Resource Library

An early PCB cleaning plan helps produce better boards. Good PCB (printed circuit board) design practices are critical in order to deliver a board that performs as intended. When designing a PCB, there are many factors an engineer must consider. Everything from properly orienting the components on the PCB to carefully routing the signal traces…

Conformal coatings are very important for PCBs that operate in a harsh environment. They are used on electronics that are near the ocean, in harsh weather, in dusty cities and dirty factories. For example, the PCBs that control gas station pumps and traffic lights are almost always coated to help them endure their harsh environment.…

Many small-component PCBs (printed circuit boards) are assembled today with no-clean solder pastes. No-clean solders speed up the manufacturing process by eliminating the need for cleaning circuit boards after reflow. The solder paste did not need removal and stayed in place without any detrimental effect to the function, performance and planned life expectancy of the…

Modern electronics are everywhere in our world, making life better for nearly every person on the planet. And today's electronic components are smaller and more complex than ever before. Manufacturers are squeezing micro components like CSP, flip chip, micro BGA and QFN packages into tighter spaces on the PCBAs. Low standoff components like MOSFETs and…

Modern PCBA cleaning is a challenge. The drive towards miniaturization has long been a goal within the electronics industry. As more advanced electronic applications are designed, which require increased functionality in a smaller package, manufacturers are looking for production methods which will result in a reliable device.The smaller, more densely populated circuit boards required for…

Water-soluble fluxes are also called organic acid (OA) fluxes. These are fluxes primarily composed of organic materials other than rosin or resin. Water-soluble fluxes and pastes provide good soldering results and bright solder joints because they are highly activated fluxes. This means they have good wetting action and a strong ability to prepare a clean surface for…