Reflow Defect Troubleshooting in a Structured Sequence Troubleshooting a reflow defect is easy when the cause is obvious and slow when it is not. A structured sequence keeps the investigation from moving to the least likely cause first, which is usually where time is lost. Start With the Defect Class…
Low Temperature Solder Alloys Compared With SAC305 A lead free assembly is normally soldered with an alloy of tin, silver, and copper that melts at about two hundred and seventeen degrees Celsius, which forces a peak reflow temperature above two hundred and forty. That temperature is close to the limit…
PID Temperature Controller Circuit Design A temperature controller compares a measurement with a set point and adjusts the power delivered to a heater. The electronics are straightforward; the difficulty is that heat moves slowly, and a loop that is tuned for a fast response will oscillate in a way that…
Humidity, Condensation and Moisture Protection of Assemblies Moisture reaches an assembly in two ways: as vapour that condenses on a cold surface, and as liquid that enters through a vent or a seal. Both produce the same result, and the design decides which one happens. How Condensation Forms Air holds…
Solder Paste Rheology and the Print Window Paste is a thixotropic fluid: it flows when it is sheared and it recovers when the shear stops. The print window is the range of conditions over which that behaviour gives a good deposit. What Thixotropy Means Here When the squeegee rolls the…
PCB Solder Paste Risks: Practical Process Controls Buyers and engineers often focus on the finished product and forget the production line behind it. In practice, most field failures can be traced back to process decisions made during assembly. Understanding PCB solder paste risks gives you a practical advantage when you…
Rework Heating Methods and Local Thermal Stress Rework is a localised reflow performed on an assembly that is already populated. The heat has to reach one joint without moving the joints beside it, and the methods differ mainly in how well they do that. The Problem With Local Heat Heat…
Avalanche Photodiode Bias Design An avalanche photodiode multiplies the photocurrent internally by operating close to its breakdown voltage, which gives it a sensitivity that a plain photodiode cannot match. The multiplication factor changes steeply with the bias, so the supply and its stability are the whole design. How the Multiplication…
PCB Labeling And Traceability Requirements A finished board carries more than copper and solder mask. It carries a date code, a part number, a revision, a flammability marking, and increasingly a two dimensional code that links it to a production record. That information is what makes a board traceable, and…
PCB Solder Paste Sample: Design, Process, and Quality Notes Electronics manufacturing has become a discipline of small details. Solder paste volumes, placement accuracy, temperature profiles and inspection limits all add up to the final result. This guide looks at PCB solder paste sample from the perspective of a PCBA factory…












