Description
Fluxing System
The flux is applied to the terminals via a crucible or sprung test probes, which is lifted from the bath to the component, this provides high quality and consistent repeatability. Flux application is of paramount importance, this is where the Quadron has an advantage, as it can control the application and avoid bobbin contamination by applying flux accurately. Excess flux and insulation residue is kept to a minimum by careful control of the dip height and immersion time, this being achieved through stepper drive motors. The Quadron can be supplied with either a fixed flux bath or self-contained recycling flux tank which helps reduce the evaporation of the flux thinners.
Soldering
The Quadron uses a well proven solder pump system and incorporates a solder nozzle which can be of various designs to suit the product. Dross is removed from the nozzle prior to the next soldering operation by increasing the pump speed and bursting solder from the nozzle, this occurs during the index operation and does not impede the overall cycle time. The component is dipped in the solder by means of the precision stepper driven tooling slide, which provides precise, accurate and repeatable results. Also, for the optimum soldered joint, Pillarhouse is able to provide a Nitrogen shroud which makes the soldering operation totally inert and helps prevent bridging, reduces dross, and provides an improved quality. One major advantage the Quadron has is the ability to tilt a component out of the solder, this facility will help to prevent solder bridging of fine pitched connectors and the like.
Programming
The Quadron can be quickly and easily programmed to solder a wide range of different products, e.g., coils, transformers, wire terminations and small PCB’s. The fluxing and soldering parameters are entered via a 7″ LCD display and a keyboard, to give full control of: solder bath temperature, flux, and solder dip heights (increments of 0.1mm), and flux and solder immersion time (to within 0.1 of a second). Additional operations can also be controlled, e.g., component test facility, component unload and adjustment of the cycle time etc. A 7-day wake-up timer is included as standard equipment which enables the machine to be automatically powered-on and bought up to temperature prior to the start of a working shift.