Resource Library

When it comes to SMT stencil cleaning, the best results come from nonflammable, slower-drying fluids working with lint-free fabric wipes (no paper with cellulose and glues) to get perfect results. Detailed results depend on the solder paste being used, the age of that paste, the design of the stencil and how it was made, whether…

Yes, MicroCare has a number of choices here. But for maximum safety there are some rules you will want to follow:The solvent must have manageable toxicity ratings;The fluid must NOT be flammable;It must have a high boiling point; the higher the better;The component chemistries should not separate when they are heated (which is called 'azeotropic'…

Cleaning a wave solder machine -- or their surface mount cousins, giant SMT reflow ovens -- is a real pain. Most people use isopropyl alcohol for the job and it simply doesn't work very well.Here’s why: First, the insides of the machines become covered in spattered flux. Then those residues then get baked onto the…

Cleaning a the frames and pallets that hold PCBs as they move through wave solder machines is difficult because the devices get very dirty very quickly. In addition, they are usually hot. And most people try to use isopropyl alcohol which doesn’t have much effect on such hardened residues.MicroCare has a product formulated specifically for…

Many people have asked about using the Reflow Oven Cleaner (#MCC-ROC) in a big cleaning tank. Often customers have parts and conveyor chains they want to clean, and it’s easier to dump them into a tank and let them sit for a little while before scrubbing. The Oven Cleaner works great in this environment.But the Oven Cleaner…

Cleaning inside wave solder machines is a challenge. The heat turns any flux residues inside the machine into a nasty, black, burned-on sludge that can be very difficult to remove.  The pallets, fingers, conveyors and other components also build-up this coating. It's very difficult to remove.In most wave solder machines, the big worry is the…