Selective soldering is a key step in the electronics manufacturing process that requires specialized equipment, skilled operators, and careful control of the soldering process. As a leading electronics manufacturing service provider, PGF Technology Group has extensive experience in selective soldering and a commitment to quality, reliability, and efficiency in every aspect of our operations.
Why Use Selective Soldering?
Selective soldering joins components to the printed circuit board (PCB), creating a finished assembly. The process is “selective” because it involves the application of soldering only to specific areas of the PCB, rather than to all connections. This is important because not all components can withstand the high temperatures for reflow soldering. Reflow soldering is the standard process in the manufacturing of most electronic assemblies. Selective soldering allows us to protect delicate components and ensure that they are secure to the PCB, while also providing a reliable and consistent connection.
What are the steps of the Selective Soldering Process?
The selective soldering process typically begins with the application of flux to the pads and leads of the components. The flux helps to prepare the surface for soldering and to promote good wetting of the solder to the pads. Next, the machine places the components on the PCB, and the selective soldering equipment applies the solder. The equipment uses a combination of heat and pressure to melt the solder and join the components to the PCB. The machine carefully controls the temperature and duration of the soldering process to ensure consistent results. The operator monitors the soldering process to ensure that each joint is soldered to the correct specifications. Here is the step-by-step explanation:
1. Preparation:
Before the selective soldering process can begin, the machine and operator prepare the PCB by applying solder paste to the appropriate areas of the board. Prep work includes a stencil or a screen printing process.
2. Component placement:
Once the solder paste has been applied, the surface-mounted components are placed on the PCB using pick-and-place machines or other automated equipment. The components are typically held in place by a temporary adhesive or vacuum.
3. Flux application:
The machine applies flux to the areas of the PCB where it will apply the solder. Flux is a chemical that helps the solder flow and adheres to the PCB and component leads.
4. Preheating:
The machine preheats the PCB to activate the flux and remove any moisture from the PCB and components. The preheating temperature is typically between 120-150°C.
5. Selective soldering:
The selective soldering machine applies molten solder to the areas of the PCB that require soldering. The machine uses a solder nozzle to apply the solder in a precise and controlled manner.
6. Cooling:
After the soldering is complete, the machine cools the PCB to solidify the solder and ensure a strong bond between the components and the PCB.
7. Cleaning:
The machine then cleans the PCB to remove any excess flux or residue from the soldering process. This cleaning uses solvents, ultrasonic cleaning, or other methods.
8. Inspection:
Finally, the machine inspects the PCB to ensure that all components are secure and that there are no defects in the soldering process. This may involve visual inspection, automated optical inspection (AOI), or other testing methods.
What Does PGF Offer?
At PGF Technology Group, we use a variety of selective soldering techniques. This includes wave soldering, laser soldering, and selective spray soldering, to ensure that we have the right equipment and process for each project. Our flexible approach allows us to tailor our processes to meet the specific requirements of each customer.
In conclusion, selective soldering is a critical step in the electronics manufacturing process. It requires specialized equipment, skilled operators, and careful control of the soldering process. As a leading electronics manufacturing service provider, PGF Technology Group has extensive experience in selective soldering. We are committed to providing quality, reliable, and cost-effective solutions to our customers. Our flexible approach and commitment to excellence ensure that we deliver the highest quality products and services to our customers, every time.
Working with an electronic manufacturing service (EMS) provider that promotes Made in the USA assemblies can provide several significant benefits for companies, particularly in the medical device and aerospace industries where regulatory compliance, quality, and traceability are of paramount importance. There are many Made in the USA benefits to consider when planning your next assembly project.
Compliance
One of the biggest benefits of working with a Made in the USA EMS provider is the assurance of regulatory compliance. Medical devices and aerospace products must meet strict regulatory requirements in order to enter the market. An EMS provider that manufactures assemblies in the USA must comply with a wide range of regulations, including those of the FDA, FAA, and other government agencies. This means that companies can have confidence that the assemblies they receive from a Made in the USA EMS provider will meet all necessary regulatory requirements.
Quality Assurance
Another significant benefit of working with a Made in the USA EMS provider is the assurance of quality. Medical devices and aerospace products must meet high-quality standards to ensure that they are safe and effective for their intended use. EMS providers that manufacture assemblies in the USA are subject to strict quality control procedures to ensure that the assemblies they produce meet these standards. This means that companies can have confidence that the assemblies they receive from a Made in the USA EMS provider will be of the highest quality.
Traceability
A third benefit of working with a Made in the USA EMS provider is the ability to ensure traceability. Medical devices and aerospace products must have a clear traceability record throughout the entire manufacturing process to demonstrate compliance with regulations and to quickly identify and correct any issues. By working with an EMS provider that manufactures assemblies in the USA, companies can easily track the entire manufacturing process and ensure that the assemblies are progressing properly.
Support Domestic Work
By choosing to work with an EMS provider that promotes Made in the USA assemblies, companies can also support the domestic economy and jobs. Supporting domestic manufacturing helps to create and sustain jobs in the United States, and can also help to stimulate economic growth.
