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Rework Stations

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#56774

Rework Stations | 1 October, 2008

I have several QFP-100's that I need to rework. Obviously this is going to be tricky with the component having a pitch of 0.5mm.

Could somebody offer some suggestions for a decent, yet cost effective, rework station?

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#56776

Rework Stations | 1 October, 2008

I am also doing research on rework machines. for now I saw : Ersa - german http://www.ersa.de/en/produkte/smt_bga_rework/frame_smt_bga_rework.html

DenOn- Japanese http://www.denondic.co.jp/en/products/rd500_2.html,

Metcal http://www.metcal.com

All these systems are not bad. They will rework BGA and QFN and QFP. I liked most the Den-On ,ERSA is on different principle(IR) so you won't need to buy nozzles. All machines are in range $ 30-45K.

If you want to go really cheap, you can take Matcal qx2-p-11 http://www.hmcelectronics.com/cgi-bin/scripts/product/5635-0192

This one is gonna cost you just a few thousands. We have one and it is doing the job.

Regards, Emil

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Reese

#56789

Rework Stations | 2 October, 2008

If you want to go really cheap, you could try Pace Systems. You can get a three channel system, hot air, desolder and soldering iron. Or any other combination handpieces that they offer, for around $3K. They also have power supplies with a single channel for much cheaper. We use the hot-air for removal of QFP packages. The downside: it takes about 2 minutes to remove a QFP-100 package. I don't know the cycle times of these other units mentioned, but their probably a little faster than that.

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#56803

Rework Stations | 2 October, 2008

There was a company called APE that made a forced air convection machine called a ChipMaster. Around $4k Bulletproof and simple. Will work for years and years, and is particularly well suited to QFP rework. Used to have a dozen or so working on just little QFPs and BGAs and did literally many tens of thousands of repairs.

'hege has no relationship to APE or ChipMaster

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#56811

Rework Stations | 3 October, 2008

Good ol' general purpose, day-in, day-out ~$1k hot air rework stations are: * Pace ThermoFlo ST 300 Low Cost Hot Air Reflow System [ST 325 is digital] * Hakko FR-803B SMD Rework Station [FR-802 is digital]

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#56814

Rework Stations | 3 October, 2008

For plain old QFPs in small quantities, a temperature controlled heat gun + a decent soldering station can do the trick. In my case, Steinel HL 2010 E heat gun (handheld, but with a digital readout) to desolder. Clean up pads with solder wick. Solder with an old Metcal solder station with a STTC-144 tip. This is a bent sharp tip (banana shape), use the back curve to drag solder across the pins. Works great for SnPb, painful for lead free.

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#56815

Rework Stations | 3 October, 2008

If this is a one time rework might I suggest farming it out? 100pin QFP can be taken off no problemo.. Putting it back down properly and then hand soldering??? I wouldn't want that job. You need excellent placement and imaging and your not going to get that for $1000.00.. Hakko about $15,000-$18,000.. Pace $21,000.00 Ersa $45,000 up..

Dragging solder with a well tip on that fine pitch would bridge the joints. Unless your a master a dragging solder with a well tip.. Just my thoughts.

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#56816

Rework Stations | 3 October, 2008

Steve, you're correct. Placing and dragging 20 pitch is tedious and easily leaves bridges behind the heels of leads that can be difficult see.

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#56817

Rework Stations | 4 October, 2008

It all depends on the quantity and the type of product / quality requirements.

Manual placement for 20 mil pitch is not _that_ hard. Another advantage of hand soldering is that you don't have to worry about the moisture level of the replacement parts. In a repair environment it is difficult and/or expensive to keep the parts dry.

Drag soldering works well when using flux and the right solder tip shape. Metcal STTC-144 is tolerant to holding at an angle. Hoof tips designed for this purpose are probably more difficult to use.

I've replaced a couple hundred TQFP144 this way...

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#56820

Rework Stations | 6 October, 2008

Hi - do you know FINETECH http://www.finetech.de? This machines are the best choice for high end rework applications. here is an overview of possible rework applications; http://www.finetech.de/enid/Applications/Rework___Repair_bs.html . Let me know if you need more information. If you are looking for the best system for your money - the choice should be always hot air rework with precise thermal management. Let me know if you need more information.

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