided to show you the process step by step. Since this is one of the most heavily used spaces in M5, we had a lot of work at hand-

Here is what we started out with:

Our first step, was ofcourse, cleaning up - Shoutout to Priyanka for the help!

We had a lot of projects that members work on, which we can now store in the Member Project Storage space (Yes, that’s new!!).

Here’s a picture post clean-up:

So much better, right?

It was time for the installation now.

There’s a multitude of reasons as to why we decided to make this switch, but some of the most important factors are:

Smart Hibernation and Sleep Modes

Prolongs tip life and increases safety.

Fast Thermal Recovery and user friendly design

Heats up in seconds and maintains a stable temperature even on large joints.
Offers a full temperature control from the station - no need to swap tips to change temps.

Tip Flexibility

The cartridge style tip system provides quick tool free changes, and the ergonomic hanfle makes long sessions much more comfortable.

For students and researchers working with increasingly complex PCBs and smaller components, JBC offers better control, faster workflow, and improved soldering quality. Whether you’re assembling a prototype, troubleshooting a board, or performing rework under a microscope, you’ll notice the difference immediately.

We’re continuing to improve the tools and environment in the M5 SMT Lab to better support advanced electronics work. The move to JBC is just one of many steps toward creating a lab that reflects industry standards and empowers student innovation.