Pumps solve PCB production equipment problem
A
Michael Smith Engineers product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team
Jul 19, 2000
The important design features of Finish Thompson VertimagT vertical magnetic drive pumps have helped to eliminate quality control problems which can occur in the manufacture of PCBs
The important design features of Finish Thompson VertimagT vertical magnetic drive pumps, available in the UK through Michael Smith Engineers, have helped to eliminate quality control problems which can occur in the manufacture of printed circuit boards (PCB's).
These problems are caused by the presence of 'microbubbles' within the plating solutions, following their 'transfer' via traditional vertical pumps, during the PCB manufacturing process.
Traditional vertical pumps incorporate a shaft, typically motor supported, which is directly connected to an impeller in a cantilever configuration.
Shaft and impeller are housed within a vertical tubular wall which contains 'weep' holes and these holes enable pumped fluid circulating on the rear of the impeller to leak or weep out of the column.
This prevents fluid from ascending up into the motor internals, a potential cause of pump failure.
However, the need for these holes is a design flaw for standard vertical pumps, in so far as their application in PCB manufacture is concerned.
As a result of these holes, air makes its way into the pump column and is introduced into the plating solution being pumped.
As this air is passed into the high velocity fluid flow, the air is broken into thousands of tiny microbubbles.
These microbubbles remain suspended in the pumped solution plaguing the user with quality problems.
In PCB manufacture, high resolution circuits are placed onto the boards, this enables electricity to flow through the circuits allowing the boards to perform their intended function.
Over the years the width of the circuit has been progressively reduced, a direct result of the continuing demand for smaller, yet more powerful components.
In the past these microbubbles did not cause problems because the circuits were wider.
However, in today's PCB technology, these microbubbles can be larger than the actual circuit width.
Consequently, If a microbubble occurs in the spot where a circuit is supposed to be, a gap will be created 'breaking' the electrical flow in the finished product.
This means rejected product and unnecessary expense for the PCB manufacture.
How can these microbubbles and the associated problems be eliminated? The patented magnetic-drive design of Finish Thompson's Vertimag pump has provided a solution which has helped the printed circuit board industry to eliminate the unwanted microbubbles.
The pump's design results in an air-tight, sealed column, eliminating the holes where air is introduced.
Not only does this prevent the formation of microbubbles, the airtight column also reduces environmental emissions and prolongs the life of the motor by reducing exposure to corrosive vapours.
The strong, neodymium magnet design means the Vertimag pump can handle liquids with specific gravities of up to 1.8.
It is available in a choice of chemically resistant plastics, polypropylene and PVDF, lengths from 30cm to 2.4 metres in 15cm increments and has a temperature range up to 104C.
Vertimag pumps can be mounted inside or outside the tank, they have no wetted shaft bearings and accept standard IEC motors.
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Contact Michael Smith Engineers
Tel +44 1483 771871
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