Promote Advancements
In addition, Made in the USA assemblies can also promote technology advancements. This is because domestic manufacturers are often at the forefront of new technologies and can bring new innovations to the market faster. Additionally, this can lead to a competitive advantage in the market and allow companies to stay ahead of the competition by using cutting-edge technology in their products.
It is important to use an experienced printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) manufacturer like PGF Technology Group to ensure that your PCBs are made to the highest quality standards and meet your specific requirements. With years of experience and state-of-the-art machinery, PGF Technology Group is well-equipped to handle all your PCBA needs. They have a team of experts who are knowledgeable in all aspects of the PCB assembly process.
ISO 9001:2015 is an international standard that sets out the requirements for a quality management system (QMS). It is a framework for organizations to ensure that they consistently meet customer requirements and improve overall performance. The International Standardization Organization (ISO) bodes many benefits that improve customer processes overall.
Customer Satisfaction
One of the biggest ISO 9001:2015 benefits is that it helps organizations to improve their customer satisfaction. The standard requires organizations to have a process in place for identifying customer needs and to regularly review and assess customer feedback. By understanding and responding to customer needs, organizations can improve their products and services, which leads to increased customer satisfaction.
Efficient Processes
ISO 9001:2015 also helps organizations to improve their efficiency and effectiveness. The standard requires organizations to establish and maintain processes for identifying and managing risks and opportunities, as well as implementing continuous improvement. This leads to a more streamlined and efficient operation, which results in cost savings for the organization and ultimately for the customers.
Product Consistency
Another one of the ISO 9001:2015 benefits is that it helps organizations to ensure the consistency of their products and services. The standard requires organizations to establish and maintain processes for controlling the design, development, production, and delivery of their products and services. This ensures that customers receive consistent, high-quality products and services every time they interact with the organization.
Commit to Quality
ISO 9001:2015 also helps organizations demonstrate their commitment to quality. By being certified to the standard, organizations can demonstrate to customers, suppliers, and other stakeholders that they have implemented a QMS that meets international standards for quality. This can be a valuable differentiator in a competitive market and can help organizations to attract and retain customers.
Meet All Requirements
ISO 9001:2015 also helps organizations to meet regulatory and legal requirements. Many industries have specific regulatory and legal requirements that organizations must comply with. By implementing a QMS that meets the requirements of ISO 9001:2015, organizations can more easily demonstrate that they are meeting these requirements.
Conclusion
In conclusion, ISO 9001:2015 is a popular standard for quality management systems. Its biggest benefits for customers include improved customer satisfaction, improved efficiency, consistency of products, commitment to quality, and meeting requirements. Organizations that implement a QMS based on ISO 9001:2015 show that they have a system to improve their performance. This can increase trust and credibility, making them a more attractive choice for customers.
It is important to use an experienced printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) manufacturer like PGF Technology Group to ensure that your PCBs are made to the highest quality standards and meet your specific requirements. With years of experience and state-of-the-art machinery, PGF Technology Group is well-equipped to handle all your PCBA needs. They have a team of experts who are knowledgeable in all aspects of the PCB assembly process.
For every project, the Electronics Manufacturing Service Provider (EMS Provider) strives to enable partners on-time delivery (OTD) services. The initial conversations between provider and partner are necessary to establish the proper steps to success. Overall, these conversations develop the needs of the project at hand and indicate priorities for the build. Delivering on-time services is critical for customer service and proper project completion.
Setting the alarm before bed takes careful consideration. How many times will you press snooze? When will you eat breakfast? How long does it take for you to do your signature hair-do?Similarly,setting the timer for a project takes thoughtful deliberation. Key factors include expertise, staffing, technology standards, and transparency on the supplier side.
Expertise
Firstly, an experienced supplier should effectively build their services to support their customers’ needs. In practice, these solutions extend past assembly to industry knowledge. To strive for on-time delivery, a supplier should:
Evaluate Obsolete Parts
Check End-of-Life Parts
Assess Lead Times
Review Applications for Components
Provide Substitutions/Alternatives
Overall, experience in the industry allows certain suppliers the inner know-how to navigate component acquisition and potential production time.
Staffing
Knowledge alone cannot prevent sleeping through the alarm. Proper employee training in the correct positions is crucial to waking up refreshed and ready to go!
If a company is understaffed and overworked, the delivery goal will be much harder to reach. Regular assessments of business practices, managerial roles, and training practices must occur to counter this problem. Establishing effective training procedures and recognition allows the right employee to fill a vital position.
After all, companies operating with the best person for each task are guaranteed to create an efficient production process with fewer snooze button hits.
Technology Standards
Coupled with the right team, establishing top-notch technology and machinery streamlines production processes wherever possible. For instance, Surface-Mount Technology (SMT) machines perform PCB Assembly tasks such as component placement more quickly than complete manual assembly.
For companies searching for a supplier, it is essential to visit the facility or receive a list of the machinery they can equip for your project. Furthermore, if your project is for a growing industry, such as Electric Vehicles, evaluating the machinery for its longevity eliminates future supplier changes and production delays.
