EUTECT workpiece carriers (WPC) and soldering masks are used to transport and protect assemblies within the system, reducing thermal stress due to different soldering temperatures. These are customised for the assemblies and soldering processes to be processed.
More and more flexibility and the processing of a wide variety of assemblies is also required from a customised automation solution when procuring machines for special machine construction. For this reason, the satellite workpiece carrier was developed. This makes it possible to place various product-specific workpiece carriers on the same basic workpiece carrier, transport them and process them in the machine. These satellite workpiece carriers are then designed to be product-specific and equipped with queries so that they are recognised by the machine and the correct programs and processes can be loaded.
Increasingly complex assemblies, whether due to miniaturisation or difficult-to-access and sensitive geometries, require new solutions in mask technology. For example, if circuit boards are already mounted in housings and SMD components on the underside are very close to the housing and the THT soldering points to be soldered, the walls, intermediate webs and connections must be very thin. The use of EUTECT solder masks also enables cycle time-optimised soldering, as the number of dipping processes in the mini wave can be significantly reduced. In conjunction with EUTECT's specific nozzle technology, pressure masks can be used to reliably and reproducibly solder points that initially seem unattainable.
A Workpiece carrier is used to securely hold, position and transport electronic assemblies through the system during the automated soldering process. Workpiece carriers designed specifically for each product ensure reproducible positioning of the assembly and can simultaneously perform protective, holding and monitoring functions.
Solder masks protect areas of an assembly that, during the selective soldering process should not come into contact with the solder. They make it possible to selectively expose the areas relevant to the soldering process. This is particularly important in the case of densely populated, miniaturised or geometrically complex assemblies. EUTECT uses such masks in, amongst other things, the Mini wave soldering one.
Customised workpiece carriers can be precisely tailored to the assembly, soldering process and automation concept. This enables assemblies to be transported and positioned reliably. At the same time, functions such as hold-down mechanisms or placement checks can be integrated directly into the workpiece carrier.
With a satellite workpiece carrier, various Product-specific workpiece carriers mounted on a common base workpiece carrier. This allows different assemblies to be processed within the same automation solution without having to change the entire carrier design for each product variant.
Product-specific satellite workpiece carriers can be fitted with appropriate queries or identification features. This enables the machine to recognise the workpiece being used Workpiece carrier and can automatically load the relevant programmes and process flows.
Modular workpiece carrier concepts enable different assemblies to be manufactured on the same production line. Satellite workpiece carriers, in particular, reduce the effort involved in mechanical changeovers and facilitate flexible production of different product variants.
Yes. A system designed for this purpose Solder mask can help to reduce the number of times the component needs to be immersed in the mini-wave. This allows several solder joints to be processed efficiently within the process and the cycle time to be optimised.
In principle, yes. However, on printed circuit boards that have already been assembled, there may be very small clearances between the housing, the SMD components and the THT terminals to be soldered. For this purpose, specially adapted Masks with thin walls, requiring intermediate webs and connections. EUTECT explicitly mentions the Mini-wave soldering within enclosures as an application of its mask technology.
Where component density is high, the areas to be soldered must be separated very precisely from neighbouring components. Product-specific solder masks enable sensitive areas to be shielded whilst at the same time making the necessary solder joints accessible for the selective process.
Yes. Hold-down functions can be set directly in the Workpiece carrier be integrated. This allows the assembly to be held securely in place during transport and machining without necessarily requiring separate handling components. EUTECT lists the integrated clamping function as one of the product’s key features.
Workpiece carrier can be combined with assembly inspection functions or corresponding queries. This allows additional inspection and process safety functions to be integrated directly into the assembly’s handling concept.
A weight-optimised workpiece carrier reduces the moving mass within the automation solution. Depending on the application, this allows for smaller handling systems or Robots be utilised and mechanical stresses reduced. EUTECT cites both lighter workpiece carriers and the potential use of smaller robots as advantages of the concept.
Workpiece carrier are generally used for the safe handling and positioning of assemblies within automated soldering processes. The stencil solutions described on this EUTECT page are specifically designed for selective soldering and mini-wave soldering. EUTECT
The design is product-specific and is based, amongst other things, on the geometry and component layout of the assembly, the accessible solder joints, the soldering process used and the automation requirements. The aim is to achieve a solution that combines handling, protection of the assembly and a reproducible soldering process. The EUTECT page describes Workpiece carriers and solder masks accordingly, as solutions tailored to individual assemblies and soldering processes.
