Thank you very much. I contacted our local Speeline/ Electrovert rep. and they did not mention this process whatsoever - interesting eh? It is nice to know that there is this forum in which there is much knowledge to be learned. Thanks again everyone. CAS -----Original Message----- From: TechNet on behalf of Cheryl Tulkoff Sent: Mon 12/12/2005 8:16 AM To: [log in to unmask] Cc: Subject: Re: [TN] Preparing Solder Pot for Lead Free Processing Chris - We cleaned an existing tin/lead cast iron solder pot (Electrovert) and converted it to lead free with excellent results - verified by analytical reports for various contamination levels. We simply drained the pot, gently scrubbed and vacuumed, and replaced all the internal parts (pot drain valve, sumps/pumps/baffles). We also installed new finger brushes, conveyor chains, and fingers. The preheaters and housing areas were all vacuumed and wiped down as well. Tin "wash" procedure have been talked about but they are a pricey way to go. They basically involve using an initial sacrificial 100% tin bath and redrain (recycle) before final filling with your lead free alloy. The procedure from Speedline is cut and pasted here: SCOPE: LEAD FREE UPGRADE PROCEDURE ELECTRA / VECTRA METHOD: 1. Remove all nozzles, flowducts, pumps and all other components that are in the pot. Use protective equipment while performing this task. 2. Leave heaters on while draining solder. 3. Drain solder from the pot and scrape the sides and bottom to remove any solder residue and dross. 4. This procedure will provide a contamination level well below the required specification as long as the pot was cleaned properly. 5. Change the solder pot configuration to lead-free. See the Software Configuration Manual. 6. Fill pot with lead-free solder and allow the solder to melt and reach the setpoint temperature. 7. Once solder has reach the setpoint temperature de-dross the pot. 8. Install the new lead-free flowducts, nozzles, pumps and other parts in the lead-free upgrade. The existing belts and pulleys and covers will need to be used. Use protective equipment when performing this task. 9. Using the nozzle setup tools, level nozzles and make sure the pumps are seated. 10. Have solder analyzed to ensure lead levels are below specification. Thanks, Cheryl Tulkoff Senior Reliability Engineer Phone:(512) 683-8586 Fax: (512) 683-8847 National Instruments 11500 N. Mopac Expressway Building A Austin, TX 78759-3504 "Schaefer, Chris" <Chris.Schaefer@S UNTRONCORP.COM> To Sent by: TechNet [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]> cc Subject 12/12/2005 07:58 Re: [TN] Preparing Solder Pot for AM Lead Free Processing Please respond to TechNet E-Mail Forum <[log in to unmask]> ; Please respond to "Schaefer, Chris" <Chris.Schaefer@S UNTRONCORP.COM> Thank you all. So should I do one of the following: - Replace the solder pot altogether (the safest method, but most expensive) - Clean the existing cast iron pot as best possible then fill with Pb Free solder (higher risk, but less expensive) If anyone has cleaned their existing cast iron solder pot, then how did you do it exactly? Is there a proposed method for doing this somewhere out there? Any suggestions would be very helpful. CAS -----Original Message----- From: [log in to unmask] [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: Fri 12/9/2005 11:10 AM To: Schaefer, Chris; [log in to unmask] Cc: Subject: Re: [TN] Preparing Solder Pot for Lead Free Processing Hi Chris, Pb left in the old 'pot' may not be your biggest problem--look at these pics. Regards, Werner Engelmaier Engelmaier Associates, L.C. Electronic Packaging, Interconnection and Reliability Consulting 7 Jasmine Run Ormond Beach, FL 32174 USA Phone: 386-437-8747, Fax: 386-437-8737, Cell: 386-316-5904 E-mail: [log in to unmask], Website: www.engelmaier.com --------------------------------------------------- Technet Mail List provided as a service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8e 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 or (re-start) delivery of Technet send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet NOMAIL or (MAIL) To receive ONE mailing per day of all the posts: send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet Digest Search the archives of previous posts at: http://listserv.ipc.org/archives Please visit IPC web site http://www.ipc.org/contentpage.asp?Pageid=4.3.16 for additional information, or contact Keach Sasamori at [log in to unmask] or 847-615-7100 ext.2815 -----------------------------------------------------