Tuesday, June 11, 2013:
Reflow ovens are used for reflow soldering of surface mounted electronic components onto printed circuit boards (PCB). These are of two types — infrared and convection ovens. These ovens contain multiple zones, each of which can be individually controlled for temperature. Generally, there are several heating zones and one or more cooling zones. The PCB moves through the oven on a conveyor belt, and is subjected to a controlled time-temperature profile.
Due to the global economic slowdown and the resulting drop in demand, many companies, including some major players like DDM Novastar, Dima, Essemtec AG, Hexi, Kince, Mechatronika and Seho, have not launched any new reflow ovens in the last one year. Here are some of the latest reflow ovens.
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Model: VX Nitro 3150 (type 634), Brand: Rehm, Manufacturer: Rehm Thermal System, Germany
Launched in April 2013, the VX series offers a convection reflow soldering system, and is distinguished by high levels of flexibility and productivity. This system comes with the strongest heating and cooling power in the industry, with robust transport systems. It is a high- volume reflow soldering oven for all SMT components.
Key features
- Optimal and homogeneous heat transfer—air or nitrogen
- Strongest heating and cooling power in the reflow oven industry with the ‘lowest Delta T’ and maximum profile flexibility, along with full control of all heating and cooling gradients
- Heavy-duty construction with stainless steel enables maximum thermal stability for highest repeatability
- Robust transport systems make lead and lead-free soldering possible in one oven at the same time
- Powerful residue management with a clean and dry process chamber and separated systems: pyrolysis in heating zone (500°C) and condensation trap in cooling area
- Lowest cost of ownership with nitrogen (N2)control, since air doping reduces N2 consumption
Contact details: Martin Meyer, VP, sales Europe, Ph: 49-172-914-00-51, 49 7344-9606-0, [email protected], [email protected], www.rehm-group.com
India distributor: DVS India Pvt Ltd
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Model: Dynamo, Brand: BTU, Manufacturer: BTU International, USA
Launched in January 2013, Dynamo is a convection reflow oven platform that is designed specifically for consumer electronics applications and has been configured with a focus on customer value. According to the company, Dynamo is the right oven at the right price for consumer electronics manufacturers. The configuration has been simplified to meet the needs of high-volume and high thermal performance, while maintaining quality and reliability. The machine is available in 8, 10 and 12 zones air or nitrogen models.
Key features
- Unmatched process repeatability
- Reduced cost of ownership
- Value through innovation
- BTU quality and reliability
Contact details: Jim Griffin, vice president, sales and service, Ph: 978-667-4111, [email protected], http://www.btu.com
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Model: OmniMax 7, Brand: Electrovert, Manufacturer: Speedline Technologies, USA
Launched in October 2012, the Electrovert OmniMax series is 100 per cent designed and manufactured in USA to deliver the maximum thermal performance combined with process capability and control. The OmniMax platform offers a combination of industry proven technologies in an easy to use, reliable and efficient reflow system for high-end production requirements.
Key features
- Lead-free process validated and optimised using a QA test vehicle
- Full range of conveyor features offer complete flexibility, depending on production throughput requirements
- The Intelligent Flux Control (IFC) feature allows maintenance of the collection system without stopping production
- OmniCheck monitoring system delivers cost-effective, continuous verification of process temperatures and conveyor speed.
- Blowers and fan are one balanced unit for easy removal and maintenance
- Left-to-right conveyor direction
- Capable of 350°C process
- Seven heating zones with one forced convection blower on the top and bottom in each zone
- Active top and bottom heating chamber technology
- Two cooling zones with one forced convection blower on the top in each zone
Contact details: Ng Ching How, product manager, Ph: 60-1290-33848, [email protected], www.speedlinetech.com
India distributor: NMTronics India Pvt Ltd
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Model: EVO Ovens, Brand: TWS Automation, Manufacturer: TWS Automation, Italy
Launched in September 2012, Evo Ovens are reliable and a perfect fit for all the necessities of a manufacturer. They have many of the features of larger ovens, while having a compact multi-zone design and are suitable for lead-free soldering process. One can choose from a number of models in the series—TWS1150, TWS1320, TWS1380 and TWS1390. These machines offer two to four heating zones.
Key features
- Ease of use with new touchscreen display to set and check parameters
- Unique reflow inspection window
- Green project: designed to reduce heat losses and minimise power requirements
- Has stainless steel mesh belt or chain-pin conveyor
- Integrated profiler
- Double-side board capability
- Back-up battery to clear the path in case of power failure
Contact details: Giuseppe Palma, sales manager, [email protected], www.tws-automation.com
India distributor: Agate & Agate Marketing Resources Pvt Ltd
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Models: CR-820 and CR-1030, Brand: VIT-DC, Manufacturer: VIT-DC Automation Equipments (Shenzhen) Co, Ltd, China
The CR series, which was upgraded in August 2012 with advanced features, has the Windows 7/XP operating system. To make the interface user friendly it has separate bi-lingual versions. The machines have a double temperature sensor to ensure that the heating process is always controlled.
