Grainy or dull solder is defined as a rough solder surface with small, gritty projections protruding through the top, or a non-shiny surface that shows no signs of chemical attack.
Other things to look for in the process:
Other things to look for with the assembly:
Thing to look for with the bare board:
Thing to look for with the board design:
Paul Lotosky is global director - customer technical support at Cookson Electronics
(cooksonelectronics.com); plotosky@cooksonelectronics.com. His column appears monthly.