Rather than further digging the hole, that is the 80-page LTZ1000 thread, I've decided to start a new thread for any members to showcase their KX references designed by TiN!
This weekend I was able to assemble everything, but 1 component, on 1 of my KX references. Somehow I overlooked the 22 nF cap when placing my order from Digikey... so I will have to wait a few days for that to arrive until it is finished and I can start monitoring. I am still really new to SMD soldering, so just assembling this board took me several hours. I didn't leave my iron on for more than 2 or 3 seconds before removing heat and applied cooling. I used tweezers/forceps for extra heat dissipation where applicable and the solder I used was SN62/PB36/AG2
I purchased Vishay 'black magic' resistors for both my my KX boards, but I decided to get some PWW resistors from Edwin for my 2nd KX reference.
Major components ready to go!
![](https://doc.xdevs.com/doc/xDevs.com/CalMachine/wtdldjy_1.jpg)
Clean board ready to be assembled.
![](https://doc.xdevs.com/doc/xDevs.com/CalMachine/UVOUraC_1.jpg)
Components from Digikey... sadly there is no 22 nF caps in there
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![](https://doc.xdevs.com/doc/xDevs.com/CalMachine/Ho1xTaZ_1.jpg)
Small surface mount resistors were put on first.
![](https://doc.xdevs.com/doc/xDevs.com/CalMachine/lqW4Uw8_1.jpg)
First AZ OP and caps put into place
![](https://doc.xdevs.com/doc/xDevs.com/CalMachine/r1LXz0j_1.jpg)
Second AZ OP and MAX temp sensor put in place
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![](https://doc.xdevs.com/doc/xDevs.com/CalMachine/uV59AbE_1.jpg)
Getting the magical resistors in place! Also, the underside MAX Temp sensor was put in place prior to this. I had forgotten to take a picture at that step.
![](https://doc.xdevs.com/doc/xDevs.com/CalMachine/rjgJtZe_1.jpg)
Heater resistors and Zener current resistors are in. There was no way these metal enclosures were going to fit side by side, so I had to improvise slightly. I am not certain, but I feel like my solution was a pretty good one. I did not have to bend leads much. Once one resistor was in the holes to the approximate depth I was looking for, I grabbed the leads between the PCB and resistor body for support. All stress of bending was put into the leads, and leads alone. I've seen other members wrap some sort of foil or something around the heater pair for increased thermal coupling. I will most likely end up doing something similar to that once I figure out what I want to do.
![](https://doc.xdevs.com/doc/xDevs.com/CalMachine/m3JmGbZ_1.jpg)
LTZ1000 tac'd down! Man... I've never been more nervous or scared while soldering, in my life! Nothing like getting your blood pumping, than soldering on a $50 component for the first time.
![](https://doc.xdevs.com/doc/xDevs.com/CalMachine/6LV6ES9_1.jpg)
The underside after soldering.
![](https://doc.xdevs.com/doc/xDevs.com/CalMachine/cpg0mca_1.jpg)
Tada!!!!!
![](https://doc.xdevs.com/doc/xDevs.com/CalMachine/ijIzf9o_1.jpg)
![](https://doc.xdevs.com/doc/xDevs.com/CalMachine/THmwrbO_1.jpg)
![](https://doc.xdevs.com/doc/xDevs.com/CalMachine/Z9Nv9Ti_1.jpg)
![](https://doc.xdevs.com/doc/xDevs.com/CalMachine/27SxNjY_1.jpg)
Here is a little glass dome that I was wanting to help keep the LTZ1000 at thermal equilibrium as well as isolated from any air movement. Although, I've read that TOO much isolation can be bad. I would like to hear opinions on a small little glass dome, such as this one.
![](https://doc.xdevs.com/doc/xDevs.com/CalMachine/76PAccc_1.jpg)
![](https://doc.xdevs.com/doc/xDevs.com/CalMachine/Q6nhul7_1.jpg)
I would love to hear any questions/comments/concerns regarding this board. I am still a very novice VoltNut, so any advice would be greatly appreciated
![Smiley :)](https://www.eevblog.com/forum/Smileys/default/xsmiley.gif.pagespeed.ic.R8GFI-pF6f.png)