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New Nozzles, Software, and Equipment for Selective and Wave Soldering
June 4, 2010 |Estimated reading time: 7 minutes
— These soldering products include selective soldering equipment, custom nozzles, selective soldering programming software, a compact wave soldering system, and a component lead re-tinning machine.
Selective Soldering System
The IS-450 selective soldering system automatically solders through-hole components onto mixed-technology PCBs using an under-board mini-wave that precisely solders connectors, capacitors, and high-power devices onto boards at lead-free process temperatures of 250º to 330ºC. The U.S.-made IS-450 conducts precise dip-and-drag selective soldering for post-reflow, through-hole components, and odd forms. The system is powered by closed-loop servo motors for X/Y/Z axis motion that articulates the fluxer and mini-wave. Even when processing densely populated boards, the system maintains adjustable clearance/keep-away of as little as 1.5 mm. The system is programmable off-line to govern wave temperature and height, travel speed, and dwell time at each point. It is said to prevent bridging, lifted pads, measling, etc. Manncorp, www.manncorp.com
Selective Soldering Nozzles for Pillarhouse Equipment
Pillarhouse AP-1 universal nozzles are manufactured for the entire line of selective soldering machines, including Synchrodex, Handex, Jade, GEM, Orissa, MPR and Topaz-E. It can consistently apply flux and solder to component leads without disturbing nearby SMT components. The nozzles are made from steel alloys made in the US, precision machined to all of the original design properties. The nozzles are available in all standards sizes from 2.5 to 12 mm. Count On Tools also provides identification marks that enable customers to easily identify lead nozzles from lead-free versions. In addition, Count On Tools offers custom selective solder nozzles based on specific application requirements. This includes special wave form sizes and extended or shortened lengths. All nozzles are guaranteed to function properly with the original equipment. Count On Tools Inc., www.cotinc.com
Cost-effective, Automated Selective Soldering
The ESS Selective Soldering Machines are designed for assemblers transitioning from manual or semi-automatic to automated selective soldering. The systems perform short-run, batch selective soldering applications. The ESS310 and ESS500 Selective Soldering Machines target easy operation, accuracy, and repeatability, with near “zero defect” solder joint yields. The systems perform single point, drag, mini-wave or dip soldering with on-board flux, preheat, and omni-directional soldering. Programming is achieved through an on-board, touch screen, micro-controller and intuitive programming software. For increased productivity and throughput, off-line programming and photoscan software are also available. APS Novastar LLC, http://www.apsgold.com
Additional Selective Soldering Equipment Features
The GoSelective light standalone will now be referred to as the GoSelective. The GoSelective light in-line is now called the SelectiveLine. Featuring a high-precision miniwave process, the GoSelective and SelectiveLine suit high product mix, particularly for small- and medium-sized production volumes. The systems feature a precise axis system for exact positioning of various workstations, and are capable of handling bare boards or assemblies in carriers up to 500 × 500 mm. The GoSelective and SelectiveLine are fully lead-free capable. A fiducial recognition function performs automatic PCB alignment, process visualization, an easy-to-use off-line teach program, and other features. The SelectiveLine machine concept is designed for in-line operation and may be upgraded individually to reduce cycle times remarkably if production volumes should increase. This also makes it possible to adapt the degree of automation in the production to current requirements. The SelectiveLine concept covers three basic modules: the SelectiveLine soldering module, a separate fluxing module, and a preheat module. These modules may be arranged individually or as a complete production line. All modules are controlled through one central SPC control unit, which is featured with a CAN bus system. In addition, the SelectiveLine may be equipped with SEHO's real-time and real-quantity control of the drop jet fluxer. This fluxer control monitors the fluxer nozzle function and measures the actual flux quantity of each drop jetted by the drop jet nozzle during the fluxing process. The measured quantity is compared to a reference value. If the system detects a deviation, an error message is initiated. The system’s software indicates which part of the PCB has not been fluxed correctly. SEHO Systems GmbH, www.seho.de
Lead-free Compact Wave Soldering Machine
