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Printed Circuit Board Assembly & PCB Design Forum

SMT electronics assembly manufacturing forum.


no-clean flux removal

#32146

no-clean flux removal | 19 January, 2005

Short of buying a closed look wash system, what other machines/processes are available for localized removal of flux that is not operator intensive.

already familiar with Branson ultrasonics and just washing in alcohol but what else is out there?

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Mike Konrad

#32147

no-clean flux removal | 19 January, 2005

Just curious� Why only localized cleaning? Why not clean the entire board? Localized cleaning by nature is labor intensive.

Mike Konrad Aqueous Technologies (909) 944-7771 ext 29 www.aqueoustech.com konrad@aqueoustech.com

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#32156

no-clean flux removal | 20 January, 2005

Because our boards are heavily heatsinked with dow 340 which never hardens and I am afraid I will not only wash off the flux but the heatsink compound as well.

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#32157

no-clean flux removal | 20 January, 2005

esoderberg: So, why do you want to clean your no-clean flux residues?

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#32160

no-clean flux removal | 20 January, 2005

I agree with dave here's an example of a previous thread on the subject. http://www.smtnet.com/Forums/index.cfm?fuseaction=view_thread&CFApp=1&Thread_ID=6947&#Top

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Mike Konrad

#32163

no-clean flux removal | 20 January, 2005

Regarding the reference (Patrick) to a previous thread promoting �no-residue� fluxes, I must say that there is absolutely no such thing as �No-Residue� flux. There are �Low-Residue� fluxes and even �Very-Low� residue fluxes but to suggest that there is absolutely no residue is not accurate.

I manufacture cleaning systems so naturally I would like to see everyone clean their boards, but the facts are that not every application requires cleaning. In many cases the amount of residue left on the board is acceptable for that specific application.

The cleaning industry does the electronics community a disservice if we suggest that all boards require cleaning. The flux industry does a disservice by suggesting that a particular flux leaves NO residue.

Mike Konrad Aqueous Technologies (909) 944-7771 ext 29 www.aqueoustech.com konrad@aqueoustech.com

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#32166

no-clean flux removal | 20 January, 2005

Mike, I totally understand your position. We find ourselves in two opposite camps. If no-residue was impossible my company would not be in business today. Lets focus on the topics so we can help people with their problems.

Patrick

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Lloyd

#32194

no-clean flux removal | 21 January, 2005

I recently saw a brief presentation on selective cleaning using Co2. In basic terms a fine jet of Co2 is blasted onto the desired area of the PCB removing the contamination and supposedly causing no damage to PCB or components. I think it's quite a new technology and they are still investigating the possibilities of it but could be worth investigating further. http://www.aci-ecotec.de (german)

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sarag

#32203

no-clean flux removal | 21 January, 2005

Hi esoderberg - I was wondering if you had tried altering your soldering profile to try and fully solublize the no clean flux residues and elimate your cleaning dilemma? You can check out my company's website if you want some free reference materials on cleaning and contamination - http://www.residues.com

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SMT fluid dispensing