I'm looking for advise on setting up a prototype station for smt (we are currently outsourcing smt production, but have a need for rapid in house prototyping).
The station must be able to handle only single sided boards with components no smaller than 0603 currently, no BGA. The current plan is to go with a manual process. The volume of boards at this station will be low - 1-2 per day. We will be assembling without purchasing a screen for solder paste application.
1. Should we be using a sodler paste application process (syringe) plus reflow, or soldering with irons?
2. If paste + reflow is used, what is the minimum investment in reflow equipment needed to get a quality result? Hot air gun, hot plate, batch oven, or full multi stage oven?
3. Do you think a workcentre is needed with arm wrest and 'guided' vaccuum pickup etc (like this http://www.apsgold.com/p_place.html) or can we get away with a simpler setup (like this http://www.apsgold.com/gdv20.html)
I appreciate any advise you can offer.
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