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Wave soldering vs reflow12/8/2022 ![]() ![]() This will be done by a technician using a hand solder. Regardless of the process and how experienced the technician is, usually there will be some sort of touch ups required to get some of the boards to IPC-610 standards. ![]() Although wave soldering is more finnicky, it is a faster process than reflow. If your board is mixed technology, generally the reflow phase will happen first and then the wave. Generally, reflow will be used for SMT boards and wave soldering will be used for through hole boards. This pre-heats the board, melts the solder paste and then allows it to solidify creating a solder joint for your component. This profile dictates which sections of the oven are which temperatures. These ovens have specific temperature profiles and sections according to the specified solder paste being used. After the stencil printing and pick and place steps, the operator will place the boards on the conveyor of a reflow oven. Reflow soldering on the other hand is a less complex process. Many variables can be adjusted such as angle, speed, temp, and others in order to minimize rework. This final step of the wave solder machine is crucial and requires years of experience to accomplish perfectly. The “wave” name comes from the wave of molten solder that the board runs across for all the components to get soldered on. The board will then continue along the conveyor and get pre-heated before it goes across the wave. Flux is used to clean off the components and specifically, any oxide layers that may have formed. As the board travels along the conveyor, flux is sprayed on the underside of the board. ![]() These come in all shapes and sizes but at the root of them all, a fully stuffed (populated) board is placed onto a conveyor which runs the PCB through the different zones. Lastly, selective soldering gives you the ability to process boards that cannot be wave soldered (such as those with tall PTH components on both sides). Wave soldering requires the use of a wave solder machine. These two are the most popular forms of bulk soldering, however there is also selective, robotic, and hand soldering techniques. Understanding the differences and understand which one your project needs is crucial to ensuring a reliable product. These steps ensure that your components are attached to your PCB thus allowing the intended electrical connections to be completed. One of the most important steps in the life-cycle of a PCBA is Wave Soldering and Reflow Soldering. ![]()
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