Metcal

Manufacturer of high-performance precision rework systems for the electronics bench. Product lines include: Hand Soldering and Desoldering, Convection Rework products, Fume Extraction and Fluid Dispensing tools.

Manufacturer

Metcal is part of the OK International family and provides expert product support and responsive customer service, with localization to meet regional market needs.

OK International has been a leading manufacturer of tools for the electronics assembly work bench for almost 60 years. Their family of complimentary products includes soldering, rework, fume extraction and fluid dispensing systems that are reliable, professional grade and price competitive. Their Metcal® brand of high-performance soldering stations have set industry standards for years.

The Metcal Hand Soldering Systems provide users with a wide range of choices to address conduction hand soldering, desoldering and rework processes. At the core of each soldering iron is SmartHeat® Technology. This means that soldering, desoldering and rework are always performed at safe and controlled temperatures.

Metcal Postings

21 products »

RSS-1000-CVSI Connection Validation Robotic Soldering System

Reduce Risk and Increase Productivity with Robotic Soldering Metcal’s Robotic Soldering System with patented Connection Validation (CV) technology and a touchscreen graphical user interface is designed to dra...

Soldering Robots

RSS-1000-CVSI Connection Validation Robotic Soldering System

MX-500 Soldering, Desoldering & Rework - Dual Switchable

Metcal’s MX-500 Soldering and Rework System has been reimagined, adding features and a new look to a bench top icon. The system utilizes SmartHeat® Technology, wherein each cartridge is equipped with a self-r...

Rework & Repair Equipment

MX-500 Soldering, Desoldering & Rework - Dual Switchable

MX-500UF Ultra Fine Soldering / Rework System

New MX-500UF Soldering and Rework System with UltraFine Soldering Hand-piece for soldering and touch-up of very small components, restricted access or high density component packaging on a PCB. The system utilizes SmartHeat®...

Rework & Repair Equipment

MX-500UF Ultra Fine Soldering / Rework System

MX-5210 Dual Port Simultaneous Soldering and Rework System

New Dual Port Simultaneous Soldering and Rework System highly effective for soldering applications including: lead-free, high mass components or boards, thermally sensitive components requiring low operating temperature, high volume production sol...

Rework & Repair Equipment

MX-5210 Dual Port Simultaneous Soldering and Rework System

MRS-1100A Advanced Modular Rework System

The MRS-1100A Modular Rework System is an integrated convection rework system for the removal and reflow of BGA/CSP and SMT components. The MRS-1100A is comprised of a hand held convection tool, preheater, adjustable tool holder, and free-standing...

Rework & Repair Equipment

MRS-1100A Advanced Modular Rework System

HCT2-120 Digital Hot Air Pencil

The new HCT2-120 Hot Air Pencil is the latest addition to Metcal’s offering of convection rework tools. This digital handheld convection tool is ideally suited for light rework applications, which use smaller components and integrated circui...

Rework & Repair Equipment

HCT2-120 Digital Hot Air Pencil

HCT-1000 Programmable Hand Held Convection Tool

The HCT-1000 System is a fully programmable hand held convection rework tool that can both remove and place SMT components. It features digital controls, in-ternal or external thermocouple feedback control, program storage of up to 50 profiles and...

Rework & Repair Equipment

HCT-1000 Programmable Hand Held Convection Tool

PCT-102-21 Focus Pre-heater, 230V with arm rest, free-standing board holder.

The PCT-100 Focus Pre-heater targets heat for improved speed and efficiency for high thermal demand applications, including lead-free. Used for SMT and through-hole hand processes, the PCT-100 uses convection air heating to heat a PCB first, for b...

Rework & Repair Equipment

PCT-102-21 Focus Pre-heater, 230V with arm rest, free-standing board holder.

PCT-1000 Programmable Preheater

The PCT-1000 is a programmable preheater that provides users the ability to increase heat capacity with highly controlled thermal output. The PCT-1000 can be used in a variety of processes including soldering, desoldering, SMD rework operations an...

Rework & Repair Equipment

PCT-1000 Programmable Preheater

MFR-1351 Solder /Desolder System with Internal Pump

The MFR-1350 features a soldering hand-piece and a desoldering gun. The power supply has an internal pump providing 0.7 bar of vacuum suction force combined with Smartheat® technology that makes soldering, rework and through-hole desoldering e...

