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PCBA Handling Damage

PCBA Handling Damage

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Anyone have an 'easy' solution for reducing PCBA handling da... - Nov 21, 2008 by kennyg

The only easy solution is not to handle the boards. Purchas... - Nov 22, 2008 by Real Chunks

I've made storage bins made from old beer cases i had laying... - Nov 25, 2008 by WaveMasterLarry

What are you currently using to store boards in between proc... - Nov 25, 2008 by Steve Thomas

Assemblies are stored on ESD rubber covered flat trays. The ... - Nov 25, 2008 by kennyg

Chunks, Are you completely happy with the gel flex system ?... - Nov 26, 2008 by Sr. Tech

Panasonic CM Series. We modified the Gels for them. ... - Nov 26, 2008 by Real Chunks

We have used camera's before, mounted in suspect areas of da... - Dec 09, 2008 by ScottD3

kennyg

#57378

PCBA Handling Damage | 21 November, 2008

Anyone have an 'easy' solution for reducing PCBA handling damage. I'm fighting low level chipped, scuffed and broken-off SMT parts. The damage is spread out across different areas of the assemblies. The assemblies are double sided SMT with 0402's and selective wave. No specific tooling or process alone is the cause as I've isolated defects to each process. Anytime a person handles a PCBA there is a risk of damage. Theoretically everyone is careful, but damage continues. I'm thinking of board handling tooling (a fixture the board stays in or mechanical standoffs to keep the board off of surfaces). $ for anything elaborate will be a struggle. Has anyone ever completely solved handling damage, any ideas?

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Real Chunks

#57387

PCBA Handling Damage | 22 November, 2008

The only easy solution is not to handle the boards. Purchase true double sided reflow lines. Buy automated magazine loading conveyors. Check machine board supposrts.

Are you sure it's from handling? We found it was 50/50 between board handling and screen printer supports. We eliminated board handling by using automated magazine loaders at the end of eact line. Eliminated bad screen printer set-up by buying the MPM Gel Flex system and use in in the screen printers and placement machines. Our #1 defect used to be "Missing/Broken Part" and is now # 14 onthe defect chart. It was money well spent as we would rework about 1/4 of each work order we made because of this.

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WaveMasterLarry

#57411

PCBA Handling Damage | 25 November, 2008

I've made storage bins made from old beer cases i had laying around. Seems to work well and I can check to see if any parts broke off b y looking at the bottom of the case.

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Steve Thomas

#57412

PCBA Handling Damage | 25 November, 2008

What are you currently using to store boards in between processes and/or work stations, and during manual assembly (assuming there is some)?

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kennyg

#57416

PCBA Handling Damage | 25 November, 2008

Assemblies are stored on ESD rubber covered flat trays. The trays are stored on rolling carts with slots for the trays (Bliss cart). The damage usually occurs on the bottomside (passives only). This side is more susceptible to damage because the small passive parts don't have tall IC's around them for protection (like on the topside). The bottomside of the boards are facing upward on the tray.

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Sr. Tech

#57424

PCBA Handling Damage | 26 November, 2008

Chunks, Are you completely happy with the gel flex system ? You say you use it on pick and place too. What types of machines do you have ?

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Real Chunks

#57432

PCBA Handling Damage | 26 November, 2008

Panasonic CM Series. We modified the Gels for them.

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ScottD3

#57544

PCBA Handling Damage | 9 December, 2008

We have used camera's before, mounted in suspect areas of damage, and recorded a shifts worth of work. When we found a damaged part, we found out what time the damage was found, then looked around that time frame on the camera. It can be complicated, depending on if you have traceability to your parts, but it helped us find one troubleseome damage, and it was in fact coming from handling. Once you find the place you can then set up a countermeasure to stop it.

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