Dispensing Solder Paste
To get an idea of the technical challenges of dispensing solder paste, imagine a bucket filled with equal parts of water and sand. If you swing the bucket from side to side you’ll notice that the water moves in one direction, the sand in the opposite direction. The sand, heavier than water, can’t keep up. Solder paste behaves the same way. When pressure is applied to solder paste inside a syringe, the flux moves first, pushing the particles along as it goes. No matter what dispensing method you choose, be sure that the flux vehicle continues to transport the alloy.
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You don’t want the flux to move faster than the alloy, leaving the metal behind. If that happens, engineers can expect clogs, inconsistent solder deposits, and bad solder joints.
Assemblers have several options for dispensing solder paste. Pneumatic dispensers use controlled pulses of pressurized air to dispense paste from a syringe. Simple, inexpensive and fast, these systems can be handheld or mounted to a dispensing robot. They are typically used forlarge deposits—dots 0.03 inch in diameter or larger. If you need fairly substantial solder deposits, the basic pneumatic shot meter with a 10cc/ml syringe is fine. However, time-pressure systems are not as accurate as other dispensing methods, and they can be more stressful to the paste. Because each pulse of air affects all the paste in the syringe, the size of the reservoir that can be effectively used with time-pressure systems is limited. Variability from deposit to deposit can be as high as 10 percent. Another problem is paste flow after pressure has been shut off. A material filled with a heavy metal is hard to stop once it starts moving. For paste deposits smaller than 0.03 inch in diameter, an auger valve is most commonly used. An auger valve consists of an Archimedes screw powered by an electric motor. The performance of the valve can be adjusted by varying the speed of the screw, and the pitch and depth of its threads. Paste is fed to the screw from a syringe under a constant low pressure. With a time-pressure dispenser, the air pressure is typically 30 PSI, but with an auger valve, it’s approximately 8 PSI—just enough to feed the auger but not enough to have any negative effect on the paste, so you can use large reservoirs with auger valves. Auger valves can make sub-milligram deposits with less than 5 percent variability from deposit to deposit. Augers, a good choice for solder paste, put less shear load on the material. |
Other Considerations
Besides the dispenser, assemblers also must consider the equipment to which the dispenser is mounted. The dispenser should be isolated from sources of heat and vibration, such as reflow ovens and feeder bowls. Heat can reduce the viscosity of the paste, causing inconsistent deposits. Vibration can cause the material to separate. If the dispenser is mounted to a Cartesian robot, the system should be programmed to make slow starts and stops. Servo driven tables are best for solder paste dispensing. If the paste is mounted on the Z axis, it could get shaken pretty hard, causing the flux to separate from the metal. You’re not going to be able to dispense 40,000 dots per hour with solder paste. The material won’t stay in suspension. To lessen the risk of paste separation during automated dispensing, assemblers should choose syringe size carefully. Assemblers must weigh the frequency of replacing the cartridge against the material’s sensitivity to heat and vibration. A small cartridge might have to be replaced more often, but less will be wasted if the paste separates because of excessive vibration. Tips for solder paste vary, depending on the dot size and the dispenser. Tapered Tips allow sighting fluid level at all times and feature safe, semi-transparent, non-scratching, all-plastic construction and UV Blocking Agent for any material including most light sensitive adhesives. 1 1/4" in length, they are rigid. Thin Wall Disposable Precision Tips feature a lower cost replaceable drawn metal core, which snaps into a reusable stainless hub and snaps out for quick changeover, cleaning or changing gauge sizes. Use in dispensing on robots or where application, hand held or robotic, calls for close tolerance. |
With valve dispensing, you want very good positional accuracy, and stainless steel tips provide that, but whether the tip is plastic or steel, assemblers should choose the shortest possible tip with the widest possible inside diameter. A tip that is too restrictive will produce excessive back-pressure on the paste and foster tip clogging. Assemblers should not expect to produce a deposit with a diameter smaller than 1.5 times the inside diameter of the tip.
Air Input: 1/4" Tube or 1/4" Quick Connect Hose Barb (Male Provided With Dispenser)
SHIPPING COST INCLUDED IN PRICE - UPS Ground anywhere in the Continental US.
Availability: in stock to 4 week build time.
Need multiple units? Contact IDS directly for a quote.
FULL SYSTEM PACKAGE - Valve with Syringe Feed, ServoController and Valve Stand
The DPAV-200-PKG is a benchtop or automation capable auger dispensing valve and the 7070000 Servo Valve controller that can connect to a robot with an IO cable or used manually with a foot pedal trigger. This unit is a 7080006 stand-mounted DPAV-200 Servo Driven Auger Valve fed by a 30cc or 55cc pneumatic syringe and includes a sample kit of various needle sizes. It is provided with the 8 pitch unless otherwise requested. Larger reservoirs are available to upgrade. Contact an IDS representative for a quote.
Requires regulated compressed air lines up to 100PSI for each unit to function. 115V or 230V power supply. Intended for high accuracy small dot or line deposits, even if the material thickens over time or changes in thickness from batch to batch. Perfect for Solder Paste, flux, and other filled materials.
Availability: 2 - 4 week build time. Need multiple units? Contact IDS directly for a quote. If you have never used this system with your material, be sure to speak with an IDS employee before ordering to confirm the compatibility. Minimum material viscosity: 25,000cps
SHIPPING COST INCLUDED IN PRICE - anywhere in the Continental USA that can receive loading dock shipments.
Includes the 5552200 - Dispensing Robot - Micro stepping 3-Phase motor, Analog pneumatic syringe dispenser that works with 30cc or 55cc pneumatic syringes, the teach pendant, IO cable, and Syringe mount. Requires 1 regulated compressed air supply line, up to 100psi max, and 115V or 230V power supply to function. 200MM x 200MM x 50MM (Height) movement.
Availability: 4 week build time. Need multiple units? Contact IDS directly for a quote. If you have never used this system with your material, be sure to speak with an IDS employee before ordering to confirm the compatibility.
Includes the 5552202 - Dispensing Robot - Micro stepping 3-Phase motor, Analog pneumatic syringe dispenser that works with 30cc or 55cc pneumatic syringes, the teach pendant, IO cable, and Syringe mount. Requires 1 regulated compressed air supply line, up to 100psi max, and 115V or 230V power supply to function. 300MM x 300MM x 100MM (Height) movement.
Availability: 4 week build time. Need multiple units? Contact IDS directly for a quote. If you have never used this system with your material, be sure to speak with an IDS employee before ordering to confirm the compatibility.