5 Factors Impacting Quality of SMT Soldering

Several factors impact the quality of SMT soldering. These include equipment state, Solder paste quality and Stability. Understanding these factors will help you improve your SMT soldering processes. The best way to improve the quality of SMT soldering is to implement improvements in every area.

Stabilité

In a manufacturing process where components are placed on a PCB, the stability of the solder joints is important to the performance of the circuit. However, in certain conditions, the soldering process can be unstable. In these conditions, lead-free SnAgCu soldering paste is used to reduce thermal stress on the substrate. This type of solder paste has an advantage over other materials: it can be used on various substrates and can be applied by dispensing the paste onto the device surface.

A good solder paste will be stable to a specified temperature. The best way to check the stability of your solder paste is to use a viscometer to measure its viscosity. A good paste should be between 160 Pa*S and 200 Pa*S.

Repeatability

During the soldering process, the flux is a key ingredient for the successful soldering process. If the flux is insufficient or there are too many impurities, the soldering process can fail. The best way to ensure the repeatability of SMTS soldering is to carefully prepare components and PCB pads before soldering. It is also important to properly maintain the temperature of the reflow and to avoid any movement of the assembly during reflow. Lastly, the alloy must be analysed for any contaminants.

While lead-free solders are recommended, leaded solder can be used in certain cases. However, it is important to note that leaded solder does not have the flux needed to make reliable joints. As a result, the soldering process is not repeatable.

Equipment state

Many factors affect the quality of SMT soldering. These factors include the design of PCB pads, the quality of the solder paste, and the state of equipment used for manufacturing. Each of these factors is fundamental for reflow soldering quality insurance. Moreover, they can also influence soldering defects. To improve soldering quality, it is essential to use excellent PCB pad designs.

In addition to the selection of components, the mounting precision is another factor affecting the quality of the solder joint. The equipment used for mounting must have high precision so that the components remain stable. In addition, the mounting angle should be correct to ensure that the polar device is correctly oriented. Also, the thickness of the component after mounting must be appropriate.

Solder paste quality

Soldering defects can be the result of a variety of factors. Often, these problems are caused by improper PCB design. Incorrect pad design can result in components that shift or tombstone-shape, as well as soldering defects. For this reason, the design of PCB pads should be carefully scrutinized to avoid these problems.

Temperature and humidity play a significant role in the quality of solder paste. An ideal temperature for application is around 20 degrees Celsius and the right humidity is between thirty to fifty percent. High moisture levels can cause balls to form, which affects the soldering process. Scraping blade speed and quality are also important factors that affect soldering. For optimal results, solder paste should be applied starting from the core and move towards the edges of the board.

Speed, scraper pressure, stencil descending speed, and stencil cleaning mode should all be optimized for maximum solder paste printing. Improper speed can result in uneven solder paste printing and may reduce production efficiency. Another critical parameter is stencil cleaning frequency. Too high or too low stencil cleaning speed can cause a buildup of tin, which can affect production efficiency.

PCB design

PCB design is a critical aspect of manufacturing quality. It involves the proper positioning of components on the board to ensure that they are mounted correctly. It should include enough clearance for mechanical fixing holes. Otherwise, the delicate components can be damaged. In addition, solder joints near the footprints of surface mount components may result in shorts. Hence, it is essential that the PCB design allows for the proper placement of both conventional and surface mount components.

In addition to the correct placement of components, the proper PCB design can also contribute to SMT soldering. According to HP statistics, about 70 to 80 percent of manufacturing faults are caused by defects in the PCB design. The factors that affect the design of the PCB include component layout, thermal pad design, component package types, and assembly method. The PCB design must also consider electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) points and via positions.