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BGA rework equipment - suggestions?

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#72490

BGA rework equipment - suggestions? | 31 July, 2014

Our company occasionally has the need to rework BGA's, and we currently do this a rather long-winded way, using the stencil to paste the BGA, and then placing by hand. Sometimes we have to use an IR machine to re-flow the part, and at other times, we can put it through the oven again.

However, it would pay us to get a small BGA rework station, and I am wondering what is best.

Anyone have any suggestions for a machine that costs less than £1000 and will remove the BGA and replace it accurately? And one that is available form the UK?

Regards

Phil Cooper

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#72512

BGA rework equipment - suggestions? | 1 August, 2014

There are no BGA rework stations in that price range that I would consider for purchase. (or did you miss a zero in your cost estimate?)

In order to have placement, and sufficient heating for proper BGA rework (top and bottomside)you're going to have to extend your budget probably by a factor of 8 to 10.

The cheapest machines I am aware of that have placement and sufficient power would be some of the old A.P.E. Stuff like Bandit and Intruder. There were many sold and they were reliable and simple for BGA rework. You might find a used one for fair $$, maybe around 6.5K - 8K

You are doing what you should, since you don't have a rework station. I have done the same in the past. If your volumes are low enough, stick with it.

If you want to buy a rework station that is truly BGA capable, dont go cheap. Plan on about $20K minimum for a REAL rework station that can repeatedly and accurately place and reflow devices. A benefit is, when you get to this level of rework station, it can be used as a (limited) production machine as well. 'hege

I have no affiliation, nor receive any benefit from any company mentioned, in any of my posts.

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#72516

BGA rework equipment - suggestions? | 4 August, 2014

Many thanks for the (very) useful and honest answer. I had thought that £1000 was too little, but we don't have a local supplier, so have to rely on internet descriptions. There appears to be many machines out there described as "BGA replacement machines" that seem to be a simple IR heater with a suction unit to remove/replace the BGA. It is difficult to guage whether these are of any use or not.

The current volume isn't high, but very labour intensive on some PCB's. Also, some boards aren't easy to work on, and we wanted some idea of whether it would be a good idea to get a dedicated machine for this work.

Sounds like we don't really need one at this type of cost.

There are quite a few like those described here: http://www.xw360.com/e_products/ CF300 series, or this one: http://www.amazon.com/125x85-Infrared-Rework-Station-Welder/dp/B006FPGMTM or this: http://www.pdr-rework.com/ PDR IR-E3Vi

However, I will heed your advice!

Thanks

Phil Cooper

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#72517

BGA rework equipment - suggestions? | 4 August, 2014

I worked with a few BGA rework stations and also had the chance to see several demos on different brands. THe good ones that can really do it are equipped with camera, infrared under the board, different nozzles and a hot air comming from the head(different housings(tips) are designed for different component sizes). These machines can actually remove part, align and place part and solder it locally. Price range will be between $10K-$30k.

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#72518

BGA rework equipment - suggestions? | 4 August, 2014

Well our small UK based company is I guess in a similar situation, there isn't the volume or value to justify an expensive solution for fiddly rework tasks. But it would certainly be nice to have one and may become more important in future as people get more comfortable designing these things in. The first two examples you give are easy to find on eBay in various very similar forms, people certainly use them to rework XBOX's and such in the back of the shop with some success - youtube has plenty of videos of them doing so. However for a production house they do seem more than a little crude. The PDR system though is I think pretty much about where we would need to start looking. There is also this http://www.blundell.co.uk/product/ir-pl-rpc-550a-rework-station/ which looks pretty good on features as well as models sold by PMTECH possibly starting with this one http://www.pmtech.co.uk/equipment/rework/bga-rework/quick-ea-h15-bga-rework-system.html. There is also the Essemtec MPL3100/3200 sold in the UK by KPE. We consigned a hot air based system with stereo microscope using hot air to storage, the requirement for dedicated nozzles and the scorching of neighboring components would suggest focused IR systems are more suitable YMMV. Any feedback from those who have used these models would be great. The question I would ask is, how do you handle parts that ideally you would like to place with paste after reworking rather than just a big dollop of flux? I know you can get tiny stencils or peelable masks but these are comparatively expensive solutions for low volume and may indeed be quite difficult to use with very small parts or very cramped boards.

