Rick,
Interestingly enough, my company is researching the possibility of setting
up one of our vendors to do Conformal Coatings for us!
Many coating materials can be applied with same sprayers used in
auto shops. The minimum of equipment, spray booth, compressor, and hand
sprayer, will cost $3500 if you go this rout. Just check out a Grainger
catalog. Don't forget to add the cost of installation, local environmental
requirements (always ask before you buy), and training into your estimation.
In any case, you are still in fairly good shape money wise. This kind of
system is not very good for the 2-part coatings, but not many people are
requesting that anyway. By the way, it was a rep from a coating maufacture
who told me about this.
I don't know of an inexpensive way to dip coat.
On the other hand, if it is certain that your company is going for
the long run, you might move up from the economy car, to the Cadillac. Hague
makes a stand alone system that looks pretty impressive, but so is the
price. Starting in at about $13,000 with the bells, but without the whistles
it is quite an investment. I think the system was called the SB-2900.
You will have to anticipate the coatings you want to offer your
customers as the curing conditions is a definite factor. You might need UV
lamps or ovens for the initial cure.
Pitfalls, well we haven't tried it yet. One of our other vendors
does offer Conformal Coating and it is looking like we will shift production
over to them. There are other reasons for the move besides this one, but it
is a factor.
As a final thought, check out the archives for this forum. There is
a ton of usefull information there.
I realize some of this is obvious, but I am coming from the
perspective of a customer, not a supplier.
Martin
----------------Original Message---------------------------------------
Date: Wed, 17 Jun 1998 20:09:56 -0700
From: Rick Thompson <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Conformal Coating?
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Hi Technetters,
A number of our customers are starting to request more conformal coating of
the PCBA's we assemble for them, and I have been given the task of
evaluating various materials and equipment for doing this in-house rather
than outsourcing it. Specifically, I looking for any help or pointers I can
get on sources of equipment, specific types (SR, etc) I should consider,
environmental and health concerns and regulations, etc. Spraying appears to
be our best application method at this point. Any comments on building a
spray booth vs. purchasing a unit from one of the vendors supplying these
would also be appreciated.
Thanks in advance for any tips you might provide.
Regards,
Rick Thompson
Ventura Electronics Assembly
-------------------------------END------------------------------------
-------------------
Martin Spizman
MEYER SOUND LABS
(510) 486-1166
[log in to unmask]
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