Circuits Assembly Online Magazine - Features

Transition Automation has a new squeegee holder which is said to improve SMT printing by incorporating a self-cleaning wiper system.

Reduces solder paste sticking by way of two small articulating wiper wires. Results may vary depending on the particular viscosity and rheology of the solder paste. In some cases, users may benefit by altering their solder paste formulations to be more sticky and viscous (which improves printing), without the additional paste sticking worries. The new devices is offered across the full Permalex metal squeegee product line, and may be retrofitted on most popular SMT printing machines.

No additional hookups or machine interefacing required, is passively actuated by the motion of the squeegee holder.

Transition Automation Inc., www.transitionautomation.com

Hermetically sealed transformers and inductors meet MIL-T-27 requirements, for use in military and commercial applications. Feature glass-to-metal hermetically sealed terminals, MIL SPEC paints and finishes, and deep drawn and fabricated enclosures.

High quality epoxies and silicones allow long service life and resistance to heat, vibration and other environmental factors. For use in new designs or to replace legacy products (some dating back to the 1930s).

Foster Transformer

Model 20X2HC incorporates patented Horizontal Convection technology with 12 vertical zones in a 146" heated tunnel and a 20" wide conveyor. It typically reflows PCBs at 3 to 4' per minute. The horizontal forced air circulation results in a uniform temperature profile along the entire PCB with negligible temperature differentials.

20X2HT (high temperature version) reportedly can precisely match any lead-free or standard solder profile. The onboard computer can store up to 100 profiles.

Options include edge rail conveyor, PC interface Windows software and nitrogen inerting.

Novastar Inc., www.novastarinc.com

In addition to the standard-plastic series MEDI-SNAP circular connector with push-pull locking made out of plastic, a new version with metal housing is available.

The metal connectors are mating and mounting compatible to the plastic version and featuremore than 1.000 mating cycles, a robust version of housing; flexible design of receptacles (receptacles for front or rear panel assembly are available); sever color-coding forms.

ODU GmbH & Co. KG, www.odu.de

Designed mainly for consumer electronics applications using conventional or nitrogen inerted wave soldering systems, Multicore MF101 and MF300 are VOC-free, high activity, no-clean liquid fluxes that meet the legislation on volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions (<1% VOC). Both perform well on low solderability surfaces such as oxidized copper, are formulated to minimize or eliminate solder balling and are non-flammable. MF101 is suitable for spray application only and MF300 can be applied by spray or foam.

MF200 liquid flux is ideal for consumer electronic products and general electrical lead-free soldering applications, especially where there has been a high level of mid-pad solder balling. Said to significantly reduce or eliminate micro solder balling. May also be used with lead-containing alloys.

MFR301 no clean, sustained activity flux is for fast soldering on conventional leaded and SMD components. The activator package is similar to a previous product, but the acid value has been increased to enhance efficacy when soldering to poorly preserved substrates and components. Ensures optimum drainage characteristics at the exit of the wave, which minimizes bridges, spiking and mid-pad solder balling. Can be applied by foam, spray or wave.

Henkel, www.henkelelectronics.com

Quick Vision Apex Series CNC vision measuring systems from provide 1.5+3 L/1000 accuracy and speed of 1000 mm/s². Offer productivity improvements for non-contact measurement of items such as IC chips, IC packages, hybrid chassis, lead frames and precision machined, molded and similar parts.

Provide flexible illumination options including programmable ring lights with choices of halogen ring-fiber or white or RGB LED. A pattern-focusing function provides a focused edge, even on mirror finishes. Programmable power turret tube lens (or available programmable power zoom lens) provides automatic zooming for a wide field of view at high levels of image detail.Platform is driven by QVPAK software, offering a choice in accuracy levels, optical/oblique illumination systems and measuring ranges. Includes provisions to integrate touch probing for 3-D measuring work. Displays measurement results in 2-D/3-D graphics for easy interpretation. Single mouse-click edge-detection, abnormal data elimination, noise filters, data fit, the SmartEditor part program and other editing and control tools are standard.

Mitutoyo America Corp., www.mitutoyo.com