A Look at Our Readers’ Manufacturing Challenges

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In a recent SMT007 survey, we asked the following question: "What are your greatest challenges when it comes to soldering?" Here are just a few of the replies, slightly edited for clarity.

Jon Ashton, Vergent Products: Selective soldering is not covered (as a process) by any specific IPC/J-STD document that I can find. The training, even from our equipment supplier, is prohibitively expensive. That makes improving the process harder than it should be. Regarding SMT PCBA design, there is a lot of bad data out there in existing CAD/CAM libraries, and the manufacturer’s datasheets are often the source of this bad information.

Jeff Vaessen, Borg Indak: Choosing the right tip geometry is the biggest challenge for any solderer. The right tip makes all the difference in the world.

Pongtip Pattarateerawat, Celestica Thailand: The wave soldering process is more challenging than the SMT reflow process, as there are a variety of PCB design and component considerations when it comes to wave soldering.

Yingyos Sookchai, SVI Public Co. Ltd: Achieving solder fillets with perfect wetting and avoiding damages to components.

08/06/2019 | A. Prasad, L. Pymento, S.R. Aravamudhan, and C. Periasamy, Intel Corp.

This paper evaluates the current state of inline SPI tools from multiple vendors for solder paste measurement accuracy and capability. It discusses a measurement capability analysis that was carried out against a golden metrology tool across a range of volume deposits, and highlights the results from the study.

07/24/2019 | Adam Murling, Miloš Lazić, and Don Wood, Indium Corporation; and Martin Anselm, Rochester Institute of Technology

In the last three to five years, there has been a resurgence of interest in the use of low melting point alloys for SMT applications. Typically, the compositions are around the eutectic bismuth-tin alloy, perhaps with additions of other elements to increase the robustness of certain alloy properties. Now, there are several new products on the market and numerous ongoing reliability projects in industry consortia.

07/24/2019 | Neil Sharp, JJS Manufacturing

The electronics manufacturing process can often be extremely complex, and the costs associated with product recalls can be astronomical. A robust approach to test is key to ensuring the quality of your product and the satisfaction of your end user.