Transparency
On the whole, constant updates reassure the customer that the supplier has their best interest in mind. This honest feedback incorporates positive and negative situations involved with a project’s progress. For example, suppose a supplier becomes aware of a pending issue that will delay the procurement of specific components if a different course is not taken. In that case, they should immediately notify the customer to plan an alternate solution and maintain trust.
These constant discussions could generate new ideas to continue the path to on-time delivery, even when blocks seemingly get in the way.
Avoid Hitting the Snooze
In summary, with a customer’s keen attention to supplier services and the supplier’s constant assessment of their capabilities, partners can achieve on-time delivery even in times of supply chain turmoil. The final piece of advice is for both parties to have realistic goals. Especially during component shortages, everyone should review the path to production with the goal of re-defining order periods and lead times. With all of these tips in mind, springing out of bed at the first alarm should come easily!
*Editor Note: The component shortage has severely affected our lead times for project completion. As always, we are committed to customer satisfaction and the goal of on-time delivery; however, we are forced to operate within the restrictions of the supply chain. For further inquiry about this ongoing issue, please contact us.
When Component Shortage Fails You…
Here we are, in the second half of 2021, yet changes over the past year have settled into a “new normal” that affects how business is conducted. One of the most heavily involved industries iselectronic manufacturing, specifically the component shortage associated with Printed Circuit Board Assembly.
Yes, we have entered the recovery stage of the pandemic, but we are now in “Crisis Mode” as a manufacturing industry. So let’s go over a few of the most significant problems facing productivity today:
Long component lead times.
The average lead time for a manufacturing project has become much longer in the past several months. From order to delivery, suppliers and customers are waiting on their heels weeks later than anticipated.
Sky-rocketing prices.
Individual components have become rare, and therefore expensive. Expect to lighten the wallet when it comes to ongoing production.
Disruptions in project completion.
Somebody get the manufacturing industry a cold glass of water…because it has hiccups. Each stage brings pauses to the overall goal of completing a project.
How did we get here?
These problems occur based on many overlapping issues with stocking, shipping, building, receiving, and general bad luck.
Focusing specifically onPCB Assembly, both US-based manufacturing and off-shore counterparts, such as China, suffer due to the raised cost of raw materials and the employee deficit caused by Covid-19.
In a greater scope, there have been political tensions and shifting trade agreements. The US and China have been in a boxing match, implementing tariffs on both sides.
Additionally, automotive manufacturing has been forced to dip into materials traditionally left for other markets, leaving limited suppliesfor the rest of the industry than before the pandemic.
Even before last year’s events, the demand for electronic components has constantly been rising, with smartphones and new automotive electronic capabilities, andmost manufacturers can’t keep up with the demand.
Here’s How to Succeed!
How can you work with the grain and succeed?
So now, if you’re reading this, you want to know how to avoid complications in the component shortage, and we want to help. Here are the three basic steps to consider regarding your ongoing or upcoming projects at this time:
1) Forecast sales cycles.
2) Identify long lead-time components.
3) Buy and stock now.
These three steps may seem very simple; however, their impact can differentiate between massive success and grand failure.
STEP ONE: Review and Forecast
Before you start to panic, take the time to review your regular sales cycles and forecast future actions. Use this point in the planning period to project the growing changes; this action will keep you from getting caught off-guard. In this case, doubling forecasted cycles will help with the final step. If you usually plan for a 3-month reorder period, project for 6 months instead. Stay one step ahead, always!
To ease this restructuring, coordinate with your supplier for updates on high-demand periods and blockages. They are here to aid your experience with the transparency of facts, not to make false promises.
STEP TWO: Identify Problem Areas
Once you have laid out the plans, identify the trouble-making components with the long turnaround times. This process means that as soon as you have identified the right time to order, place all necessary orders for each component immediately. This step is more easily said than done, as most components have acquired long lead times, but the best way to prepare is to diagnose all potential headaches.
If the long lead-time components are the headaches, then discussions with your supplier are the Tylenol. They know what materials are available and which ones need your immediate attention, so swallow up the advice and lessen your chances for a future migraine!
STEP THREE: Stock, Stock, and Stock
By this point, you are best friends with your manufacturer and will discuss the desire to stock components for future projects. We recognize that it is a seller’s market, so this action allows some peace of mind and control.In addition, you will have the ability to preemptively store components projected to have very long, unstable lead times, so grab all the material you can!
We are aware that this action contradicts the established norm that typically calls for low inventory and just-in-time ordering, but as stated above, we are in a “new normal.” The best move for your company is to spend the cash at the start and prepare for the worst.
The PGF Advantage
PGF Technology Group is a partner in helping you succeed despite the current trends.
We bring a personalized approach to our customers and guarantee honest feedback at every stage of a project. In a nutshell: we are here for you, whether during a component shortage or otherwise!
For any project you may have,contact us and let us prove why we are your solutions provider.
Technology Standards
STEP ONE:
Before you st
Once you have laid out the plans, identify the trouble-making components with the long turnaround times. 
By this point, you are best friends with your manufacturer and will discuss the desire to stock components for future projects. We recognize that it is a seller’s market, so this action allows some peace of mind and control.
