Within these categories are different types and chemical compositions of the fluxes depending on the needs of the components and boards to be soldered. Depending on the automated soldering process being used by your contract manufacturer, the flux will be applied in these methods:.
The method that the flux is applied to each of these solder processes is carefully controlled to ensure that the flux is able to do its job without compromising the integrity of the soldering process.
For instance, if a solder paste is being used that has a greater concentration of solvents in it then other types of paste, there can be a problem if the flux is heated too fast. For this reason, the solder reflow process is carefully controlled with preheat, temperature soaking, and reflow stages.
Another aspect of flux is the need to clean it off the circuit board after it has done its job. Some fluxes are corrosive, and their residue may continue their activity and harm the circuit board long after it has been manufactured. The three categories of flux mentioned above each have their own cleaning needs:. For those fluxes that are more corrosive, cleaning is essential.
Some processes of circuit board manufacturing, such as shielded areas of the PCB that go through wave soldering, can potentially hide flux residue. In addition to the corrosive problems of the more active fluxes, however, even the residue of no-clean fluxes can interfere with PCB testing, optical inspection equipment, and some sensitive electronic components.
In general, it is best to clean flux residue whenever possible. There are many different categories, types, and compositions of flux out there for soldering, just as there are many different types of solders and soldering processes. To be assured that your PCB design is going to be manufactured correctly with the best combination of materials and processes, you need to work with a CM that has a complete understanding of all of it.
Your CM should have years of experience working with these different materials and have the equipment and resources to facilitate these processes. At Tempo Automation , we do have the experience, skills, and facilities needed to manufacture your PCB. We have been assembling and soldering circuit boards for a long time, and we will make sure that your design is built to the highest levels of quality.
And to help you get started on the best path, we furnish information for your DFM checks and enable you to easily view and download DRC files. If you want more information on how to use flux when soldering electronics, contact us. Tempo Automation Inc. With electronic soldering having a weak solder joint results in poor electrical conduction. Next is a better flow of solder.
Flux enables a better flow of solder. This has many advantages. Having a better flow of solder means having to use less solder. Using less solder has the added benefit of lowering your cost as you will be using and buying less solder.
Also, soldering at lower temperatures, solder does not melt, flow and adhere well. Using flux will help promote a better flow and alleviate your frustrations. Lastly, allow for desoldering. If you have ever had the misfortune of having to desolder a solder joint without flux, you know how hard it is.
Desoldering a solder joint that has oxidation is near impossible. Since flux removes this oxidation, desoldering will be much easier. Also using a lead-free solder without flux is quite a challenging task. It is best practice to use flux here. If you are a hobbyist dealing with soldering electronic circuits, it will not really be much of an issue if you solder without flux.
Industrial applications involving electronics, plumbing, automobiles, or construction and repair of jewelry will need better and more secure bonds. These can only be achieved with the use of the right flux. The good news is, there is a solder out there that has flux embedded in its core. This is known as Rosin Core Solder. As you saw before, Rosin Flux is a widely used natural flux. The Kester Rosin Core Solder is a great solder which contains flux. It is the difference between good and great soldering joints.
So, for smaller electronic applications you can use this solder without having to externally apply flux and still get the same benefits. Using flux has many benefits and will only make your life easier during the soldering and desoldering process. However, if you are not wanting to use flux and are soldering electronic components and circuit boards you have the fortune of having a solder that contains flux.
Flux in its simplest definition is a cleaning agent. If you ever want to make your own flux check this tutorial out. Search for:. But, is it essential? Can you solder without flux? Soldering and Solder Before we dive into whether you have to use flux when soldering, let us learn the basics of soldering. Also, I will cover solder and what it is made of, as well as different types of solder. What is Soldering? Welding is sometimes confused with soldering.
However, these two processes are quite different. Types of Soldering When it comes to soldering, there are three categories or forms of soldering ; Soft soldering, silver soldering, and brazing.
The temperatures increase due to the melting point of the filler materials. Applications of Soldering As we saw the soldering and solder are used in order to join metals. So you can see soldering plays a crucial role in many areas. Solder As I briefly mentioned, solder is a filler material used in the process of soldering. Solder traditionally was used in the electronics industry.
It used a blend of Tin and Lead. Types of Solder However, as I mentioned the different applications, there also exist different types of solder. Brazing uses solder that contains metals including gold, silver, copper, brass and iron. Solder Sizes With different types of solder also comes different solder sizes. Different gauges of solder will be beneficial depending on the application. When it comes to electronics work, the smaller the gauge size the better. Applications involving plumbing on the other hand would require a larger gauge solder.
Flux As we saw that soldering plays a vital role in many applications and solder is an essential part in the soldering process.
But, where does flux come in? What is its role? And is it really needed when you solder? What is flux? Flux is a water based solution that contains a cleaning agent, activator and wetting agent.
For a flux to be effective it has to satisfy all these three criteria. Next is cleaning of the surface. Dissolved oxides and dirt are then moved away by the flux leaving the metal surfaces clean. Rigid-flex PCBs. Flexible PCBs. High-frequency PCBs. Thick-copper PCBs. Medical PCB. Metal core PCBs. Printed circuit board materials. SMT Assembly Capabilities. Mixed Assembly Advantages. Through-hole Assembly. Components Sourcing. Laser Stencil. Electrical Test E-test. Impedance control. RoHS-lead Free.
UL Certification. Layer orientation. Panel creation. Gold fingers. Surface finish. Via covering. Annular rings. Edge plating. Plated Half-holes. Plated-through slots. Prepregs, cores, foils. PCB price composition. Design rule check. Order Guide. Quality guarantee.
Method of payment.
0コメント