REFLOW REFLECTOR SHIELDS CONFIRM FEASIBILITY OF PIHR

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REFLOW REFLECTOR SHIELDS CONFIRM FEASIBILITY OF PIHR
14 March 2002 - Tecan

Pin-in-hole reflow, the technique of soldering both SMD and traditional leaded components in a single operation, has been confirmed as eminently feasible with the introduction of thin-metal reflector shields, which simply drop over temperature-sensitive components to protect them from thermal damage.

Pioneered by Weymouth based Tecan, the reflow reflector shield is custom built to fit over leaded components, such as connectors, crystal oscillators and switches, during the reflow process. Typically, these components are those which were not originally designed to cope with reflow oven temperatures. Until now, they have presented problems for PCB producers because they have to be hand, or wave-soldered as a second operation, following the re-flow of SMD components. The reflow reflector shield completely negates the need for two operations.

In the reflow oven the shield reflects heat energy, thereby preventing damage to the component body, while simultaneously allowing conducted heat from the bottom of the PCB to reflow the solder paste effectively, ensuring a good joint every time. The shields can allow a fully-populated mixed-component PCB to be re-flowed in a single operation, eliminating the need for costly and time-consuming secondary soldering of any kind. The adoption of the shield saves time, improves quality, increases efficiency and boosts yields.

"The reflow reflector shield effectively ensures the feasibility of the pin-in-hole re-flow process, "said Tecan divisional manager, Tony Weldon. "With the advent of the shield, PCB producers have a real alternative to a two-process operation. Manufacturers can now adopt an alternative technique with predictable success. We have already produced shields for particularly challenging individual needs, such as precision crystal oscillators and electrolytic capacitors, even PCMIA headers with the combination of very-high pin counts, multi-row format and close pitch. All of which can now be processed in a single reflow operation with accurately defined paste volumes for optimum results, overall savings can be tremendous."

In addition to ensuring thermal protection, at present-day PIHR temperatures, typically 200C to230C, the shields are also capable of efficient operation at even higher temperature, for example those required for lead-free re-flow. A typical re-flow shield will reduce the temperature affecting the component it protects by 20C to 40C, dependent upon its design. Holes in the sides and base of the shields optimise heat flow characteristics allowing fumes and contaminants to escape while thermal protection is maintained. The shield can be hand located, or machine pick and placed.

The company offers a total PIHR service which incorporates all the aspects necessary to produce optimum results, from reflector shields to stencil design and provision.

http://www.tecan.co.uk

About: Tecan
Tecan is a world-class, ISO 9001:2000 registered precision metal part and tool manufacturer, based in Weymouth, UK. Formed in 1970, Tecan offers the 'total' one-stop contract-manufacturing solution - from technology development through to rapid prototyping and volume production.

Tecan's team of experienced engineers work closely with the customer to develop manufacturing solutions to meet their exact cost and tolerance requirements. Years of process development have culminated in Tecan being able to cost-effectively manufacture metal parts with feature sizes down to 2-micron at sub-micron accuracy - and to put that into perspective, there are 1,000-microns to one millimetre.

Technological innovation and expertise form the basis of Tecan's success, and have provided the platform for the development of competences in several process technologies, including:

• Photo Chemical Machining (PCM)
• Photo ElectroForming (PEF)
• Precision photolithography
• Precision electroplating

Tecan works on a global basis with a diverse range of OEM customers, who are involved in a wide array of industries. The nature of Tecan's competences, combined with its commitment to R&D, allows it to stretch to meet the requirements of virtually any application.

More News:
  • For March 2002
  • From Tecan
  • For Photochemical Machining (PCM)