Ionizing pressurized air for pcb blow-off

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Hello all, We use pressurized air from a blower to blow off... - Feb 21, 2003 by Clark K.

Hi This is a good one. Let me take a stab at it. Firs... - Feb 21, 2003 by

Without being clear on whether you're talking about: * Stan... - Feb 23, 2003 by davef

Look at a company called ARTX, Ltd. (artxltd.com) or Exair ... - Feb 24, 2003 by gregp

Air is non-conductive, and it is moving. Not only is it movi... - Feb 24, 2003 by

Clark K.

#23468

Ionizing pressurized air for pcb blow-off | 21 February, 2003

Hello all, We use pressurized air from a blower to blow off excess water from our pcb assemblies after wash. I'm concerned that this could potentially cause esd damage to sensitive assemblies. Is anyone aware of a device that can correctly ionize the air (even at 180CFM)? Thanks in advance for your answers. Clark

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MA/NY DDave

#23475

Ionizing pressurized air for pcb blow-off | 21 February, 2003

This is a good one. Let me take a stab at it.

First remind me, why is this air coming in carrying a charge. I think I remember yet it is always fun. Also hopefully it isn't carrying any compressor oils.

There are some companys that make other technology for moving air, Becker is one that I have seen that looks to be non charge producing. They even gave me a baseball hat which I gave to my father in law.

Although I have seen some Ionizing technology that the air passes through I would recommend you solve this at the source. It is less complex.

Are you using a tester to establish that you do have an Ionic field??

YiEng MA/NY DDave

This message was posted via the Electronics Forum @

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davef

#23485

Ionizing pressurized air for pcb blow-off | 23 February, 2003

Without being clear on whether you're talking about: * Standard air knives at the back-end of your in-line cleaner ... OR * Hand held or similar nozzle.

Standard air knives: This causes no problem with ESD because the relative humidity is so high that there is no chance of an ESD event. Support this opinion by contacting the manufacturer of your cleaner.

Hand held nozzle: This sounds like a dangerous approach. Ted Dangelmayer recommends against it in his book "ESD Program Management: A Realistic Approach to Continuous Measurable Improvement In Static Control" [Klumer Academic; 1999; 2e; ISBN: 0412136716].

For a proper ESD dissipating blow-off nozzle, check with ESD equipment suppliers, such as: * ESD Systems * Allspec

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gregp

#23495

Ionizing pressurized air for pcb blow-off | 24 February, 2003

Look at a company called ARTX, Ltd. (artxltd.com) or Exair (exair.com) They make air knives that ionize shop air for this purpose.

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Stephen

#23496

Ionizing pressurized air for pcb blow-off | 24 February, 2003

Air is non-conductive, and it is moving. Not only is it moving, it is moving against something else i.e. the hose. Anytime you have movement (friction) between two dissimilar non-conductive "things" you have the possibility of static build-up. This sure ain't the way my old high school teacher said it but hey it's monday and I havn't eaten lunch yet.

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