Hi Graeme, A technique I've found useful is to first remove the corners of the outer can by filling across them. I then rake out as much of the solder along the seams with the back edge of a disposable "snap-off" craft knife / box cutter. Finally wedging the sharp edge to break the joint. Removing the corners releves the stiffness and allows the edge of the can to be bent back in a straight line rather than a rough set of bumps. On many hermetically sealed aircraft instruments they put a "tear" wire at the bottom of the solder joint with a tail sticking out. You just grasp this and pull. While the joint geometry on the aircraft instrument is designed for this (typically with a non-metallic packing under the wire) and your OCXO isn't, it is a good idea to leave the case slightly flaired and lay a length of tinned copper wire in it before ligthly soldering over the top.
Robert G8RPI. ________________________________ From: Graeme Zimmer <gzim...@wideband.net.au> To: Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement <time-nuts@febo.com> Sent: Sunday, 2 February 2014, 8:50 Subject: Re: [time-nuts] How to open solder-sealed OCXOs? > What's the best way to open an OCXO in the typical solder-sealed tinned > steel can? Use a high wattage iron to melt the solder at one point, prise the gap open with a flat screwdriver, then work along the join. Solder is soft. so once you get it started you should be able to roll it open like a can of tuna. You could use a dremmel and a cutting disk, but the vibration might kill the Xtal. Alternatively, a hot air gun might work if you are quick enough not to cook the innards. ............ Zim _______________________________________________ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there. _______________________________________________ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there.
