There are differences in bar solder from each of the different
manufacturers, even though they may claim to be the same.
Your process should have as few variables as possible in it, and if you
start mixing brands of bar solder, you have now introduced a new variable.
If a problem were to occur in the future, now here is something else to
consider. This may be conservative, but I would never ever mix bar
solder!!! You need to convince your purchasing people that the soldering
process is one of the most critical processes, and the solder must be the
same every time! (at a previous company, purchasing once bought reclaimed
solder and did not inform us. When this was added to the pot, you could
hear the M.E.'s yelling two floors away!!) Our solder is specified on the
drawing.
I have experience (at a previous employer) with Alpha Hi-Flo and used it
exclusively in the open air, dual wave solder machines. I felt that it
significantly reduced the dross formation. The waves were running
continually for two shifts. We tried switching to a new company (the
bought the pot, etc.) and the dross formation was even worse, so we
switched back.
I have since switched all the wave soldering machines to enclosed nitrogen
tunnels. I started with the Alpha Hi-Flo, but have since switched to Alpha
Vaculloy. I have not seen much significant difference in dross formation
between the two, as long as you maintain your nitrogen atmosphere. In
addition, these new machines have dual wave activated sensors. The
Vaculloy is much less expensive than the Hi-Flo.
We all strive to reduce costs, but as the manufacturing engineer, I prefer
to be able to dictate to purchasing what to buy, rather than have
purchasing dictate to me what I have to use! What is the cost of quality?
Ed Holton
Hella Electronics
(I sit next to the SMTA Michigan Chapter president)
[log in to unmask] on 01/27/98 04:37:51 PM
Please respond to [log in to unmask]; Please respond to
[log in to unmask]
To: [log in to unmask]
cc: (bcc: Ed Holton/Hella North America Inc.)
Subject: [TN] Not All Solder is Made Alike?
Greetings,
Does anyone have any experience with mixing different manufacturers
equivalent bar solder in their solder pots? (We are currently using
Alpha's 63/37 bar solder) Also, what is the experience with the
so-called superpure solder? Does is really reduce dross? Is the
extra cost worth it? I receive frequent calls from distributors and
manufacturers touting how their solder can do practically everything
except "leap tall buidings in a single bound."
I would like to give purchasing the option of buying from more than
one supplier as an effort to reduce cost but I do not want any hidden
problems.
Thank you.
-David Bruni
[log in to unmask]
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