Cleaning Subtopics

Zestron and Heraeus optimized cleaning processes for new lead-free and leaded solder pastes; Seika introduced a printer wiper roll cleaner that eliminates waste; Zestron added 5-liter refills for its Bath Analyzer; GEN3 Systems and Ascentech debut a line of cleanliness testers; and Kyzen developed a pH-neutral aqueous cleaning product.

How clean is clean when it comes to printed circuit boards and assemblies? While John Perry, IPC technical project manager, can enumerate a litany of complex variables that come into play with an answer to that question, a new cleaning standard, IPC-5704, Cleanliness Requirements for Unpopulated Printed Boards, defines the recommended requirements for the cleanliness of unpopulated single, double-sided and multilayer PCBs.

Military and other high-reliability PCBs are cleaned after reflow because of the crucial nature of electronics performance in the field. Why then, with reliability an expected trait of most electronics devices in consumer and commercial applications, does clean not automatically correlate to reliable outside of the military sector? The bigger question, according to Michael Konrad, Aqueous Technologies, is what happens if your product fails. Residues — flux, oils, trapped moisture —are more harmful than ever.

pH-neutral cleaning can help protect sensitive components while removing aggressive alloy residues. Over the past 20 years, the common notion in this field has been that alkalinity is a must to remove flux residues. pH-neutral defluxing agents are designed to do a superior cleaning job, but still protect extremely sensitive materials and meet stricter rinse water disposal regulations. Cost savings are also possible. Dr. Harald Wack, ZESTRON, explains.

Research and Markets released “A Global Strategic Business Report: PCBs,” analyzing the global market for printed circuit boards (PCBs) in US$ million. The major markets analyzed include the US, Canada, Japan, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and rest of world (ROW), with forecasts through 2015. It identifies major geographical and technological changes coming for the PCB fab industry.

Express Manufacturing, Inc. (EMI), an electronics manufacturing services (EMS) provider, is building a line of products for OEMs to promote health. The company recently obtained ISO 13485 certification for medical device manufacturing and invested in Fuji XPF chip shooters for medical electronics production.

EPIC, the European Photonics Industry Consortium, released “LEDs: The 2009 Market Review.” The report, which is distributed exclusively to EPIC members, tracks the response of the lighting and display industries to one of the most difficult economic crises in recent years. HB-LED and OLED unit production figures as well as revenues have been summarized for major players around the world for the two-year period of 2008 and 2009.

Bob Willis, a consultant who has been providing electronics assembly training over 20 years, will launch a new Website-based training service.

Lightspeed Manufacturing has moved from its old factory in Methuen, Mass. to a new 60,000-sq-ft modern manufacturing facility at 135 Ward Hill Avenue in Haverhill, MA. Lightspeed is a contract manufacturer of printed circuit electronics assemblies that has experienced continued growth.