Enhancing the soldering process
Pre-heating is used to create an optimal environment for the soldering of a PCB. By heating the PCB, this helps to activate the flux, improves solder joint quality, and reduces the risk of component thermal shock. This method assists solder pull through on multi-layer PCBs and components with significant ground planes.
With the introduction of lead-free solders, it has become almost essential to have some form of pre-heating. Closed-loop control can be used for precise and reliable heating and provides added confidence to your process.
Pre-Heater Technologies
Selective Hot Nitrogen
By heating a flow of Nitrogen, Pillarhouse can pre-heat a localised area of the PCB whilst maintaining the inert atmosphere.
Top Side Infrared Pre-Heat
By using fast response infrared lamps, Pillarhouse can pre-heat the PCB before, during, and/or after fluxing.
Bottom Side Infrared Pre-Heat
By using fast response infrared lamps, Pillarhouse can pre-heat the PCB after fluxing.
Bottom Side Ring Infrared Pre-Heat
By using a fast response ring infrared lamp, Pillarhouse can pre-heat the PCB during the soldering cycle.
Top and Bottom Side Infrared Pre-Heat
Allows simultaneous heating of the top and bottom side, where the application dictates for complex or heavy multi-layer PCBs.
Convection
This additional source of pre-heating offers the ability to ‘soak’ PCBs for prolonged periods with minimal risk of scorching and further reducing the possibility of thermal shock to components. Convection pre-heat can be particularly beneficial when processing large multi-layer PCBs when cycle time is not critical e.g., back planes, aerospace applications etc.
Pre-Heater Control
Closed-loop control
Pyrometer based, closed loop control system.
- Adjustable position to monitor PCB, or specified area (component).
- Monitors target temperature and adjusts the operating power automatically.
- Applies to both top side & bottom side pre-heat systems.
- Real-time display of target temperature.
Open-loop control
- Uses operator set values for power and exposure time.
- Applies to both top side & bottom side pre-heat systems.
