Also known as Wave Solder Fixtures or Solder Pallets. These pallets are custom designed to fit specific PCB layouts and process requirements. The design should:
Reduce board warping by offering additional support.
Improve solder flow around components to promote consistent joints.
Eliminate solder skips by guiding the flow of solder.
Create pockets or shielded areas to prevent damage to temperature sensitive components.
Reduce the possibility of soldering defects and the additional need to incur post solder rework.
Selective soldering pallets are essential for achieving high-quality, reliable solder joints in complex PCB assemblies, especially when dealing with mixed technology boards that include both through hole and surface mount components.
The pallet design should hold and protect the PCB throughout the selective soldering process ensuring that areas previously soldered are adequately masked and not exposed to re-flow temperatures.
Manufactured in heat resistant material to prevent warpage, selective pallets will improve solder joint accuracy and overall quality.
Robotic Soldering Cells offer manufacturers the ability to operate continuously, however precision and consistency is only achieved with the correct supporting fixture design.
To achieve stability & long life, Robotic Soldering Fixtures are manufactured in aluminium or stainless steel and can accommodate components of varying height and component densities.
Designed to be easily installed and remove from the cell, Robotic Fixtures aid in dissipating heat from temperature sensitive components and prevent PCB bowing or warpage.
Supporting PCB's during a solder paste printing cycle is key to a successful Surface Mount Assembly line. Whilst tools like pin blocks are useful, Print Support Plates provide a more stable and foolproof solution. Print Support Plates can help:
Stabilising the PCB - Prevents misalignment which can cause defects.
Prevent Board Warpage - Provides a consistent and even surface for the PCB.
Improved Print Quality - Ensures paste is applied evenly and reduces bleed.
Defect Reduction - Reduces smearing, bridging and insufficient printing.
Enhance Efficiency - Allows for quick change out between designs.
Conformal Coatings provide protection against compromising conditions to components; however not all areas of the PCB can be coated. Masking of components can be achieved simply with polyamide tape, however for automated applications using robotics, a conformal coating pallet is more reliable and cost effective.
Bespoke Design - Custom designed to fit a specific PCB layout.
Material - Manufactured in temperature materials like aluminium, with the option to coat with Teflon for ease of cleaning.
User Friendly - Offers repeatable component protection and dramatically reduce operator time when compared to manually masking. Also aids in cost reduction and minimise risks to temperature sensitive components.
Using a Press Pin Fixture, designed specifically for your PCB, to accurately insert pins into plated through holes, will guarantee consistent and accurate alignment. Designed to both support a PCB and protect bottom side components, Press Pin Fixtures allow for a solder-less electrical connection between connector and PCB.
Typically manufactured from durable materials such as aluminium or steel to withstand the repetitive forces.
Many companies use Routing Machines to reduce wastage when removing individual PCB's from larger panels. Routing fixtures used alongside the machines, ensure that each PCB is separated from the panel with clean cut edges, preventing component damage and offering the ability to handle odd shaped PCB’s.
Consistency - Ensures repeatability and uniformity across all boards.
Efficiency - Streamlines de-paneling providing time, and cost, savings.
Versatility - Fixtures can be designed to accommodate several designs.
Safety – Reduces likelihood of operator injury & board damage during loading/ unloading.
Inspection overlays are a simple but valuable tool to aid the final inspection of an assembled PCB. They are cost effective and offer several benefits that ensure the finished PCB meets quality standards:
Guided Inspection - Provides a visual guide to the inspectors, allowing for quick identification of components and ensuring no critical parts are missing. The use of an overlay standardises the process and reduces variability.
Error Reduction - Reduces the impact of human error, inspectors can easily compare an actual board against the overlay.
Training Aid - An excellent training aid for new inspectors.
Specialised tooling designs, tailored for the electronics production assembly market. Our design team collaborates closely with process engineers to develop innovative solutions designed to address the unique challenges faced in electronics production. By focusing on reducing assembly times and increasing product yield, manufacturers can achieve higher productivity and quality in their production processes. Previous solutions include:
Have a problem that you don’t think will be solved by standard tooling? Drop our team an email today to discuss how we can develop a solution.
GlobalDatum Ltd
Unit 4, Waterside Industrial Estate
Pathbrae
New Cumnock
KA18 4DF