Cookson Electronics’ ALPHA OM-338 Series solder pastes can enable a smooth transition to lead-free SMT assembly. Customers say this Pb-free solder paste can print as well or better than current Pb-bearing technology. It is said to deliver consistently uniform print deposit volume, thus overcoming print deposit volume variability. It also performs well in challenging applications where paste volume variability increases as print feature sizes become smaller. 

“The limiting factor in solder paste printability is the ratio of aperture wall area to the area of the aperture opening. When solder paste has more affinity for the walls of the stencil aperture than the pad being printed, you have a significant print failure mechanism,” said Mitch Holtzer, Global Products Manager for solder paste.  “ALPHA OM-338 Series has low print volume variability with .3 mm circles and .45 mm pitch qfp pads using 125 mil stencils, even with print speeds of 200 mm/sec. That performance can be reached using type 3 solder powder.”
 
Cookson Electronics Assembly Materials, cooksonelectronics.com

Microscan, an ISO 9000:2000 certified company, attained ISO/IEC 15426-2 certification on its Quadrus Verifier, helping the estimated 40,000 U.S. Dept. of Defense (DoD) suppliers now required to verify Data Matrix symbols applied to parts and components.
 
Quadrus Verifier analyzes, measures and reports the quality of a Data Matrix symbol against the symbol quality criteria established in ISO/IEC 15415 and AS9132 standards, as specified in the government regulation MIL STD 130M. Provides accurate measurements and grades.
 
Quality Data Matrix symbols are an integral component of the DoD’s Item Unique Identification (IUID) initiative. The DoD has made it mandatory for contractors to provide a permanent Data Matrix Unique Item Identifier (UII) on nearly all items supplied to the DoD. The UII, which must remain affixed and readable for the life of the part, regardless of how long that may be, will provide visibility across various DoD information systems. The military will read the UII for asset management, inventory control, to access maintenance information and for other activities.
 
The product helps to eliminate inferior Data Matrix symbols. The fully-enclosed illumination chamber is engineered to produce the illumination and optics required by ISO/IEC 15415 to verify the quality of
Data Matrix symbols. The compact, lightweight verifier requires no onsite adjustments of optics or lighting and proves exceptionally easy to use.
 

Keithley Instruments announces two new additions to its Series 2600 System SourceMeter instruments. Models 2611 and 2612 add higher voltage and higher current capabilities to the source-measure unit (SMU) platform. The 200V and 10A capabilities of the two new models make them ideal for functional test and I-V characterization of silicon and compound semiconductor devices like FETs, diodes, voltage regulators and optoelectronic components. Combine high throughput SMU technology with a compact, scalable form factor that allows integration into systems from one to 16 SMU channels.
 
Designed to rapidly test low to medium pin count devices or multiple devices in a production test fixture. Model 2611 is a single-channel SMU, and the Model 2612 is a dual-channel unit. Multiple units can be integrated with an embedded Test Script Processor (TSP) and TSP-Link. Users cam execute high-speed, automated test sequences across multiple channels, independent of a PC operating system and its associated communication delays. This allows test speeds up to ten times faster than conventional test instruments. With two channels and a 200V source range, Model 2612 is capable of 400V differential operation, and each SMU channel is capable of 1.5A DC and 10A pulsed output. Both models have a new contact check feature that eliminates false failures in high-speed test applications by ensuring that all connections to the devices under test are intact before a source-measure sequence is initiated.
 
Keithley Instruments, keithley.com

Best has installed a new C0₂ Laser for customized rework applications. The system gives further capabilities for precision marking, drilling, scoring and organic material cleaning of electronic PCB materials. Marking applications include inscribing PCB laminates, semiconductor devices, sires, glass diodes and coated metal surfaces with letters, numbers, symbols and bar codes. Can precisely define new pads and traces, and etch off solder mask patterns to a few mils. Organic materials such as flux residues and contamination can be ablated off the surface of the board. Polyimide can be cut into various shapes for customized wave solder masking applications.
 
Rework stencil deliveries can now be compressed to five standard and 24-48 hrs on an expedited basis. StencilQuik rework stencils stay-in-place polyimide stencils speed up the BGA placement and rework process.
 
The custom-built laser micromachining system has a range of capabilities. Its source is a 9.3-micron C0₂ laser galvanometer based beam delivery system. Feature sizes down to 150 microns are possible. Materials including plastics, glass, wood, thin films and other organic materials can be processed using AUTOCAD and other file types as the templates.
 
Business Electronics Soldering Technologies (Best), solder.net

S300 diamond blade depaneling saw singulates assembled PCBs. Saw blade is a 2.95" diameter, .021" thick cutting blade.
 
Provides a stress-free method to singulate panels with sensitive surface-mount components close to the edge of the parting section, leaves a smooth edge finish with minimal stress  imparted to the PCB. Can also be used to singulate PCBs without scorelines, or to singulate PCBs with overhanging components on the parting line. Since the cutting depth can be set to just cut through the PCB itself, any components which overhang the parting line will remain intact. The working area of the saws are covered by a plexiglass enclosures.
 
