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PB and PB Free on same screen printer

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Hello What type of error proofing methods are you guys... - Oct 04, 2007 by Pitbull  

#51976

PB and PB Free on same screen printer | 4 October, 2007

Hello

What type of error proofing methods are you guys using to prevent operators from using lead paste on a PB free application?

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#51978

PB and PB Free on same screen printer | 4 October, 2007

Paint no-lead stuff green and carry a big stick.

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#51979

PB and PB Free on same screen printer | 4 October, 2007

Everything for a lead free job is labeled with green lead free labels. This includes all processing documentation. When the kit is issued to production the production supervisor and SMT lead operator are reminded that the job is lead free. When the lot clears SMT the hand assemblers are reminded that it is lead free. Meanwhile I watch the whole lot like a Hawk.

Jerry

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#51980

PB and PB Free on same screen printer | 4 October, 2007

Use dedicated stencils & gold or green squeegee holders

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#51983

PB and PB Free on same screen printer | 5 October, 2007

I�ve stayed out of the lead-free discussions as much as possible. But it�s great to note that someone (Mike) suggests a different color.

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FD

#51984

PB and PB Free on same screen printer | 5 October, 2007

Yeah, but when the operator drops regular solder bars into your lead-free pot, does that mean I should paint my bars, too?

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#51985

PB and PB Free on same screen printer | 5 October, 2007

In addition something to think about; If your operators are vulnerable to error so are the operators at the bar and paste manufacturer!!

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#51989

PB and PB Free on same screen printer | 5 October, 2007

Thanks for the replies. We have been doing the same thing. There's green everywhere and I'm getting sick of that color. I like Hussman's idea but most of our operators are pretty kinky and they would probably enjoy being beaten with a big stick. Anybody tried XRF Analyzers?

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#52026

PB and PB Free on same screen printer | 10 October, 2007

We have done the Green Framed Stencils for an added $50.00 per, then got smart and went to green polyester on RoHS / Lead Free Stencils at no added cost. Dedicated Stencil blades and holders green of course) as well as Green Static mats on dedicated stations with dedicated irons and tips. The dedicated stations have no rolls of solder that are lead bearing on them. We have pre-inked stamps that all documentation is marked when released (Different colors for Rohs, Leaded and HYBRID ... OH yes ... those Hybrids are painful!!!

Bins that RoHS kits are supplied in are marked with green. In our description field on RoHS assemblies, we Notate "RoHS" in the description field.

We use an XRF Scanner and it does OK, however results can be misleading because of all the exemptions, etc. PLUS it scans only a small (Dime Size) area, not like a putting an assembly in a box and getting a magical answer ...

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#52033

PB and PB Free on same screen printer | 11 October, 2007

Thank you- my point exactly and it starts in SMT- operators pulling the wrong paste from the fridge, touch up using the wrong solder wire, etc. My solution- GET THE LEAD OUT!!!!!

I'm a CM- high mix, low to medium volumes. No steady all day every day runners- I am standardizing my plant as ROHS only- the customers not requiring lead free are getting an upgrade (MY humble opinion - they are just too lazy to spec. ROHS, or they only supply US, they just don't give a damn about pollution, etc.).

My side of it is I spec. one paste, one solder bar and various gages of one rework wire. No fear of cross contamination.

No need to worry, therefore I focus on the real issues- produce the highest quality at the lowest cost- damn fast - beat up the rep.s/ Sales people to fill up my extra capacity, damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!!!!

'nuff said?

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#52041

PB and PB Free on same screen printer | 11 October, 2007

As a CM, how can you change the customer's base PC Board material to RoHS Compliant T-g spec's etc? Curious ...

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#52042

PB and PB Free on same screen printer | 12 October, 2007

Michael

We know you're just trying to have fun by getting us to respond. Going along with the game, if your solder is more expensive, requires more energy to melt, produces less reliable solder connectiuons, and is worse for the environment; how to you reduce your other costs to be competive with those other Vegas contractors that aren't using the stuff that you plan to use?

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#52057

PB and PB Free on same screen printer | 12 October, 2007

All- good points and to be clear not all is in fun and jest. I support ROHS for the environmental issues. Get the lead out is my mantra, there's alot to consider for sure. I prefer to migrate that way, in time. Most my jobs are ROHS already, just a few stragglers left. Just last week some rocket scientist ran a ROHS board through the leaded wave. I'm the only CM of significance in town. Hope this helps to clarify my position. On the other hand, just 35 miles away is the old above ground nuclear test site, and the national repository for all nuclear waste is just a few skips up the road from that. Since I hope to live here a few more years I would like my own environment to be clean.

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#52058

PB and PB Free on same screen printer | 12 October, 2007

The only sophisticated customer I have is 100% ROHS and actually spec.s material and properties for the fab.'s. The rest have mostly just called in and requested we process ROHS without having to change the drawings or provide a spec. nary a complaint so far. The cost of ROHS compliant parts are cheaper in a lot of cases, the chip houses are only processing ROHS and any legacy pre-ROHS parts are becoming scarce, therefore their prices are going up. Won't be long and no pre-ROHS will be available, therefore all of are going to be processing ROHS. May as well get over the learning curve now.

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#52101

PB and PB Free on same screen printer | 17 October, 2007

> I'm a > CM- high mix, low to medium volumes. No steady > all day every day runners- I am standardizing my > plant as ROHS only- the customers not requiring > lead free are getting an upgrade (MY humble > opinion - they are just too lazy to spec. ROHS, > or they only supply US, they just don't give a > damn about pollution, etc.). >

I thought the US EPA found that ROHS was more polluting?

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#52102

PB and PB Free on same screen printer | 17 October, 2007

#52107

PB and PB Free on same screen printer | 17 October, 2007

Certainly could be true - so do we keep producing with toxics or find a better way? So far, lead is on its way out, as for the others, it will take time to qualify and quantify the true cause and effects, meanwhile why aren't we going fiber optics between devices and organic computers, etc.

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#52108

PB and PB Free on same screen printer | 17 October, 2007

The true cause and effects of the other pollutants have been quantified adequately by the EPA's report. That's the only carrot most people need, especially those that would find it difficult to cover the cost of the transition.

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#52153

PB and PB Free on same screen printer | 23 October, 2007

Who is your stencil vendor? I've used three different vendors for Pb-free green frame stencils and NONE of them charged extra.

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