Hi
folks,
We are
in the process of rethinking the configuration of our automated lines.
Currently, after reflow, boards are loaded into magazines and onto carts and
transported to the cleaning room, which houses our cleaning equipment including
an in-line cleaner. Although no one wants to admit it, it may be several
hours or several days before the boards get cleaned (big shudder). Several
of us are giving thought to putting small footprint in-line cleaners at the end
of the reflow ovens. We are fairly small volume, but high mix house.
On a good day, boards come out of the reflow ovens once every 2-3 minutes.
We know that there are some technical issues to resolve - making sure boards
aren't too hot going into the cleaner, aligning them after cleaning & before
the magazine loader, etc.
The
questions I have are:
1. Does anyone out there actually have this sort of cleaning
configuration & how has it worked?
2. Is this totally crazy?
3. Is there anything else I need to consider (other than the safety
& industrial hygiene sorts of things)?
Thanks,
Kathie
Lambert
SMT
Process Engineer
Northrop Grumman
Baltimore, MD