» PCB & ASSEMBLYlabour
» PCB & ASSEMBLYlabour costs, minimizes the likelihood of defects orrework, and increases throughput, ultimately improvingoverall operational efficiency. Manufacturerscan see a clear return on investment through increasedproductivity and reduced waste.Key considerations for adoptingvapour degreasingBefore making the transition to vapour degreasing itis important to evaluate certain factors to ensure itmeets your operational and financial goals:Test data analysis: Review cleanliness testing resultsto assess improvements in residue removal andcontamination levels compared to manual cleaning.Significant gains in these areas show vapour degreasingis a more effective solution.Production requirements: Consider whether yourproduction volume or the complexity of your PCBAcannot be met by manual cleaning capabilities. Vapourdegreasing offers higher scalability and morereliable cleaning for high-demand environments.Cost-efficiency assessment: Weigh the upfront investmentin vapour degreasing against long-termsavings from reduced defects, rework, and improvedthroughput. Consider hidden costs of manual cleaning,such as slower lead times and quality issues, tounderstand the return on investment.ZusammenfassungDurch die zunehmende Komplexität der Baugruppensetzen immer mehr Hersteller auf das Dampfreinigen,da dies Verfahren eine effiziente und zuverlässige Reinigungbietet.RésuméEn raison de la complexité grandissante des modules,de plus en plus de fabricants utilisent le nettoyage àla vapeur, car ce procédé offre une élimination efficaceet fiable.РезюмеИз-за растущей сложности сборок всё большепроизводителей используют паровую очистку,поскольку этот метод обеспечивает высокуюэффективность и надёжный результат.Quality and compliance: Ensure vapour degreasingconsistently meets or exceeds cleanliness levels andindustry standards. This process helps you stayaligned with regulatory requirements and reducescompliance risks.The role of cleanliness testingin the transitionBefore transitioning from benchtop cleaning to vapourdegreasing, it is important to evaluate the effectivenessof your current cleaning method throughcleanliness testing. This evaluation ensures thatmanual cleaning does not leave behind residues orcontaminants that could compromise the performanceand reliability of PCBAs. Switching to vapourdegreasing should be a well-considered decision, ensuringit aligns with your manufacturing needs andimproves cleanliness and process efficiency.Industry standards, such as IPC-TM-650 andJ-STD-001, offer guidance for assessing the cleanlinessof PCBAs and ensuring that cleaning processesmeet specific quality requirements. These standardsrecommend testing residue levels, ionic contamination,and other critical cleanliness parameters forhigh-performance applications. By conducting thesetests, manufacturers can gather data to verify thatvapour degreasing meets or exceeds cleanlinessstandards, ensuring the transition is justified.Various testing methods are commonly used toevaluate the effectiveness of cleaning processes:Ion Chromatography (IC): This technique detectsand quantifies ionic contaminants on PCBAs, such asflux residues, salts, or acids that may remain aftermanual cleaning. Ion chromatography can highlightwhether manual cleaning has effectively removedthese ionic contaminants or if vapour degreasing isneeded to achieve the necessary cleanliness levels,ensuring the reliability and performance of the PCBA.Surface energy analysis: This method assesses thecleanliness of PCBAs by analyzing the surface tensionof the board. A low surface energy reading couldshow that contaminants are still present, even aftercleaning.Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM): AFM is a highresolutionimaging technique used to analyze thesurfaces of PCBAs. It helps detect even the smallestresidues or contaminants on a board. This methodenables manufacturers to visually inspect and quantifythe cleanliness of the surface at a microscopiclevel. By comparing the surfaces of PCBAs cleanedusing manual methods with those processed via vapourdegreasing, AFM provides insights into the effectivenessof each cleaning process in removingcontaminants.22 EPP Europe » 05 | 2025
Taking the stepThe transition from benchtop cleaning to vapour degreasingoffers manufacturers a practical solution tomeet modern PCBA quality requirements. Whilebenchtop methods have served the industry foryears, and still do in some cases, vapour degreasingprovides the consistency and thoroughness neededfor today‘s complex assemblies. The initial investmentin vapour degreasing equipment typically paysoff through improved reliability, reduced rework, andeasier compliance with industry standards. By adoptingthis technology, manufacturers can enhancetheir production capabilities while supporting thecleanliness levels demanded by increasingly sensitiveelectronic components.www.microcare.comVapour degreasing provides theconsistency and thoroughness neededfor today‘s complex assembliesSource: Microcare8 processeswith infinitepossibilities!Protect your electronic components with the preciseapplication of protective lacquers! With theProtecto, we offer an individual system for reliabledispensing and lacquering processes as wellas optimal protection of your assemblies. So youand your electronics are on the safe side, even ifsomething falls into the water.#Dispensing #Consumerwww.rehm-group.comEPP Europe » 05 | 2025 23
