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Cleaning stencils after printing SMD adhesives

#7209

Cleaning stencils after printing SMD adhesives | 10 July, 2001

We're stencil printing a Loctite 3614 Chipbonder adhesive, and we're using BioAct SC-10 presaturated wipes to clean the stencil after printing, without much luck. Operators are not able to remove all adhesive material left in the aperatures, and after it dries, it has to be picked out using a dental pick. This is slowing our set-up time down to a crawl. Does anybody have any ideas as to an inexpensive solution to this problem? I've got an ultrasonic stencil cleaner on my wish list, but it appears it'll be awhile before I have any of my wishes granted. HELP! Mark

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Claude Couture

#7210

Cleaning stencils after printing SMD adhesives | 10 July, 2001

We use Label& adhesive remover from M.G. Chemicals, cat. no.: 836-140g. It comes in spray can. Just spray and wipe.

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Darby

#7219

Cleaning stencils after printing SMD adhesives | 11 July, 2001

Mark, We print and dispense with Amicon "D 125 F". Solvent used is Electrolube "SSS", which is also used for solder paste removal/pcb cleaning for misprints and rework both manually and ultrasonically. I like it - good stuff but at $25 AU per litre it ain't cheap.

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#7227

Cleaning stencils after printing SMD adhesives | 11 July, 2001

Well, your wipes are a good first step in removing the bulk of the material, but they do little or nothing to remove the material from the apertures. * It would probably be cheaper to use poly stencils and then throw them away after each use, eh? ;-) * Lesee, $150 per stencil on a "proframe" stencil, $35k for a SmartSonic, you could throw away 230 stencils and still be ahead.

Alternatives to consider are: * Try PMR Systems [www.pmrsystems.com ] ... Some might say: much cheaper than Smart Sonics [www.smartsonic.com] and does the job just fine. * Look at SAWA Clean, Model: SC-5000 [That little voice is saying they have a USA affiliate outin Californie.] * Buy a bench top ultrasonic cleaner [eg, ESMA, Branson, Crest, etc], modify the tank to be big enough for a stencil, cut a hole in the bench and mount the unit, and let �er rip.

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Hussman

#7229

Cleaning stencils after printing SMD adhesives | 12 July, 2001

Ummm...why not use Loctite 7360 Surface Mount Adhesive Cleaner? It's designed to remove adhesive and works great. Low oder and can be bought in 500ml cans for hand cleaning. Part# 25658. Use it why any dry wipe.

Do not use alcohol to clean this adhesive, as it hardens it!!!

And here's one that will knock the sox off the people who think they know it all - try Formula 409 Degreaser & All Purpose cleaner (green stuff). It works pretty good too! Just don't ask how I found out!

Good Luck

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