Reflow oven feedback

I am currently evaluating some different reflow ovens for a future purchase. The manufacturers we are looking at are Conceptronic, BTU, and Heller. Any feedback on these manufacturers would be welcome. I am particularly interested in: 1.Service response 2.Flux control 3.PCB support through oven 4.Side to side thermal consistancy 5.Repeating problems

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| I am currently evaluating some different reflow ovens | for a future purchase. The manufacturers we are | looking at are Conceptronic, BTU, and Heller. Any | feedback on these manufacturers would be welcome. | I am particularly interested in: | 1.Service response | 2.Flux control | 3.PCB support through oven | 4.Side to side thermal consistancy | 5.Repeating problems

Kelly, Our reflow oven is not from one of the manufacturers that you are evaluating, but a recent capability study on our oven showed terrible repeatability on belt speed. It had a Cpk of 0.4. Discussions with the field service personnel revealed that the feedback on the drive only happened every 60 seconds. The most he could shorten the feedback loops was to 10 seconds, for both the heaters and the belt! I was really surprised, because the machine is only four years old. To know that it shipped from the factory checking/adjusting temps and speeds once a minute was rather disconcerting. You may want to check the feedback control rates with the manufacturers you are considering. Chrys

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| | I am currently evaluating some different reflow ovens | | for a future purchase. The manufacturers we are | | looking at are Conceptronic, BTU, and Heller. Any | | feedback on these manufacturers would be welcome. | | I am particularly interested in: | | 1.Service response | | 2.Flux control | | 3.PCB support through oven | | 4.Side to side thermal consistancy | | 5.Repeating problems | | Kelly, | Our reflow oven is not from one of the manufacturers that you are evaluating, but a recent capability study on our oven showed terrible repeatability on belt speed. | It had a Cpk of 0.4. Discussions with the field service personnel revealed that the feedback on the drive only happened every 60 seconds. The most he could shorten the feedback loops was to 10 seconds, for both the heaters and the belt! | I was really surprised, because the machine is only four years old. To know that it shipped from the factory checking/adjusting temps and speeds once a minute was rather disconcerting. | You may want to check the feedback control rates with the manufacturers you are considering. | Chrys I have been looking at a new oven for my company. Research Inc. is supposed to have the best conveyor system. From what I've been told the compnay is very large over seas. The cost is about equall to a Heller. I've found that Heller will drop the price. Research is firm, but have a pretty good product. BTU seems to be a littgle pricey. I have no information on Conceptronics. I did run across a company called Novastar. The pricing is excellent and they seem to have a product like Heller. I'm hoping to see them at Nepcom

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| I am currently evaluating some different reflow ovens | for a future purchase. The manufacturers we are | looking at are Conceptronic, BTU, and Heller. Any | feedback on these manufacturers would be welcome. | I am particularly interested in: | 1.Service response | 2.Flux control | 3.PCB support through oven | 4.Side to side thermal consistancy | 5.Repeating problems I don't think you'll have problems with any of these ovens. Each who owns one will tell you. I have a Heller and have not experienced any problems with service or repeatability. I use side rails so I can do double sided boards. I don't move a large volume of boards so I don't concider flux control a big issue. When I talked to my solder paste chemists, they all knew the Heller and what to set the initial heaters and conveyor speeds at. This made dialing in the process fairly easy... when I ran a profile, I didn't need to make any adjustments for my average product. Good Luck, Scott

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Not sure if you are open to looking at additional vendors but if you are we would love to compete for your business. Go to our web site then call or e-mail me for additional information. Sincerely, Brian Stumm Thermal processing consultant Reflow and Curing ps- our systems have very tight PID closed loop control on all aspects including conveyor speed, temperature, airflow rates, etc. and offer the most flexibility to the operator. Also, I challenge your statement that Research has the best conveyors. Want to take me up on that challenge, I'll prove our EDGE GRABBER Conveyor is the best with it's 2.5 mm pins to support the board.

| | | I am currently evaluating some different reflow ovens | | | for a future purchase. The manufacturers we are | | | looking at are Conceptronic, BTU, and Heller. Any | | | feedback on these manufacturers would be welcome. | | | I am particularly interested in: | | | 1.Service response | | | 2.Flux control | | | 3.PCB support through oven | | | 4.Side to side thermal consistancy | | | 5.Repeating problems | | | | Kelly, | | Our reflow oven is not from one of the manufacturers that you are evaluating, but a recent capability study on our oven showed terrible repeatability on belt speed. | | It had a Cpk of 0.4. Discussions with the field service personnel revealed that the feedback on the drive only happened every 60 seconds. The most he could shorten the feedback loops was to 10 seconds, for both the heaters and the belt! | | I was really surprised, because the machine is only four years old. To know that it shipped from the factory checking/adjusting temps and speeds once a minute was rather disconcerting. | | You may want to check the feedback control rates with the manufacturers you are considering. | | Chrys | I have been looking at a new oven for my company. Research Inc. is supposed to have the best conveyor system. From what I've been told the compnay is very large over seas. | The cost is about equall to a Heller. I've found that Heller will drop the price. Research is firm, but have a pretty good product. BTU seems to be a littgle pricey. | I have no information on Conceptronics. I did run across a company called Novastar. The pricing is excellent and they seem to have a product like Heller. I'm hoping to | see them at Nepcom

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