SMT Perspectives and Prospects: Warren Buffett’s Perpetual Wisdom, Part 1
Standard of Excellence: Training Your Team to Excel in Customer Service
Smart Automation: What Industry 4.0 Means for Mid-sized Electronics Manufacturing
STI Electronics to Receive Best Paper Award for BTC/QFN Test Board Design Research
January 17, 2017 | STI Electronics, Inc.Estimated reading time: 1 minute
STI Electronics has been selected to receive the "Best of Conference" award for a paper presented during SMTA International in September. The paper entitled "BTC/QFN Test Board Design Considerations and Method for Qualifying Soldering Materials and Cleaning Processes" was co-authored by Dr. Mike Bixenman of KYZEN, and Mark McMeen and Jason Tynes from STI Electronics.
It becomes necessary from time to time to change materials of construction, manufacturing processes, and process conditions. A soldering material or cleaning agent may become unavailable due to environmental regulation, market forces, or reformulation. Certain conditions require some form of verification and validation that the process meets the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) quality and reliability specifications.
J-STD-001 Requirements for Soldered Electrical and Electronic Assemblies states that validation and verification be confirmed with test vehicles that are representative of the product being produced. Many of the industry standard test vehicles are dated and not representative of current electrical and electronic assemblies.
The purpose of this research is to use a non-standard test board with sensors placed at the bottom termination to study cleanliness and contamination effects under QFN components. The non-standard test board has features to also study thermal paddle design options and to develop a risk profile. This research has demonstrated Surface Insulation Resistance effects at the source of the residue.
The authors will formally be presented their awards at the Opening Ceremony during SMTA International on September 19 in Rosemont, Illinois. The papers are available in the conference proceedings available in the SMTA Bookstore.
About STI Electronics, Inc.
Since 1982, STI Electronics, Inc. (STI) has been the premier full service organization for training, consulting, laboratory analysis, prototyping, and small-to-medium volume contract PCB assembly in the electronics industry. STI also produces a complete line of solder training kits and training support products. For more information, click here.
Share on:
Testimonial
"Our marketing partnership with I-Connect007 is already delivering. Just a day after our press release went live, we received a direct inquiry about our updated products!"
Rachael Temple - AlltematedSuggested Items
Weller Tools Supports Future Talent with Exclusive Donation to SMTA Michigan Student Soldering Competition
07/23/2025 | Weller ToolsWeller Tools, the industry leader in hand soldering solutions, is proud to announce its support of the upcoming SMTA Michigan Expo & Tech Forum by donating a limited-edition 80th Anniversary Black Soldering Set to the event’s student soldering competition.
Koh Young Appoints Tom Hattori as President of Koh Young Japan
07/21/2025 | Koh YoungKoh Young Technology, the global leader in True 3D measurement-based inspection solutions, announced the appointment of Tom Hattori as President of Koh Young Japan (JKY).
Silicon Mountain Contract Services Enhances SMT Capabilities with New HELLER Reflow Oven
07/17/2025 | Silicon Mountain Contract ServicesSilicon Mountain Contract Services, a leading provider of custom electronics manufacturing solutions, is proud to announce a significant upgrade to its SMT production capability with the addition of a HELLER 2043 MK5 10‑zone reflow oven to its Nampa facility.
Knocking Down the Bone Pile: Addressing End-of-life Component Solderability Issues, Part 4
07/16/2025 | Nash Bell -- Column: Knocking Down the Bone PileIn 1983, the Department of Defense identified that over 40% of military electronic system failures in the field were electrical, with approximately 50% attributed to poor solder connections. Investigations revealed that plated finishes, typically nickel or tin, were porous and non-intermetallic.
SHENMAO Strengthens Semiconductor Capabilities with Acquisition of PMTC
07/10/2025 | SHENMAOSHENMAO America, Inc. has announced the acquisition of Profound Material Technology Co., Ltd. (PMTC), a premier Taiwan-based manufacturer of high-performance solder balls for semiconductor packaging.