Dear TechNetters,

I am very new to the PCB industry, so please allow me to ask a stupid
question.

When talking to people about thermal cycling, I keep hearing that one
thermal cycle is completed in about one hour.  For instance, a recent
TechNet posting spoke of a thermal cycling test from  -65 C to 125 C
with a 30 minute dwell and a 38 minute transfer.  I assume that the term
"38 minute transfer" means that you go from one extreme temperature to
the other in 38 minutes.   This would mean a heating/cooling rate of 5
degrees/min., if I am calculating correctly.   A complete cycle would
then be completed in 2 hrs. 16 min.

My difficulty is that all the chambers I have seen from vendors only
have a heating/cooling rate of about 3 degrees/min.   We are a new
research institute and plan to buy some thermal cycling chambers soon,
but I don't want to buy something that won't meet our needs.

Does everyone now have special chambers made?  Can anyone recommend some
manufacturer who can meet the specs of heating/cooling rates > 5 deg.
C/min.?

Any input you can give me would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in
advance.

Best regards,
Harvey Phillips

Harvey M. Phillips
Research Fellow
Institute of Materials Research and Engineering
Block S-7, Level 3
National University of Singapore
Singapore 119260

TEL: (+65) 874-4314
FAX: (+65) 872-0785

email: [log in to unmask]

temporarily attached to:
Gintic Institute of Manufacturing Technology
71 Nanyang Drive
Singapore 638075

TEL:  (+65) 793-8539
FAX:  (+65) 792-2779

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