Product category:
Materials processing and testing
News Release from: Kerry Ultrasonics | Subject: Microsolve M350/2C cleaning system
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 09 January 2002
Flux residue removal solves telephone
problem
Gai-Tronics, which manufactures ruggedised telephones, has had a potentially damaging quality problem solved by the installation of a co-solvent cleaning system from Kerry Ultrasonics.
Gai-Tronics has had a potentially damaging quality problem solved by the installation of a co-solvent cleaning system from Kerry Ultrasonics Based in Burton-upon-Trent, Gai-Tronics manufactures ruggedised telephones for use in arduous or hazardous environments around the world
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 23 Mar 2001 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
Ultrasonic cleaners are solvent savers
Kerry Ultrasonics has developed an automatic monitoring system which allows users of its cleaning machines to check the rate at which costly solvents are used during processing.
Ultrasonic cleaning just the job for IMI Norgren
An ultrasonic cleaning system from Kerry Ultrasonics is helping one of the world's leading manufacturers of pneumatic valves to maximise productivity.
Flux residues on the telephone circuit boards prior to conformal coating left them prey to corrosion.
Given the particularly harsh weather conditions in which these devices must operate, this deterioration could have caused the telephones to fail.
After installing a co-solvent machine from Kerry, Gai-Tronics was able to remove all traces of flux from their boards and has now completely eliminated rejects.
The Microsolve M350/2C cleaning system uses a blend of hydrocarbon and hydrofluoroether (HFE) in the initial ultrasonic cleaning stage and pure HFE in the subsequent ultrasonic and vapour rinse stages.
The final stage involves freeboard drying through solvent evaporation, aided by refrigerated cooling coils.
Gai-Tronics found this to be the only method to guarantee removal of all no-clean fluxes and associated white residues.
The whole process is automated with Kerry's Autotrans Mk4 Robotic Transporter which maximises throughput and helps to reduce solvent losses.
Finished components are subjected to strict corrosion tests in the form of weathering evaluations.
The results of these assessments have been so positive that every pcb Gai-Tronics manufactures is now put through the Kerry system.
Kerry's ability to guarantee and demonstrate cleanliness levels, combined with a commitment to keep running costs low, ultimately led to them being chosen ahead of alternative cleaning manufacturers.
Gai-Tronics' desire to minimise solvent loss, both for environmental and health.
• Kerry Ultrasonics: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Engineeringtalk email newsletter
• Engineeringtalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