The automatic, microprocessor-controlled, multiple-blade saw can be used for singulating side handling strips from DC/DC  converters or SIMM cards. An operator places up to five panels at one time into the input tray of the xy table. Pushing the start button activates the microprocessor-controlled process to bring the PCB past the saw blades to the offload position.  Up to eight blades can be set on a mandrell to cut multiple panels in one pass.
 
FKN Systek, Fknsystek.com

The Commercial Products division of Branson Ultrasonics announces a new industrial ultrasonic cleaning unit to handle difficult industrial cleaning applications all in a self-contained unit. Available in 10- or 22-gallon capacity, has digital display to set temperature and time.  Temperature and time can be set from 1-99 min.; temperature up 60°C.  Comes with basket and cover.
 
Compact units incorporate 3/16, 15 gauge stainless steel construction, and a modern, solid-state ultrasonic generator available in 25 or 40KHz. industrial transducers.
 
Branson Ultrasonics Corp., bransonic.com

Cobar Solder Products’ has sold over 200 units of its COBOX retrofittable spray fluxer.
 
Lance Larrabee, general manager, announced in a press release that “the COBOX 'Plug'n Spray' spray fluxer is a simple, drop-in replacement for foam, wave and first-generation spray-fluxers. It works with virtually any type of no-clean, alcohol or water-based, or VOC-free flux. Because it is so flexible, easy to clean and simple to install and operate, it has become especially popular, with over two hundred units sold since its introduction.”
 
The fluxer is easy to disassemble and service, manufactured of stainless steel and titanium parts and features a magnetically-driven nozzle assembly. Its simple design, computer-controlled movement and short distance of 50 mm (2”) to the board surface, ensures uniform wetting and through-hole penetration/top side wicking without excess deposition or flux waste. Reportedly saves more than 60% of flux over comparable foam-type fluxers.
 
Designed to work with the typical range for surface tension and capillary viscosity of water-based (VOC-free) fluxes, and eliminates over and under spraying problems. Features an air-driven, high precision nozzle with an adjustable cone. Is a field-retrofittable system, compatible with many soldering systems, and includes a fluxing unit, control cabinet and exhaust hood.
 

QTEK Stencil Clean removes solder paste, Pb-free pastes and other stencil print materials. Suitable for use in both vacuum and non-vacuum under-stencil cleaning mechanisms.                            
 
Formulated specifically for the removal of stencil contaminants, and is effective on solder paste residue. 
 
The aliphatic hydrocarbon chemistry is non-flammable and non-corrosive, safe for use with stencils, frames, boards and the printer itself. Contains no ozone-depleting substances, is RoHS and WEEE compliant.
 
Penetrates solder paste and lifts it from the screen, removing contaminants from small apertures without scouring the stencil surface. 
 
Has a high evaporation rate to leave surfaces clean and dry, and is said to provide superior solvency, as well as good wetting and dispersing characteristics. 
 
QTEK Manufacturing Ltd., qtek.com

Legex 574 CNC Coordinate Measuring Machine features ultra-high accuracy (MPE_E = [0.35+L/1000] µm), a large measuring range (510 x 710 x 455mm), high traverse speed (200mm/sec.) and robust worktable loading capacity (200kgf). Applications include measurement of large lenses and inspection of metallic molds, engine blocks and similar components, whether in production runs, or small lots.
 
Driven by MCOSMOS (Mitutoyo Controlled Open System for Modular Operation Support) software with modules supporting virtually every CAD format while providing routines for in-line measurement, data feedback and process management. 
 
Spheroidal graphite ductile cast iron is used for the chassis which, together with air-damped spring isolators, attenuate vibration. Design used FEM (Finite Element Modeling) analysis to optimize configuration to ensure geometric accuracy by minimizing deformations caused by normal machine operations. Thermally-stable components and real-time temperature compensation maintain high accuracy, even under a wide range of operating temperatures (64.4° to 71.6°F / 18° to 22°C).
 
A variety of probes is supported including contacting scanning and touch-trigger as well as laser and vision.
 
Mitutoyo America Corp., mitutoyo.com 

ProcessMate 5000 centrifuge is a fast, simple way to purge medium- to high-viscosity fluids like epoxies, greases and silicones of bubbles and air pockets that can affect shot-to-shot consistency in pneumatic dispensing processes.
 
The compact benchtop unit can be used with prepackaged or user-loaded syringes. It is simple to operate, and will purge up to (4) 3cc, 5cc, 10cc or 30cc syringes at a time.
 
Has an on-off switch, timer and tachometer.  Safety features include a locking lid and an electric brake that stops the rotor before the lid is opened.
 
EFD Inc., efd-inc.com

ADS1F Modular depaneling system was developed for a production environment that requires quick changeovers. Adaptations to the different PCB shapes and sizes are taken care of by the servo gripper that can be programmed to accommodate a range of products. Three different gripper sizes are available.
 
Available features include: automatic product recognition at the inlet, servo grippers, automatic toll exchange, automatic tool changer, etc.
 
ASYS Inc., asys-group.com