Key features
- PLC+ modular circuit control to ensure high reliability and accurate repeatability
- Independent temperature and blower speed control to satisfy all kinds of lead-free soldering requirements
- New chamber design to minimise the temperature difference between components while ensuring the solder joints’ reliability and reducing the heat shock on the PCB
- Structured cooling system satisfies the different cooling rate requirements (cooling slope≥3°/sec)
- CBS, dual rail and air pressure detection on each zone is optional
- Heating zone: Top 8/Bottom 8
- Heating length: 3320 mm
- Cooling zone: Up 2/Bottom 2
Contact details: Wendy Zhu, Ph: 86755-27310280, [email protected], www.vit-dc.com
India distributor: Innotronics Technologies Pvt Ltd
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Model: Konark 145 and Konark 257, Brand: EMS, Manufacturer: EMS Technologies Pvt Ltd, Pune, India
While Konark 145 was launched in April 2012, Konark 257 was upgraded in April 2012. The Konark range of reflow ovens are the only Indian brand with high-end features matching imported machines. These are cost-effective alternatives to imported machines, and are ideally suited for high-volume manufacturing. Konark 145 is a five-zone hot air convection reflow oven, which uses five top and five bottom hot air convection heating zones.
The EMS Konark 257, on the other hand, is a seven-zone hot air convection reflow oven, and has 14 independently PID-controlled heating zones (seven top and seven bottom) and one cooling zone.
Key features
- EMS Konark 257
- Total heating length: 1815 mm
- Total process length: 2250 mm
- Maximum PCB width: 450 mm
- Mesh, chain (pin edge) or chain above mesh transport, as per choice
- Auto conveyor width adjustment
- Maximum temperature: 350˚C
- EMS Konark 145
- Total heating length: 1200 mm
- Maximum PCB width: 300 mm
- Mesh, chain (pin edge) or chain above mesh transport, as per choice
- Manual conveyor width adjustment
- Manual hood opening
- Maximum temperature: 350˚C
- Both are lead-free compatible
Contact details: L Sampath, managing director, Ph: 9371077917, [email protected], www.emstonline.com
India distributor: EMST Marketing Pvt Ltd, Pune
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Model: Mark 5 series (models 1826, 1936, 2043 and 2156), Brand: Heller, Manufacturer: Heller, USA
Launched in March 2012, the MK5 series was specifically designed to reduce energy and nitrogen consumption while increasing the size of the PCBs handled and allowing greater dual-lane capability. Heller’s heating and cooling advances deliver up to 40 per cent reduction in nitrogen and electrical consumption.
Key features
- Larger heater module for larger PCB processing
- Larger blower motor and impeller—to move more air for improved heat transfer on larger boards
- 30-40 per cent reduction in electrical consumption with new heater modules and insulation
- 30-40 per cent reduction in nitrogen consumption with ‘perimeter flow’ module design to create balanced flow in the tunnel
Contact details: Marc Peo, president, Ph: 1-973-377-6800, [email protected]; S S Kwa, director, sales, South-East Asia, Ph: 65-96326464, [email protected], www.hellerindustries.com
India distributor: TransTechnology India Pvt Ltd
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Model: CR5000F, Brand: Manncorp, Manufacturer: Manncorp, USA
Recognising the growing demand for smaller footprint lead-free reflow ovens that are also more energy efficient, Manncorp has broadened its CR series with three compact, mid-range models—CR4000C, CR5000F and CR6000—that require less power to operate.
Launched in January 2012, all the three ovens include forced hot air convection, onboard profiling and KIC ‘auto focus power’ process optimisation software. Each of the ovens can be modified to meet special applications for high thermal requirements, taller components, ultra-fine mesh belts for miniature parts, or slowing belt speeds for curing.
CR5000F has high mass heat sources, and its efficient flow design allows full, forced convection reflow in a footprint 20-30 per cent smaller than the other comparable systems. Its independent upper and lower PID controls the temperature in each heat zone and provides three thermocouple inputs for accurate ‘lead-free’ temperature profiling.
Key features
- Dimensions: CR5000F is 304 cm long, has a 45.72cm pin conveyor over a 570 mm wide stainless steel mesh belt
- Heating zones: five upper and five lower heating zones
- Conveyor speed: 400-1800 mm/per min
- Heating method: forced convection
- Heating tunnel: 1910 mm
Contact details: Henry Mann, president, Ph: 215-830-1200, Toll free: 800-745-6266, [email protected], www.manncorp.com
India distributor: Texonee Technology
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Model: Hotflow 3e series, Brand: ERSA, Manufacturer: Kurtz ERSA, Germany
Launched in early 2012 , Hotflow 3e series are versatile in nature for reflow soldering application. It can be offered as single track, dual track or three track, making it possible to solder three products at the same time, resulting in the highest throughput. It can provide stable and reproducible operation and low resource consumption while at the same time maximising the productive per square meter floor space.
Key features
- Efficient reflow systems for maximum performance: The machines deliver superior soldering results on account of their thermal performance and their excellent cross profile and optimal zone separation
- Focus on low energy consumption—the basic system already is extremely economical
- The effective rate of heat transfer of the machine ensures a minimal ΔT while requiring only a small amount of energy for the operation of the heaters and the fan motors
- The length of the process zone allows conveyor speeds of up to 140 cm/min. The throughput of a product of 200 mm length in a three-shift operation can be done with a single conveyor for 8000 assemblies. With a dual track conveyor it rises to 16,000 assemblies, and with a ‘quatro’ track it can do 32,000 assemblies in 24 hours
- Process visualisation and data management: The user-friendly system software offers a new process control program, a process data recorder as well as the Ersa auto-profiler for a quick offline programming. This software package simplifies the operation of the system
Contact details: Tobias van Rossem, area sales manager, soldering systems & printing machines, Ph: +49-(9342) 800-121, Mob: +49 (0) 151-14-25-76-61, [email protected], www.kurtzersa.de
India distributor: Bergen Associates Pvt Ltd
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