Rework & Repair Equipment

MFR-1351 Solder /Desolder System with Internal Pump

See all products from Metcal »

10 technical articles »

Risk Mitigation in Hand Soldering

Jan 02, 2019 | Robert Roush

Failed solder joints remain a constant source of printed circuit board failure. Soldering is the bonding of metallic surfaces via an intermetallic compound (IMC). The interaction between thermal energy delivery, flux chemistry, and solder chemistry creates the solder bond or joint. Today, reliability relies on visual inspection; operator experience and skill, control of influencers e.g. tip geometry, tip temperature, and collection and analysis of process data. Each factor involved with the formation of the solder joint is an element of risk and can affect either throughput or repeatability. Mitigating this risk in hand soldering requires the identification of these factors and a means to address them....

Hand Soldering with Lead Free Alloys

Feb 22, 2018 | Metcal

As companies start to implement lead free soldering processes, hand soldering and associated techniques have been identified as key functions in the manufacturing process requiring additional research and development. Hand soldering tends to occur at the end of the process line where the circuit board has a high intrinsic value and so correct process control will have a significant affect on manufacturing costs and productivity.

This paper discusses the fundamental aspects of the hand soldering process and discusses process adaptation requirements for successful lead free implementation....

Rework Challenges for Smart Phones and Tablets

Apr 23, 2015 | Paul Wood Advanced Product Applications Manager APR/ BGA Products OK International / Metcal.

Smart phones are complex, costly devices and therefore need to be reworked correctly the first time. In order to meet the ever-growing demand for performance, the complexity of mobile devices has increased immensely, with more than a 70% greater number of packages now found inside of them than just a few years ago. For instance, 1080P HD camera and video capabilities are now available on most high end smart phones or tablet computers, making their production more elaborate and expensive.

The printed circuit boards for these devices are no longer considered disposable goods, and their bill of materials start from $150.00, with higher end smart phones going up to $238.00, and tablets well over $300.00....

Profiling for Successful BGA/CSP Rework

Aug 14, 2013 | Metcal

This paper discusses how to successfully profile a printed circuit board when reworking Ball Grid Array and Chip Scale Packages....

Effective Qualification of Soldering Iron Performance Criteria

Nov 27, 2012 | Metcal

Quality managers and line supervisors are routinely tasked with the responsibility of ensuring that the hand soldering process is under control. The method most commonly used is to measure the idle tip temperature of the soldering station and to use this reading as a benchmark of system compliance. This method, although popular is now being seriously questioned by many industry professionals as being irrelevant in qualifying true system process control.

This document aims to present a practical view of what factors are important for successful hand soldering and to suggest an alternative procedure for qualification that is simple, repeatable and directly related to the effectiveness of the soldering station....

Increase Your Process Control and Lower Cost of Ownership

Nov 12, 2012 | Ed Zamborsky, Eastern Territory Sales Manager, OK International/Metcal

With consumers constantly looking for lower prices on their technology products and manufacturers trying to squeak out higher margins from their production lines, the need for process control and lower overhead costs have become even more important. One sector that is often overlooked is the hand soldering area of the factory. Many factories have been struggling with antiquated soldering systems for years. In some cases they are trying to make their investment in stations last much longer than they were designed for, or they are falsely trying to recoup their original investment ‐ all at the cost of higher operating expenses or even worse, reduced operator thru‐put....

Soldering Faster At Lower Temperatures: A Performance Comparison

May 09, 1999 | Doug Wilkerson, Technical Services Manager.

Studies and tests of comparative soldering iron thermal performance at low temperatures - Metcal direct power soldering technology compared to conventional stored energy soldering irons from leading manufacturers. ...

Hand Soldering, Electrical Overstress, and Electrostatic Discharge

May 09, 1999 | Ron LaValley, Edwin Oh

This paper will give the reader a general understanding of EOS and ESD phenomena. It specifically addresses hand soldering's role in EOS and ESD and how to protect against and test for potential problems. It discusses how Metcal Systems address EOS and ESD concerns and how they differ from conventional soldering systems....

Extending Soldering Iron Tip Life

May 09, 1999 | Metcal

This Technical Note discusses the construction of solder tips, the various failure modes associated with tip plating (cracking, wear, corrosion, and dewetting), how to diagnose those failure modes, and specific practices that can be taken to minimize or eliminate each one....

