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Handheld stencil cleaner

Johnny

#20424

Handheld stencil cleaner | 19 June, 2002

Does anyone know the name of a smalll handheld device that cleans stencils? One looks like a palm sander and it vibrates the paste out of apertures.

Thanks, Johnny Smith

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#20425

Handheld stencil cleaner | 19 June, 2002

The Seika SAWA is the thingy you're looking for. Go to http://www.seikausa.com/sawa/index.html

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#20446

Handheld stencil cleaner | 20 June, 2002

I saw this system at one of the last APEX Shows. I was not impressed because of the many downsides and potential hazards.

Strapping an electrical device on your hand and placing the device into a liquid is kind of like blow-drying your hair in a bathtub.

If I remember correctly, they were using alcohol as the liquid for the demo at APEX. Alcohol and electricity don�t mix. Plus, alcohol is not a good solvent for most no-clean fluxes.

My people dent and ding our stencils enough without having a �palm sander� strapped to one hand.

The process is basically manual. Why would I want to pay thousands of dollars when I can clean manually without the �palm sander?�

I agree that ultrasonics is the way to go, but this system seems too operator dependant. Post cleaning inspection will be too time consuming in order to rule out human error.

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#20448

Handheld stencil cleaner | 20 June, 2002

At the OSHA training institute, our instructor stuck an electric drill in a bucket of water to demonstrate what proper grounding will do. Personally I wasn't going to try it.

All our fluxes are no-clean, and are IPA based. Granted we used aqueous cleaners in our batch operations, but for manual cleaning - kimwipes and IPA.

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#20450

Handheld stencil cleaner | 20 June, 2002

Can you believe they want $7K for that SAWA thing!!!

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#20455

Handheld stencil cleaner | 20 June, 2002

You're correct. It's a GREAT deal, especially when you match it up against those rip-off machines that cost $25k++. Maybe products like this will get those very nice suppliers' attention and force them to price products reasonably.

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