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#72528

BGA rework equipment - suggestions? | 5 August, 2014

Another interesting response!

The PMTech machine looks interesting, but I doubt we will get clearance to spend this amount for a machine that doesn't get used several times daily.

I wonder how much the Blundell machine is? Anyone have a costing for the IR-PL-RPC-550a?

We do have a Blundell IR500A, but that is a bit crude for BGA's. It's Ok at removing them, depending on what is around the part. For some plastics etc, we cover them loosely in tin-foil, which seems to work OK.

The stencils/masks are almost useless. We tried the ones you leave in place, but because they fill up the void under the BGA, it increases the risk of bridges. Plus, you need vast quantities of the various formats, as so many BGA's have different pad layouts. Most that we tried with the stencils failed afterwards, mainly due to bridges. Even dollops of flux didn't help.

Lastly, do you have a URL for KPE in the UK?

Regards

Phil Cooper

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#72529

BGA rework equipment - suggestions? | 5 August, 2014

http://www.kpeltd.co.uk/ quite a friendly little outfit.

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#72530

BGA rework equipment - suggestions? | 5 August, 2014

SFC and PhilC To answer one open question, and I too have difficulty with little stencils and preforms..... If you can manage, try dipping your balls in paste. It adds the right amount of flux and a bit of metal as well. We have a nice Rework Station for this duty, but if you are clever, you could manage something similar perhaps.. Good luck in your search for effective low cost BGA EQ. IMHO, Power, and Control first, then features like software and Vision.

Attachments:

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#72532

BGA rework equipment - suggestions? | 6 August, 2014

For SFC.... Thanks for the link. Will check that one out some more.

For Hedgemon, That is an alternative idea. We actually place the BGA over the print screen and run paste over the reverse, thus laying a film of paste over the BGA balls. This seems to work OK, but there is still manual placement on the PCB, and then we either place the board on our ERSA IR500A, or (depending on PCB and amount of plastics) run it through the oven again.

I will keep looking and see what is around, but will avoid cheap solutions!

PhilC

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#72546

BGA rework equipment - suggestions? | 8 August, 2014

See this video on how to evaluate a BGA Rework Station before you purchase. Dennis has been doing actual hands on BGA Rework for over 20 years.

http://youtu.be/MlvHLAbJ-o8

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#72674

BGA rework equipment - suggestions? | 3 September, 2014

We use the PDR machine. Great bit of kit. We prefer it due to the IR heating on the top. No air is used to potentially blow neighbouring components that go into secondery reflow off the board. We have a Zevac to but thats not as good. Camera is very sharp and very easy to place components very accurately

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Ace

#73375

BGA rework equipment - suggestions? | 21 January, 2015

Most serious rework stations are from ersa, pdr etc; We actually wanted a fully automated system with split vision and in USA that would probably cost around $50k. We decided on a ZX360 which is about 300 lbs and it worked quite well without issue for 2 yrs. It was around $20k and looked well built. We also got a CCD camera for inspection.

The only lower cost quality unit will probably be a bga rework station from http://thebgareworkmachine.com all others in that range wlll be from chinese manufacturers

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#73428

BGA rework equipment - suggestions? | 2 February, 2015

The PDR system though is I think pretty much about where we would need to start looking. There is also this http://www.nod-pcba.com/ which looks pretty good on features as well as models sold by PMTECH possibly starting with this one http://www.nod-pcba.com/bga-rework-reballing. There is also the Essemtec MPL3100/3200 sold in the UK by KPE.

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#73433

BGA rework equipment - suggestions? | 2 February, 2015

Check out The PCB 112 fully automated split vision system starting at $21,500.00. http://www.pcb-repair.com/bga_rework_machines.htm

These machines come with US warranty, training and technical support. Make sure that the machine you buy has technical support and parts availability.

You can see these machines at the 2015 APEX booth #2716

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Ace

#73509

BGA rework equipment - suggestions? | 12 February, 2015

Considering his budget, i dont think the PCB 112 will meet his needs unless he wins the lottery

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