March 2013 Archives

Soldering is to fuse joint molten solder onto surfaces of base substrates. However, since this jointing is not for structural strength, but to create joints with low electrical resistance with high reliability, much sophistication in production technology based on relevant knowledge in many academic disciplines.

(1) Three elements of soldering related construction materials

As shown in [Fig.1], optimal soldering is obtained with a relationship of the three materials. Therefore, the soldering technology will need to establish an optimum system with these material characteristics.

(2) Soldering technology and production technology

As one of the important production technologies to realize high density electronic component mounting, Micro Soldering technology can be listed. Various soldering process methods are introduced here.

(1) Importance of Micro Soldering technology

High density mounting of electronic components with high reliability results in realization of low cost, high quality, high functionality in small and thin packages. Therefore, the micro soldering technology is one of the factors that determine the competitive advantage within the realm of production technologies.

(2) Types of soldering techniques

Many soldering techniques have been developed based on diversity in the types of solder subjects. Adoption of the most appropriate soldering techniques for the characteristics of subject components and electric circuit boards is important.

(1) Classification of soldering heat sources

Soldering techniques classified by heat application methods are organized as follows.

(2) Classification of soldering processes

Soldering techniques classified by process methods are organized as follows.

Here, relationship of gate design and workpiece shape is explained with gate designs as examples.

(1) Spacer method・・・Used often when the workpieces are easily identifiable by top/bottom configurations.

Other gate examples

(2) Trap hole method ・・・ Used for complex and thin plate shaped objects that are required to be directionally aligned.

(3) Rail method・・・Used for sorting shapes and sizes of screws and pins

It is understandable that the parts sorting gate designs are very important for component alignment, as introduced in Vol. 154. Concurrently, designs of the travel paths (tracks) for the parts to be aligned are also important.

With capacitors as example, we have explained in the volumes 151 and 152 regaring the increasing levels of difficuly in parts reorientation due to the decreasing sizes of the surface mount components. It is also true that difficulty levels are on the increase of the component alignment technology using the vibratory feeders. The keypoint for this technology is in the gate designs and track designs, and in the sorting system that reject defective parts.

In the Vol. 153, an example of direction changes on a linear feed hopper was explained. In the Vol. 154, direction changes on a vibratory bowel feeder will be explained using an example.

Example 1: Direction changes of screws