Reflow ovens : high mass vs. low mass

Looking at the full convection reflow oven market, I see two segments, high mass heater ovens (i.e. Electrovert Omniflow,...), and low mass heater ovens (i.e. Heller,...) Did some of you guys did some testing on both types and what were your findings concerning the advantages and disadvantages of the two oven types?

Thanks in advance,

PhilB

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| Looking at the full convection reflow oven market, I see two segments, high mass heater ovens (i.e. Electrovert Omniflow,...), and low mass heater ovens (i.e. Heller,...) | Did some of you guys did some testing on both types and what were your findings concerning the advantages and disadvantages of the two oven types? | | Thanks in advance, | | PhilB | Ah Phil, Phil, Phil. You got caught-up in one of the great philospohical arguments that reflow oven sales persons love to guminate about. Lemme tell you what's important. It's beautiful fillets. It doesn't matter how the heater panels are designed, just as long as they give beautiful fillets. Wrong answer?? OK, here's what you do to exercise an oven ....

Take 2 large mass aluminum plates (10 lbs or so each) and put one in front and in back of a thermocoupled test board. Run this through the machine and record the profile. Then run the test board alone.

Profiles don't lie. The machine that repeats the closest has the preferred heater technology.

Ta

Dave F

Ps: One of the machines you mentioned is a very expensive way to melt solder and another machine you mentioned is from a company that sells one heck of a lot of machines.

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| Looking at the full convection reflow oven market, I see two segments, high mass heater ovens (i.e. Electrovert Omniflow,...), and low mass heater ovens (i.e. Heller,...) | Did some of you guys did some testing on both types and what were your findings concerning the advantages and disadvantages of the two oven types? | | Thanks in advance, | | PhilB

Phil,

I did extensive testing of ovens not too long ago. Mass Schmass. What truly matters is THERMAL EFFICIENCY OF TRANSFER.........

I'll tell you one thing......several oven manufacturers did NOT wanna play with me when I sent them my testing paramaters. I ended up with a shoot-out between the 2 vendors on my short list. Wanna know who won the short-list, and the shoot-out? I'll share privately.

Scott Cook scook@nettally.com, scook@smtnet.com

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