System 16.350 is a derivative of the high-volume 28.400, giving mid-volume dependability, features, and robust construction in a 1.675-m-long footprint. It is a dual wave, includes a titanium 350-mm-wide automatic finger conveyor with built-in finger cleaner. Other features are convection preheat instead of uneven IR, an adjustable spray fluxer, and touch-screen control. The machine requires less solder, 200 Kg, and includes a low-solder warning. Processing temperatures can be set to lead-free or tin/lead requirements to 300°C. Manncorp, www.manncorp.com
Software Toolkit to Simplify Selective Soldering
KISS-Ware 2.0 software and programming tools are designed to provide more intuitive programming. KISS-Ware 2.0 easily imports PCB assembly data from a variety of sources and assists the programmer in the fast, simple development of a soldering program to drive ACE's family of KISS Selective Soldering systems. KISS-Ware 2.0 uses one or more of a variety of inputs, including Gerber, DXF, Digital or scanned board images to quickly generate PCB dimensions and display X/Y data points that will become the fluxing and soldering targets. This interactive tool enables program editing right on the PCB image. After selecting the flux tool or solder nozzle, the operator drags the icon/cursor to the desired flux and solder locations and KISS-Ware 2.0 automatically generates all of the machine commands required for processing the job. As the program develops, the user interface displays a highlighted path indentifying everything that has been programmed. In the event that edits are needed, the operator simply calls up the same graphical interface, highlights the desired items to be edited, and follows the intuitive program prompts. Typical programming time for a new selective soldering job takes no more than 5 minutes. Other quick command features include editing on the actual assembly image, step by step prompts, and easy global edits. ACE Production Technologies Inc., www.ace-protech.com
Selective Soldering Nozzles for ACE Equipment
ACE Bullet nozzles are available for the KISS range of selective soldering machines. The selective solder nozzles consistently apply flux and solder to component leads without disturbing nearby SMT components. They are precision machined from steel alloys in the US to the original design properties. The nozzles are available in all standards sizes from 3 to 25 mm. Count On Tools also provides identification marks that identify lead nozzles from lead-free versions. Count On Tools offers custom selective solder nozzles based on specific application requirements. This includes special wave form sizes and extended or shortened lengths. All nozzles are guaranteed to function properly with the original equipment. Count On Tools Inc., www.cotinc.com
Off-line Teaching Program
Operating the off-line teaching program II is reportedly easy and convenient. The XML data structure enables a bidirectional data exchange, i.e. taking solder programs out of the off-line teaching program and into the machine and vice versa is possible without hassle or further conversions. Furthermore, differences between the original solder program and the program stored in the machine control system can be displayed automatically. The off-line teaching program can process image data from cameras and scans and automatically eliminates common picture distortions. Operators can globally store periodical process parameters for use with particular solder points or soldering passages when developing new solder programs. In “passage optimization,” after teaching all solder points, the program computes the fastest way to minimize handling. This prospectively computed cycle time will be displayed directly to the operator. Computing the optimal process sequence for odd components can be taken into consideration when marked. For documentation, solder programs can be summarized and printed or stored as .pdf files. SEHO Systems GmbH, www.seho.de
Military-compliant Lead Tinning System
The Anthem Lead Tinning System is a fully ANSI, MIL, IEC, and GEIA compliant system. The Anthem offers military standards compliance in a small-footprint and affordable package. It suits high-precision, low-/mid-volume in-house re-tinning of electronic components and leads. It reportedly offers ease of maintenance and new functionality to meet the complex requirements of the IEC and MIL standards. Flexible configuration includes two dynamic solder pots, pre-heat station, flux station. High-precision ball screw drives provide fast, quiet, durable motion control. PID temperature control helps meet precision thermal requirements. Windows-PC-based rapid programming and unlimited program storage are available. Programming control includes solder temperature; dynamic solder flow; emersion depth acceleration, deceleration, and feed rate; dwell time; X and Z axes and optional rotary motion. RPS Automation LLC, www.rpsautomation.com
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