Phil,
        To reinforce what Franklin and Doug have stated, unless you are
using extremely well filtered air, you are contaminating your boards more
than cleaning them. In addition, OSHA requires safety tips on air guns to
limit maximum pressure from the tip to 30psi if placed flat against a
surface, to prevent damage to the body. Even with a safety tip, 125psi will
blow stuff everywhere. And operators performing these types of processes
have a tendency to hold the board close so they can see the water blow off.
So the potential for an accident is pretty high.

        As to the ESD implications, an ionizing gun will prevent charge
generation during blow-off, and also neutralize any charges which may
already be present. Better safe than sorry, but be prepared to pay the
price. Ionizing blow off guns will run you in the neighborhood of $400 or
so, but present it as additional insurance against ESD damage. At my last
employer, I looked at four different manufacturers prior to purchase and
settled on 3M. Their gun has a low voltage power source, quick change
emitter needles and an easy change integral air filter cartridge. You can
check it out at
http://www.3m.com/ehpd/workstation/workstation_ionized_air_gun.html.

Mike McMonagle
PCBA Process Engineering
Telxon Corporation
(713) 307-2443 Phone
(713) 307-2581 Fax
www.telxon.com

' Innovative Solutions for
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-----Original Message-----
From: Phil Nutting [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Thursday, March 09, 2000 12:36 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [TN] High Pressure Air Dry for PWBs - creates ESD?


Our current method of drying PWBs after cleaning is to blow them dry with a
standard air gun with up to 125 psi of air.  Other than the sound level
which can be deafening does this create an ESD problem with static generated
by the fast moving air?  What are the best methods of noise and static
abatement?


Phil Nutting
Manufacturing Engineer
Kaiser Systems, Inc.
126 Sohier Road
Beverly, MA 01915
ph: 978-922-9300
fx: 978-922-8374
[log in to unmask]

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