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