In a message dated 04/05/2000 12:48:40 PM Central Daylight Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:

<< We are working on Continuous Flow.  However, we have a problem with wet
PCBs.
 We would like to go directly from our Wave Washer to two Final Assembly steps
 and then over ICT.  We currently are evaluating an Electrovert Aquastorm 100
 Washer with four dry stations:

     Dry Station # 1 - 15 hp Electrosonic Air Knives
     Dry Station # 2 - 7.5 hp Electrosonic Air Knives
     Dry Station # 3 - 7.5 hp Electrosonic Air Knives
     Dry Station # 4 - 7.5 hp Standard Air Knives & IR Heat

 We still have problems with wet PCBs, especially connectors and tape.

 I have been told that IR Heat does nothing to dry out PCBs.  From those that
I
 have talked to, it appears that "bone dry" PCBs comes from hot air only
(around
 200 F or higher), unless you bake (we prefer something inline).

 I have seen and tested PCBs in a TREK Vulcan Drying Tunnel (reaches 320 F,
which
 we would not dream of going that high).  I have also been following leads on
a
 custom Drying Tunnel that Technical Devices has built before, which takes
their
 Washer Dry Stations and adds heating elements to the Air Knives (reaches
around
 200 F) in a stand alone inline unit.

 Does anyone know of any other options or have any advice?

 Thanks!
 Joel >>

Hi Joel!

I've run into the same thing before. Had boards that came out of the cleaner
and into ICT...wouldn't pass because of water in the connectors. But if we
let the boards sit for about 20-30 minutes, the latent heat in the board
would dry the water trapped inside the tight places. From my experience, I
haven't seen a cleaner yet that could get all the water out of certain
connectors.

-Steve Gregory-

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