Bev Christian
Research In Motion
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
Transcript
The effectiveness of cleaning stencils and misprinted or dirty printed circuit boards can be effectively monitored. This can be done by washing known clean circuit boards and then checking to see if they have stayed clean as a result of the washing process. The monitoring can be done with conductivity equipment. Control limits can be set once enough initial data is collected.
This paper covers how control of a stencil cleaner's cleaning ability is possible, but requires assiduous discipline in maintaining a preventative maintenance program.
However, the stakes are much higher with regards to dirty circuit boards. Often rework, whether cleaning misprinted boards or work involving hand soldering, is considered as "out of sight out of mind." But even in the best facilities "things happen." Every company should have some way of monitoring the cleanliness of all board types that are used to build product for their customers.