Phil Zarrow, ITM Consulting With over 35 years experience in PCB assembly, Phil is one of the leading experts in SMT process failure analysis. He has vast experience in SMT equipment, materials and processes.
Jim Hall, ITM Consulting A Lean Six-Sigma Master Blackbelt, Jim has a wealth of knowledge in soldering, thermal technology, equipment and process basics. He is a pioneer in the science of reflow.
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With regard to DS' comments, thank you and some of your points are well taken. However, I do consider my colleague, Jim Hall, an expert on vapor phase. While at HTC, in the early 1980's, he was involved in the development of vapor phase for electronic soldering and you'll find his name on some of the patents.
He was also involved in the development of IR and Convection Dominant while at Dynapert, Vitronics and Vitronics-Soltec. I would, thus consider him one of, if not the leading expert in reflow and I think he approaches the topic with objectivity as well as open-mindedness. On the other hand, he's not selling anything. Just sayin'...
Phil Zarrow, President and Principal Consultant, ITM Consulting
You mentioned that vapor phase soldering uses temperatures of 235 to 240C. We utilize a .8mm RoHS BGA that states: It is recommended to apply a soldering temperature higher than 250 C. Could we use a vapor phase system for this part? Do you have any idea why this part recommends temperatures higher than 250C?
Eric Rossi, EMAC
As much as I enjoy your "Click and Clackish" banter, I felt it necessary to deliver a few facts regarding your "Vapor Phase vs. IR conversation for Prototyping" conversation.
1) Vapor Phase Expensive? Most units run at a fluid operating cost of well under $5/hr. They don't use Nitrogen; they have lower power consumption rates and generally smaller physical footprints reducing floor costs.
2) Expensive equipment? Units for Lab and Prototype processes start around $18K
3) You say that people can understand convection; they can get their head around it? So that's why it's better? Do you mean ignorance is bliss?
4) If Vapor Phase is the process that "lets you do it in one shot" why would you ever use something that required two shots?
5) The Pb free Vapor Phase fluids you're groping for are the Galden LS230 and the Galden HS 240. Both products are manufactured by Solvay Solexis. The 230 and the 240 in the product names denote the boiling point (vapor temperature) of the fluid. And yes, Solvay Solexis is currently the only manufacturer of these boiling points. However, they are not the only manufacturer of vapor phase fluids which range in temp from 200 C* - 320 C* and with the current rise of vapor phase due to its superior reflow methodology, I feel it won't be long before the fluid market expands just as the vapor phase equipment market has.
Leave the radio shows and Vapor Phase to the experts. Or, become experts.
David Suihkonen, R&D Technical Services
There is no issues with the vapor removing flux. Vapor Degreasers are a marginally similar technology using a completely different family of fluids. With vapor phase, start with the flux you're currently using, create a proper profile, and go from there.
David Suihkonen, R&D Technical Services
In a vapor phase system, is there an issue with condensing fluids removing flux from the items to be soldered? Vapor degreasers are very similar, they work very well at removing anything that was soluble in the fluid. Are special flux types sold for vapor phase use?
Bob Kondner, Index Designs
Guys I think you have been buried in the North East in convection Reflow Central for a few years too many. Fluids are only expensive if consumption is high, it typically is not.
Remember expense is only a cost in the absence of value. Vapor Phase brings significant value to prototyping shops as it does all electronics assembly houses dealing in exotic products or situations. And lets be reasonable and logical. Vapor phase machines have no more stainless steel in them than a convection machine, operate LOWER temperature heaters as they do not have to create peak temperatures significantly above the target temperature, are easier and faster to profile and operate at ~40% of the electrical power of an equivalent Convection machine. This makes them extremely cost effective to own and operate before we factor in the benefits of costs saved due to higher yields and first time pass rates.