Surface Mount Rework Techniques

May 09, 1999 | Brian Moylan

This Technical Note outlines, step by step, the easiest ways to remove and replace surface mounted devices, using the lowest possible temperatures. This document discusses the following topics: Removal and replacement of discrete and passive components (capacitors, resistors, SOTs), Removal of two-sided components (SOICs, SOJs, TSOPs), Removal of quad components (PLCCs, QFPs), Replacement of quad components including fine-pitched devices. ...

146 news releases »

Metcal™ Introduces CV-IOT Gateway Module and Desktop Application

Jun 07, 2023 | METCAL™ announces the release of their new CV-IOT Gateway Module and desktop application which enables operations management to collect advanced soldering data from every benchtop station on their network

OK International has appointed Bench Top Solutions as the official Manufacturer's Sales Representatives for Metcal in New Jersey, Southern New York, Long Island, and Eastern Pennsylvania.

May 18, 2022 | OK International has appointed Bench Top Solutions as the official Manufacturer's Sales Representatives for Metcal in New Jersey, Southern New York, Long Island, and Eastern Pennsylvania.

METCAL Announces Patent Pending Software Upgrades to The GT Series Soldering Systems.

Jun 15, 2021 | METCAL™ announces patent pending software updates for their newly launched GT90 and GT120 Soldering Systems.

Metcal to Launch New GT Adjustable Temperature Soldering Systems

May 18, 2020 | Metcal today announced plans to launch its new GT90 and GT120 Soldering Systems. The GT90 and GT120 offer market-leading performance due to their use of inductive heating technology and are Metcal's first platforms with adjustable temperature offered to the market.

Metcal Offers Solutions for Challenging Soldering Applications at APEX

Jan 16, 2020 | Metcal today announced plans to exhibit in Booth #2247 at the 2020 IPC APEX EXPO, scheduled to take place from February 4th through 6th at the San Diego Convention Center in California. Metcal’s new products in Soldering and Fume Extraction categories will be showcased and demonstrated.

Robotic Soldering, IoT Gateway and More from Metcal at productronica

Oct 30, 2019 | Metcal has announced plans to exhibit in Hall A2, Booth 135 at productronica, scheduled to take place Nov. 12-15, 2019 at the Neue Messe München in Munich, Germany. Representatives from Metcal will demonstrate the Robotic Soldering System, Connection Validation (CV) Soldering System with new hand-pieces and IoT Gateway with Solder Agent Software.

Metcal Wins Mexico Technology Award for IoT Gateway with Solder Agent Software

Oct 24, 2019 | Metcal has been awarded a 2019 Mexico Technology Award in the category of Software – Process Control for its IoT Technology: IoT Gateway with Solder Agent Software. The award was presented to the company during a Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2019 ceremony that took place during the SMTA Guadalajara Expo & Tech Forum.

Innovative Soldering Tools from Metcal at SMTAI

Aug 21, 2019 | Metcal will exhibit in Booth #632 at SMTA International. Representatives from Metcal will demonstrate the Connection Validation (CV) Soldering System with new hand-pieces, AC-STC Tip Cleaner, HCT2-200 Hot Air Pencil and VFX–1000 Fume Extraction unit.

Robotic Soldering from Metcal at NEPCON Asia

Aug 13, 2019 | Metcal today announced plans to exhibit in Booth 1E25 at NEPCON Asia. Representatives from Metcal will demonstrate its new Robotic Soldering System, the Connection Validation (CV) Soldering System with new hand-pieces, AC-STC Tip Cleaner, HCT2-200 Hot Air Pencil and VFX–1000 Fume Extraction unit.

Metcal to Demo Its Innovative Solder Tip Cleaner at the SMTA Heartland Expo

Jul 16, 2019 | Metcal today announced plans to exhibit at the SMTA Heartland Expo & Tech Forum, scheduled to take place Thursday, July 18, 2019 at the Marriott Kansas City Overland Park in Kansas. Representatives from Metcal will demonstrate the Connection Validation (CV) Soldering System with new hand-pieces, AC-STC Tip Cleaner and HCT2-200-11 Hot Air Pencil.

136 more news releases from Metcal »

Global manufacturing solutions provider

See Your 2024 IPC Certification Training Schedule for Eptac