New selective soldering system increases throughput and flexibility

Nordson Electronics Solutions has introduced its new SELECT Synchro selective soldering system for high-volume PCB assembly applications. The system is a multi-station selective soldering system (patent pending) that utilises a unique, synchronous motion to improve throughput, lower cost-of-ownership, and deliver flexibility for electronics manufacturers.

The innovative system can substitute existing selective soldering operations to enhance yield and save space for many through-hole and SMT mixed-technology soldering applications. Also, the system can aid electronics manufacturers in stepping away from wave soldering with its faster, flexible, and more efficient operations than typical selective soldering solutions.

Inside the system, a board is pulled at a constant speed via the fluxing, pre-heating, and soldering process steps. The flux and solder applicators are programmed to follow and treat boards as they travel through the equipment to provide synchronous-motion selective soldering. Multiple solder pots and different nozzle sizes are obtainable to deliver flexibility with solder quantities, solder alloys, and board designs.

"People are amazed by the technology of synchronous soldering. By moving the target board as well as the flux and soldering applicators, the operations are sped up, and the system is reduced in size," explained Florian Strohmayer, product line manager, Nordson Electronics Solutions. "In terms of throughput, the SELECT Synchro concept can replace wave soldering equipment while increasing the soldering quality and reducing the cost of ownership."

The unique design inside the system boosts throughput by decreasing the time spent conveying boards by as much as 25%. Multiple solder pots can be configured, and the system balances the whole process for efficiency and flexibility to provide superior solder joint reliability. Also, the machine's size can be as much as four times shorter than a typical selective soldering system, for example, shrinking in length from 10m to 2.5m. Cost-of-ownership is improved while still accommodating long boards as large as 680mm x 2500mm.