Wade:
Do a SIR test on your flux/paste whatever you are using.  If you have
surface mount and wavesolder operation, then run a SIR for SMT paste, a SIR
for wavesolder, and if you have mixed technology you should do a SIR using
all elements of your process.

Some customers want cleaning no matter what kind of flux you are using do to
the nature of the product (we have this situation).  You can use an omega
meter.  If you passed SIR testing, process some test boards the same way and
check them using your omegameter.  Clean the boards and check them in the
omegameter.  This will give you a baseline of what kind of cleanliness to
expect.  We have product that does not require cleaning and product that
does require cleaning even though we are using a No-clean and Low-residue
technology.  We also eliminated two large inline cleaners and a host of
other items like fire suppression at wave, flux thinner, etc., by going to a
No-clean/Low-residue soldering solution.  We still have a cleaner and still
use it a lot.  We do have an omegameter at the end of the cleaner and we use
it as well.

Sir test to qualify the flux and SIR test to qualify your process.  I
believe it's IPC-650 has the information for SIR testing.  Personally, I
called Robisan Labs and ask questions to Susan Mansilla before wasting a lot
of dummy parts, boards, my time, money, and Robisan's time.  You can also
call Contamination Studies Labs and talk to one of the Ionic Blues Brothers
(Doug Pauls I believe is into SIR testing).  CSL's Terry Munson provided us
with a lot of up front info on No-clean/Low-residue before we started.
Another great resource is Dave Hillman, at Rockwell Collins.

Ron Hollandsworth
Ops Task Leader AME Group
ITT A/CD

##############################################################
TechNet Mail List provided as a free service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8c
##############################################################
To subscribe/unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in
the body:
To subscribe:   SUBSCRIBE TECHNET <your full name>
To unsubscribe:   SIGNOFF TECHNET
##############################################################
Please visit IPC web site (http://www.ipc.org/html/forum.htm) for additional
information.
If you need assistance - contact Keach Sasamori at [log in to unmask] or
847-509-9700 ext.5315
##############################################################