Abstract: Methods and apparatus for reworking printed circuit boards carrying surface mounted components by removing faulty or improperly connected components and replacing them with new components, incorporate an X-Y table for clamping the board with the target component positioned on a vertical working axis, using a heated, component-gripping vacuum head movably mounted for vertical movement and angularly rotatable pivoting adjustment, and jets of hot compressed air directed at the component's peripheral terminal leads, bringing them to solder-melting temperature, with a reversible angular drive motor connected to deliver torque to the head gently or abruptly or in reciprocating fashion, producing pivoting head movement over a small angle of rotation, shearing the adhesive which bonds the component in place, all under control of a programmed microcomputer governing operating sequences selected and initiated by the operator.

Abstract: By providing a multi-faced, heat conducting element incorporating projecting heat insulating material in juxtaposed, spaced relationship to the heat conducting element, a unique, inexpensive, readily produced solder pot is achieved for use in removing and replacing multi-pinned components mounted on printed circuit boards. In the preferred embodiment, the multi-faced heat conducting element incorporates a plurality of different faces, with each face corresponding to the pin configuration of a particular multi-pinned component, thereby achieving a single solder pot which can be employed for a plurality of different multi-pinned components. Furthermore, the preferred embodiment incorporates the heat insulating material formed as side panels, mounted at each end of the multi-faced element, with the heat insulating material possessing overall dimensions which expand upon heating to become greater than the outer dimensions of the multi-faced element.

Abstract: A wire storage and wrapping tool for making wrapped wire connections on wrapping posts incorporates a portable housing having a front end and a rear end, a hollow open-ended sleeve shaft extending through the housing and rotatably mounted therein with its open ends exposed, and a drive motor mounted in the housing and connected to rotate the sleeve shaft. A hollow wrapping bit is removably engaged in the front end of the sleeve shaft with a wrapping post-engaging axial bore and an eccentric axial wire-delivery portal with an insulation-slitting axial edge. A hollow wire storage container encloses an extended length of wire wound in a succession of uniform layers concentric about a central axis, and has a wire exit portal disengageably secured to the rear open end of the sleeve shaft.