And just for the benefit of all - PCBs in a convection system are NOT heated as a result of convection, they are heated as a result of conduction. Convection describes the movement of thermal currents, conduction describes the transference of heat from one media to another. The thermal conduction characteristics of gases, air or nitrogen are a fraction of those of vapor and it is this in efficiency that results in Convection reflow machines consuming considerably more electricity than the rest of the line in aggregate.
I am happy to chat more about the process and the current state of the technology and machines, either in batch form or in-line, with Vacuum or without.
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Components encapsulated in plastic or organic compounds are susceptible to moisture damage. So are PCBs, all can cause early field failures. Control MSDs per IPC J-Std-033b.1 and 1601. Super Dry®
Components encapsulated in plastic or organic compounds are susceptible to moisture damage. So are PCBs, all can cause early field failures. Control MSDs per IPC J-Std-033b.1 and 1601. Super Dry®
Once you have made the decision to package your electronics with rigid flex, it makes sense to pick a production partner who can build it right. Printed Circuits, Inc.
Solve manufacturing challenges while networking with hundreds of exhibitors and thousands of peers focused on design, manufacture, assembly and test. Keynote by William Shatner. IPC — Association Connecting Electronics Industries
Once you have made the decision to package your electronics with rigid flex, it makes sense to pick a production partner who can build it right. Printed Circuits, Inc.
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He was also involved in the development of IR and Convection Dominant while at Dynapert, Vitronics and Vitronics-Soltec. I would, thus consider him one of, if not the leading expert in reflow and I think he approaches the topic with objectivity as well as open-mindedness. On the other hand, he's not selling anything. Just sayin'...
Phil Zarrow, President and Principal Consultant, ITM Consulting
Eric Rossi, EMAC
1) Vapor Phase Expensive? Most units run at a fluid operating cost of well under $5/hr. They don't use Nitrogen; they have lower power consumption rates and generally smaller physical footprints reducing floor costs.
2) Expensive equipment? Units for Lab and Prototype processes start around $18K
3) You say that people can understand convection; they can get their head around it? So that's why it's better? Do you mean ignorance is bliss?
4) If Vapor Phase is the process that "lets you do it in one shot" why would you ever use something that required two shots?
5) The Pb free Vapor Phase fluids you're groping for are the Galden LS230 and the Galden HS 240. Both products are manufactured by Solvay Solexis. The 230 and the 240 in the product names denote the boiling point (vapor temperature) of the fluid. And yes, Solvay Solexis is currently the only manufacturer of these boiling points. However, they are not the only manufacturer of vapor phase fluids which range in temp from 200 C* - 320 C* and with the current rise of vapor phase due to its superior reflow methodology, I feel it won't be long before the fluid market expands just as the vapor phase equipment market has.
Leave the radio shows and Vapor Phase to the experts. Or, become experts.
David Suihkonen, R&D Technical Services
David Suihkonen, R&D Technical Services
Bob Kondner, Index Designs
Remember expense is only a cost in the absence of value. Vapor Phase brings significant value to prototyping shops as it does all electronics assembly houses dealing in exotic products or situations. And lets be reasonable and logical. Vapor phase machines have no more stainless steel in them than a convection machine, operate LOWER temperature heaters as they do not have to create peak temperatures significantly above the target temperature, are easier and faster to profile and operate at ~40% of the electrical power of an equivalent Convection machine. This makes them extremely cost effective to own and operate before we factor in the benefits of costs saved due to higher yields and first time pass rates.
And just for the benefit of all - PCBs in a convection system are NOT heated as a result of convection, they are heated as a result of conduction. Convection describes the movement of thermal currents, conduction describes the transference of heat from one media to another. The thermal conduction characteristics of gases, air or nitrogen are a fraction of those of vapor and it is this in efficiency that results in Convection reflow machines consuming considerably more electricity than the rest of the line in aggregate.
I am happy to chat more about the process and the current state of the technology and machines, either in batch form or in-line, with Vacuum or without.
Allen Duck, A-Tek