Hi Joe, >1) IS THIS 30 DEGREE ANGLE A REAL PROBLEM ? Without actually seeing your design and the failures, one cannot say for sure. However, the angle is not likely to be the or evan a part of the problem. >2)IS THERE POSSIBLY MORE THAT I SHOULD BE LOOKING AT? Yes. What is the failure mode--through the solder or interfacial? How long is the hot bar tool? Where along the tool contact length are the failures? Are they typically at the same location? When are the failures occurring? How are the SJs loaded--CTE-mismatch, vibrationn, mechanical shock, cyclic or steady-state? >3)IS THERE A WAY OF SOLVING THIS PROBLEM WITHOUT MOVING THE COMPONENTS? Possibly, but without having any of the details i cannot be sure. Werner Engelmaier Engelmaier Associates, L.C. Electronic Packaging, Interconnection and Reliability Consulting 7 Jasmine Run Ormond Beach, FL 32174 USA Phone: 904-437-8747, Fax: 904-437-8737 E-mail: [log in to unmask], Website: www.engelmaier.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Technet Mail List provided as a free service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8d To unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in the BODY (NOT the subject field): SIGNOFF Technet To temporarily halt delivery of Technet send the following message: SET Technet NOMAIL Search previous postings at: www.ipc.org > On-Line Resources & Databases > E-mail Archives Please visit IPC web site (http://www.ipc.org/html/forum.htm) for additional information, or contact Keach Sasamori at [log in to unmask] or 847-509-9700 ext.5315 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Technet Mail List provided as a free service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8d To unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in the BODY (NOT the subject field): SIGNOFF Technet To temporarily halt delivery of Technet send the following message: SET Technet NOMAIL Search previous postings at: www.ipc.org > On-Line Resources & Databases > E-mail Archives Please visit IPC web site (http://www.ipc.org/html/forum.htm) for additional information, or contact Keach Sasamori at [log in to unmask] or 847-509-9700 ext.5315 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------