Long-time ASM Assembly Systems customer, A & A Electronics Assembly, Inc., recently expanded its use of ASM Engineered Products to support high-volume printing of printed circuit boards (PCBs) with miniaturized 0201 devices.

The Arizona-based EMS firm added the ASM VectorGuard™ High Tension system to its stencil portfolio, along with ASM UFP Eco Roll understencil cleaning fabric, as shrinking component dimensions for demanding applications dictated advanced printing inputs.

“After using the ASM (DEK) VectorGuard standard tension system for many years and with great results, we began processing PCBs with significantly smaller devices and, therefore, more challenging aperture designs,” explains Carter Howard, Process Engineer at A & A Electronics Assembly. “After discussing the situation with the ASM representative, it was recommended that we try the VectorGuard High Tension frame. We can use the frame with our existing VectorGuard foils and have already seen significant improvement in micro-aperture registration and a reduction in corner peeking. Our printing results on the smaller apertures have been excellent.”

ASM VectorGuard High Tension is an interchangeable stencil foil system that allows use of a single frame with multiple foils. Superb for high changeover operations, award-winning VectorGuard stencils reduce storage requirements by as much as 75% and, as compared to conventional mesh-mounted stencils which may sag and lose tension after repeated use, maintain consistent tension over the life of the stencil for superb printing results.

“The stencil system we used prior to VectorGuard had sharp edges and the foils warped easily,” says Howard. “VectorGuard and VectorGuard High Tension eliminate the warping issue, provide fast changeover, offer a safer system for our operators and last a lot longer than other stencils.”

In addition to its use of ASM VectorGuard stencils, A & A Electronics also recently switched to ASM UFP Eco Rolls as its exclusive understencil cleaning fabric. “We were using a different cleaning paper for a while, but noticed that there was a lot of lint inside the printer and on the PCBs. With smaller printing dimensions, lint can lead to defects,” notes Howard. “Once we integrated the ASM UFP Eco Rolls, the problem was resolved. This fabric is now all we use on both the DEK and alternative brand printers across our five SMT lines.”

For more information about A & A Electronics’ services and capabilities, visit http://www.aaelect.com. To learn more about ASM Engineered Products, click here or call 888-768-4357 (press 2). About A&A Electronics Assembly, Inc. Based in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, A & A Electronics Assembly, Inc. is an advanced turnkey electronics manufacturing service (EMS) provider with a 30-year history of providing superior quality products for applications in the Medical, Aerospace, Industrial Controls and Consumer Products sectors across North America. The company’s 30,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art facility houses industry-leading equipment and software capability across five SMT lines. From DFM analysis to PCB assembly to functional testing, A & A Electronics provides exceptional value, first-class service and consistently high quality. The SMT Solutions segment of ASM Pacific Technology Since the acquisition of printing specialist DEK and its integration into ASM Pacific Technology (ASMPT) on July 2, 2014, ASM Assembly Systems has been operating as ASMPT's SMT Solutions segment consisting of the Printing Solutions Division (DEK) and the Placement Solutions Division (SIPLACE). SMT Solutions develops and sells best-in-class DEK printers for the SMT, semiconductor and solar markets as well as best-in-class SIPLACE SMT placement solutions. Both divisions use the ASMPT organization to let their customers enjoy significant competitive benefits. ASMPT's SMT Solutions segment shares and expands its expertise with electronics manufacturers and partners all over the world. Its goal is to improve its customers' workflows and use new technologies to advance process integration in the industry. For more information about SIPLACE and DEK, visit www.asm-smt.com ASM Pacific Technology Limited Founded in 1975, ASMPT is the only company in the world that supplies high-quality equipment for all major steps of the electronics manufacturing process – from carriers to chip bonding, assembly and packaging to surface-mount technology. No other equipment maker comes close to the scope and depth of ASMPT’s process expertise. The Backend Equipment Segment of ASMPT offers a wide range of products for bonding, molding and trim-and-form processes as well as their integration into complete inline systems for the microelectronics, semiconductor, photonics and optoelectronics industries. The Materials Segment offers a multitude of etched or stamped leadframes and advanced packaging solutions. The SMT Solutions Segment of ASMPT develops and sells best-in-class printers for the SMT, semiconductor and solar markets under the DEK brand name and best-in-class SMT placement solutions under the SIPLACE brand name. ASMPT has been listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange since 1989. For more information about ASMPT visit www.asmpacific.com Press inquiries: Americas Press Office ASM Assembly Systems, LLC Mark Ogden, Senior Manager, Regional Marketing Americas E-mail: ogden.mark@asmpt.com Tel.: +1 (770) 797 3189