Why use Nitrogen ??

I am looking at purchaseing a full convection bench top oven from OK Industrys. (Model JEM-310) It seems to have all the features that we will need for low volume production runs. It has a Nitrogen input option, and I am intrested if anyone on the forum can tell me what the advantage of using nitrogen is in a reflow oven. What is it doing to the process? I heard that it helps form a more even temprature inside the oven, is this true? I was thinking that it would avoide oxidiation, but cannot find any information about this. I would be greatfull for any information anyone can tell me about this. Also, I would be intrested in knowing what people think of this oven, if there ay any owners out there. Cheers, Grant Petty Digital Voodoo.

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We own a BTU Convection Oven. Nitrogen helps make shiny joints since it reduces oxidation during reflow. It has helped us solder marginal solderably boards but otherwise if "pretty" and "shiny" is a requirement I would consider it. It doesn't turn a turd into a beautiful princess but it might turn a fart into a smell you can stand.

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| I am looking at purchaseing a full convection bench top oven from OK Industrys. (Model JEM-310) | It seems to have all the features that we will need for low volume production runs. | It has a Nitrogen input option, and I am intrested if anyone on the forum can tell me what the advantage of using nitrogen is in a reflow oven. What is it doing to the process? | I heard that it helps form a more even temprature inside the oven, is this true? I was thinking that it would avoide oxidiation, but cannot find any information about this. | I would be greatfull for any information anyone can tell me about this. | Also, I would be intrested in knowing what people think of this oven, if there ay any owners out there. | Cheers, | Grant Petty | Digital Voodoo. I heard that 75% of the Nirogen ovens sold don't use it... If you have HIGH volume, use it 'cause it covers a few variances in the process (allows you to be more sloppy). My advise, forget it and concentrate on gettin your process correct, something nitrogen can't make up for. Cheers, Scott

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| I am looking at purchaseing a full convection bench top oven from OK Industrys. (Model JEM-310) | It seems to have all the features that we will need for low volume production runs. | It has a Nitrogen input option, and I am intrested if anyone on the forum can tell me what the advantage of using nitrogen is in a reflow oven. What is it doing to the process? | I heard that it helps form a more even temprature inside the oven, is this true? I was thinking that it would avoide oxidiation, but cannot find any information about this. | I would be greatfull for any information anyone can tell me about this. | Also, I would be intrested in knowing what people think of this oven, if there ay any owners out there. | Cheers, | Grant Petty | Digital Voodoo.

Nitrogen is an "inert" gas. That is, it is not an active gas as is oxygen. Oxygen oxidizes (burns). This means parts sensitive to oxidation (all are to some degree as those improperly metallized or oxide prevention coated in some other way - big area to cover), or oxidize easily (as bare oxidation prone solder termination areas like copper), are difficult (at best) to solder "wet" (effect bright, shiny, solder joints)in an oxygen rich environement (in which we breath). The same is true for solder medium as solder paste, for example. Therefore, some types of soldering operations are performed in a nitrogen atmosphere (or under a nitrogen "blanket" as in these type machines) to prevent further oxidation and effect critically acceptable solder joints. Earl Moon

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| I am looking at purchaseing a full convection bench top oven from OK Industrys. (Model JEM-310) | It seems to have all the features that we will need for low volume production runs. | It has a Nitrogen input option, and I am intrested if anyone on the forum can tell me what the advantage of using nitrogen is in a reflow oven. What is it doing to the process? | I heard that it helps form a more even temprature inside the oven, is this true? I was thinking that it would avoide oxidiation, but cannot find any information about this. | I would be greatfull for any information anyone can tell me about this. | Also, I would be intrested in knowing what people think of this oven, if there ay any owners out there. | Cheers, | Grant Petty | Digital Voodoo.

Hi, I'm using nitrogen and Igot to solve a lot of problems in fine pitch components, and I prevent some problems with oxidation in ENTEK finished, also Iuse nitrogen in wave solder machine, it help us a lot

AC

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| I am looking at purchaseing a full convection bench top oven from OK Industrys. (Model JEM-310) | It seems to have all the features that we will need for low volume production runs. | It has a Nitrogen input option, and I am intrested if anyone on the forum can tell me what the advantage of using nitrogen is in a reflow oven. What is it doing to the process? | I heard that it helps form a more even temprature inside the oven, is this true? I was thinking that it would avoide oxidiation, but cannot find any information about this. | I would be greatfull for any information anyone can tell me about this. | Also, I would be intrested in knowing what people think of this oven, if there ay any owners out there. | Cheers, | Grant Petty | Digital Voodoo.

Hi, I'm using nitrogen and Igot to solve a lot of problems in fine pitch components, and I prevent some problems with oxidation in ENTEK finished, also Iuse nitrogen in wave solder machine, it help us a lot

AC

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| I am looking at purchaseing a full convection bench top oven from OK Industrys. (Model JEM-310) | It seems to have all the features that we will need for low volume production runs. | It has a Nitrogen input option, and I am intrested if anyone on the forum can tell me what the advantage of using nitrogen is in a reflow oven. What is it doing to the process? | I heard that it helps form a more even temprature inside the oven, is this true? I was thinking that it would avoide oxidiation, but cannot find any information about this. | I would be greatfull for any information anyone can tell me about this. | Also, I would be intrested in knowing what people think of this oven, if there ay any owners out there. | Cheers, | Grant Petty | Digital Voodoo. Grant, If there is a big cost difference between including the nitrogen option on a new machine, and retrofitting the capability later, it might be wise to consider the Nitrogen option. Nitrogen is a must for Wave Solder, and thus many shops already have a nitrogen system in plant. If you are involved with fairly complex assemblies. The trend in the SMT industry is to move to less active flux chemistries. The initial no-clean fluxes requirred the use of nitrogen, but have come up to the point that nitrogen is no longer necessary. Having Nitrogen capability will open your process window a bit, and if solderability on particular components or assemblies are questionable, the capability can make a difference. Plus may aid if a drop in solder paste activity is needed down the road. BGA, flip chip, and related technologies are best used in nitrogen. There is no direct upward path for outgassing to excape, and thus voids can be created. Nitrogen will reduce oxidation, and thus limit the amount of outgassing. If have no plans of moving to a low activity paste, have a good control on your materials, and plan to stay away from more complex assemblies, you may not need the advantages associated with Nitrogen reflow.

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The use of nitrogen will not play a role in even heating of the product. What it will do is make a marginal process look better or give you a larger "process window". The need for nitrogen depends upon several factors. If you are using commercial parts on OSP boards and fine pitch with low activity flux, then you would almost certainly see a benefit. However if you are careful what goes into your process, i.e parts with good solderability, good boards, etc., then you can probably get by without nitrogen. In about any case, it does help to make a shiny solder joint. We do Mil-Std work here and our lot quantities are usually small, but because we use RMA paste, have parts with solderability certs, etc. we can get by without nitrogen. Generally you will not see an improvement in product reliability with the use of nitrogen. Hope this helps!! Steve McBride stevem@fesi.com

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Thanks to everyone for your advice, it is not to much more to add, so I think I will include it with the pruchase, and if I need it later, then I will be able to use it. Thanks again!

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