2008 Soldering Technology Webinars
The Soldering Webinars were developed to keep electronics professionals up-to-date on industry changes in techniques and technology. Anyone can participate. No special hardware is required. Some Webinars may require Windows Media Player 9 or better to view.

Understanding Backwards and Forwards Compatibility in Lead-Free Soldering

Just when you thought you understood all this lead and lead-free production, components of all types, leaded and lead-free start showing up in a variety of assemblies. How do you live in a world with only lead-free components that may end up in a leaded process and on the flip side, leaded components that might wind up in a lead-free process? Learn the process fundamentals and metallurgical issues to help guide you through this messy mix.

Topics we will be reviewing are:

• The real definition of this problem.
• Why this issue is occurring and how it affects you.
• What occurs in the soldering process in each case.
• Recommendations and rules you can live by.

PCB Delamination: Understanding What Separation Anxiety Is Really All About

Are you having laminate separation issues with your printed circuit boards? Delamination is showing up more and more today due to increased thermal pressures on assemblies. So how do you address these issues? Learn how this occurs in the production and assembly process, how to deal with it and understand the difference between true delamination and other forms of separation such as measling, haloing and crazing.

Topics we will be reviewing are:

• What is true delamination?
• How this defect occurs and how to prevent it.
• Review of internal and external observations.
• The standards: 610, 600 and 6012 spec.

You've Got Questions? Common Wave Soldering Manufacturing Issues

So many questions and so little time. We receive multiple questions each and every day and they continue to build regarding soldering assembly, procedures, materials and chemistry. Take a moment to hear our top 5 questions and time permitting allow us to answer a few of yours. Who knows, we may solve a puzzler for you. This webinar will focus more on wave soldering concerns.

Topics we will be reviewing are:

• Can I wave solder SMT components?
• Why do I have insufficient PTH fill in wave soldering?
• How do I solder thick PTH boards?
• Can I wave solder LEDs? If so, how?

Untangling Your Electronics Training and Certification Needs

With so many program and course offerings out there it is hard to decipher what you may or may not need to meet your everyday operational requirements, let alone any certifications you may need for contractual obligations. Let us take some time to demystify the IPC offerings by enlightening you on what the programs are and who may need them.

Topics we will be reviewing are:

• What are the IPC Programs?
• What prerequisites are there if any?
• Training the right person in the right position.
• Certifying the Individual vs. the company.

Inspection: PCB Assemby Inspection Round 2 - Getting it Right

Coming off of the recent discussion, you should be starting to realize that inspection is not so much applying the accept/reject criteria of IPC-A-610 "Acceptability of Electronic Assemblies", though it is key, but rather being able to alter your thought process to allow you to visually identify subtle deviations in the norm and then apply the criteria. So let's look at a practical way of sitting down and inspecting a printed circuit board by spotting differences and categorizing them.

Topics we will be reviewing are:

• Practical steps to start the process.
• Rough pass vs. targeted inspection.
• Training to spot differences - Practice.
• PTH and SMT inspection techniques.

Inspection: Quick Tips and Techniques for PCB Assembly Inspection

So you understand IPC-A-610 "Acceptability of Electronic Assemblies" and are ready to inspect, but where do you start as you stare at a printed circuit board assembly fresh from the line? It can be a daunting task, but if you know how to look, what to look for each pass and how to focus in on problem areas, you can increase your effectiveness and perform inspections in a timely manner. Learn some of the tricks and techniques on how to inspect assemblies and identify problematic production trends.

Topics we will be reviewing are:

• The what, where and how to look.
• PTH and SMT inspection techniques.
• What solder flow or reflow can tell you on a board.
• Rough pass vs. targeted inspection.

Getting to Know "The Bible" for Rework and Repair- IPC 7711/7721

Although you try to avoid it, rework and repair of printed circuit assemblies continues to creep into our lives, but did you know there is a source that can help you through these delicate procedures with effective techniques? We take a moment to discuss the IPC-7711/7721 "Rework, Modification and Repair of Electronic Assemblies" document and how this standard can make your life easier.

Topics we will be reviewing are:

• The Basic Premise and Concept of the Document
• Skill Level Requirements
• Techniques, Tools and their Application
• Lead-Free Techiques and Technical Considerations (Copper Dissolution)

Boards: Get the Bare Facts on Bare Boards (inspection and fabrication)

You are probably aware of IPC-A-610 "Acceptability of Electronic Assemblies" which covers the accept/reject criteria for stuffed printed circuit boards, but you may not be aware that there are other standards that help you deal with issues relative to bare printed boards covering design, fabrication and inspection. We take a look at IPC-A-600, IPC-6012 and other standards that can be crucial to support your efforts from start to finish in the fabrication process of the most critical component in your assembly.

Topics we will be reviewing are:

• IPC specifications to use.
• Documents required to get a board fabricated.
• Common board problems affecting manufacturing.
• Process changes due to RoHS/WEEE.

Flux Classification Part 1: Interpretation of J-STD-001 & J-STD-004 Regarding Fluxes

J-STD-001 "Requirements for Soldered Electrical and Electronic Assemblies" and J-STD-004 "Requirements for Soldering Fluxes" are two critical industry documents for interpreting and classifying fluxes used in any soldering process.

This Webinar will provide a brief view of fluxes from the perspective of:

• Material and Process Nonconformance
• Material Requirements
• Flux Requirements
• Flux Identification

If you build product to Class 3 specification, this information is vital to your understanding of how flux classification can impact an audit of your process.

Flux Classification Part 2:
Selecting the Right Flux for Your Application

Understanding how a flux in general can impact your production process is important to any soldered assembly. Selecting the right flux for a particular job is crucial to the quality of the final product. Identifying all the materials and how they interact with each other takes on a whole new meaning in making the right choices.

This Webinar will provide you with a brief insite into:

• The Purpose of Flux
• Impact of Flux Residue
• Selection and Qualification Process
• Flux Performance Specifications

Q & A on Solder Resists
and Conformal Coatings

The majority of boards built today are coated with solder resist or solder mask as it is sometimes referred, but care should be taken to make sure that this process does not result in contamination. We will take a look at this concern along with issues you may want to consider if you want to take this a step further and apply conformal coatings to the final assembly.

Some questions we will be looking at are:

• Is any type of contamination ok?
• How clean does a board have to be prior to coating?
• What is a salt spray test?
• What do IPC specifications 830, 6012, and TM-650 have to say?

Defects: Lead Protrusion
and Damaged Pins

Questions always arise about how much lead protrusion is enough or too much. This session will review issues related to lead protrusion in both supported and unsuported holes and what is considered acceptable or a defect. In addition, if you have damaged pins, are they "fixable" and what does IPC-A-610 allow you "to do" or "not to do" with this defect?

Topics we will be reviewing are:

• Lead Protrusion and Solderability
• IPC-A-610 Requirements
• Damaged Components and Boards
• What should you repair and what can be done?