Selective solder equipment - looking for some input!
Ken Gracey
Posts: 7,401
Hey all,
We're running a growing number of mixed SMT/through-hole PCBs in Rocklin these days. Some examples include Spinneret, C3 with WiFi and PropBOE right around the corner. No matter how well you plan it seems that there's always some through-hole. The only chance of cost-effective through-hole manufacturing in the USA (especially California) is with automation, as you already know.
For the past couple of months I've been researching various automated techniques, specifically wave soldering and selective soldering (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selective_soldering) processes. The wave soldering machines require lots of solder, use excessive amounts of heat, and generally are less practical for some of our smaller production runs. And the wave soldering machines get very messy. They use quite a bit of power, require significant venting, and cost more to run as a result. I've ruled out the idea of a wave soldering machine at Parallax for these reasons.
Selective solder seems to be more suited to our processes, however. Selective machines are programmable via camera on the machine, or file import (we'd probably use the former method). And there are several types of selectives - a mini bubble/wave where the PCB sits upright, and something like an automated human robot that holds an 80W iron and feeds a roll of solder which feeds the PCB through upside down in a tray fixture.
Do any of you have experience with the two types of selective solder machines that you could share? I'm looking carefully at the hot iron/solder roll feed system quite carefully. Apparently one of the benefits of the iron approach is that they can access tighter spots than the selective bubble.
Equipment representatives sell what they offer. Contract manufacturers I've spoken with usually have wave soldering equipment, so I'm not getting to far in my research.
I'd appreciate any tips on this issue.
Thanks,
Ken Gracey
We're running a growing number of mixed SMT/through-hole PCBs in Rocklin these days. Some examples include Spinneret, C3 with WiFi and PropBOE right around the corner. No matter how well you plan it seems that there's always some through-hole. The only chance of cost-effective through-hole manufacturing in the USA (especially California) is with automation, as you already know.
For the past couple of months I've been researching various automated techniques, specifically wave soldering and selective soldering (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selective_soldering) processes. The wave soldering machines require lots of solder, use excessive amounts of heat, and generally are less practical for some of our smaller production runs. And the wave soldering machines get very messy. They use quite a bit of power, require significant venting, and cost more to run as a result. I've ruled out the idea of a wave soldering machine at Parallax for these reasons.
Selective solder seems to be more suited to our processes, however. Selective machines are programmable via camera on the machine, or file import (we'd probably use the former method). And there are several types of selectives - a mini bubble/wave where the PCB sits upright, and something like an automated human robot that holds an 80W iron and feeds a roll of solder which feeds the PCB through upside down in a tray fixture.
Do any of you have experience with the two types of selective solder machines that you could share? I'm looking carefully at the hot iron/solder roll feed system quite carefully. Apparently one of the benefits of the iron approach is that they can access tighter spots than the selective bubble.
Equipment representatives sell what they offer. Contract manufacturers I've spoken with usually have wave soldering equipment, so I'm not getting to far in my research.
I'd appreciate any tips on this issue.
Thanks,
Ken Gracey
Comments
I assume the through-hole stuff is just connectors, right? If that's the case, you might also investigate pre-solder/flux-charged connectors that can be installed on SMD equipment. When heated during reflow, they dump their solder load into the hole. They're likely to be more expensive than the jelly-bean parts, though (think Samtec prices) and won't help when the connector needs to go on the side opposite the SMD parts.
Anyway, 'just a thought...
-Phil