Over the years, soldering methods have evolved a lot. There are different techniques developed for soldering required in a diverse range of applications. One such advanced technique, which has created quite a buzz in the electronics industry is selective soldering. This soldering technique is considered to be one of the most effective and widely used methods in several industries today. It would not be wrong to say that it has dominated several manufacturing applications. You must be thinking what exactly is selective soldering? Read the following post to get an understanding of this widespread technique.
What Exactly is Selective Soldering?
During the surface mount technology (SMT) assembly, components and molded modules may get damaged by the temperature of reflow oven. Selective soldering is a process of soldering components on a PCB by applying solder only on specific areas of the board. This helps avoid any potential damage to the board.
Are There Any Plus Points of Selective Soldering?
Yes, there are several ways in which selective soldering technique is beneficial. There are a number of plus points of this method. This soldering method helps a manufacturer to target definite areas on a printed circuit board. This further helps the manufacturer to work around surface mount technology (SMT) packages that are delicate and solder through-hole pins. This technique of soldering can be executed in a variety of ways. However, the best and most effective way is with a programmable machine. Repeated task of soldering can be done with this technique, which has following benefits:
- Reduces the overall cost
- Helps increase the throughput
- Lesser chances of defects
Is Selective Soldering Same as Wave Soldering?
No, these two are totally different techniques. There is a huge difference between selective soldering and wave soldering. The most basic and important different between these two soldering techniques is the way in which solder is applied. In case of wave soldering, the underside of a circuit board is immersed in a molten solder. However, in case of selective soldering, solder is applied to only selected or specific areas.
What Are the Different Selective Soldering Processes?
Selective soldering technique involves a number of processes, which are required to be carried out. The following are a few important processes of the said soldering technique:
- Aperture Tooling Over Wave Soldering – In this process, molten solder is agitated to produce a wave of solder. The PCB on which soldering is to be done is passed or dragged through this solder wave. During the process, certain PCB areas are masked. Generally, these are the areas that aren’t soldered.
- Selective Dip Solder Fountain Process – As the name implies, this process involves solder fountains. The placement of these fountains is based on the points on a circuit board, where solder is to be applied. In this process, components are soldered by immersing the printed circuit board into the fountains. The other areas on the board are left untouched.
- Laser Selective Soldering – In this process, different points on a PCB are precisely soldered with the help of a laser. This process is generally carried out by CAD programming.
This is the whole idea about selective soldering. This technique of soldering is increasingly becoming popular in a number of applications. It is a very beneficial and effective process, provided it is done by industry experts. There are several experts, who provide selective soldering as a service. Accelerated Assemblies is one reputed and trusted name in the electronics industry. The company is known to provide comprehensive range of selective soldering services.
