You will find it - even if I have to get on a plane......................8-)

Run a powerful magnet such as samarium cobalt (get them at any hobby/craft
store) through the reflow system (running but heaters off ) - and any other
process in the place.

When the magnets go in clean and come out covered in whiskers you found the
problem.

John

 
 
John Burke
 
(408) 515 4992

-----Original Message-----
From: TechNet [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Leland Woodall
Sent: Wednesday, May 14, 2008 10:39 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [TN] Stainless Steel Contamination Question

Blair,

You just brought smiles to the faces of the guys in the Quality
Department.

Sadly enough, your prediction is probably going to be accurate in every
way.

Leland

-----Original Message-----
From: TechNet [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Blair Hogg
Sent: Wednesday, May 14, 2008 1:15 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [TN] Stainless Steel Contamination Question

Here's my prediction - you'll never find the source of these. They will
go 
away on their own, leaving everybody to wonder from where they came. 

Then, seven years from now, when everyone's forgotten about it, they 
will return. 

It is a wonder we're not all insane. 

Blair

On Tue, 13 May 2008 09:47:15 -0400, Leland Woodall 
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:

>Hi Everyone,
>
> 
>
>We've had a problem lately with fine strands of stainless steel wire
>being found on top of some of our .5 mm pitch ICs.  This has caused 
both
>internal and external issues, and we've yet to identify the source.
>
> 
>
>It's definitely formed wire, with a thickness ranging from 7 to 10
>microns, and up to 3 mm in length.  
>
> 
>
>Our automated optical inspection stations can only reliably detect
>widths of 12 to 15 microns.
>
> 
>
>I've checked the internet in an attempt to find common applications of
>this wire.  I've found two, and they were for ultra-fine filters and
>stencil screen mesh.  We've investigated (I think) all of our machinery
>that would utilize filters this small and have found no such usage.
>I've also checked every stencil in our plant, and all of our mesh
>material is some type of a plastic compound.
>
> 
>
>Do you have any idea where this stainless steel might be coming from?
>
> 
>
>Any suggestions would be sincerely appreciated!
>
> 
>
>Thanks,
>
> 
>
>Leland
>
>
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