- Manual Cleaning: Small-scale PCBA processing factories typically employ manual cleaning methods due to their perceived low cost. Tools for manual cleaning include cleaning tanks, spray bottles, brushes, IPA or VIGONEFM (cleaning agents), gloves, deionized water, wiping papers, air guns, and sealed bags.
Steps for manual cleaning:
- Clean the circuit board in IPA or VIGONEFM, or spray IPA and EFM onto the circuit board surface, using approximately 10 milliliters per 4 square inches.
- Continuously wipe the circuit board with a moist, soft-bristle brush for about 10 seconds.
- Rinse with deionized water, using approximately 10 milliliters per 4 square inches, to effectively remove potential contaminants.
- Hold the edge of the circuit board and wipe off excess deionized water with a clean, lint-free cloth.
- Visually inspect the cleanliness of the circuit board.
- If necessary, use an air gun to dry the circuit board.
- If the circuit board or components need to be stored for a period before coating, place them in sealed bags containing desiccants.
- Automated Cleaning: Medium to large-scale factories typically use equipment like the Silman Tech DEZ-C758 PCBA cleaning device. This equipment can simultaneously clean multiple PCBA boards and is specifically designed for removing flux residues after wave soldering, replacing manual scrubbing to improve cleaning efficiency and cleanliness while reducing costs. The DEZ-C758 device can clean boards up to 300mm in width (custom sizes available). It operates in fully automatic cleaning mode, eliminating operator contact with chemical liquids. Through multiple brushing processes, it efficiently removes flux residues from PCBA boards after soldering without wetting the front-facing components. The unique combination of roller brushes thoroughly cleans from multiple directions, eliminating dead corners and ensuring cleanliness. With a visual observation window, the process flow is clear, and it can be integrated into wave soldering for fully automatic online cleaning.
These are the two different methods of PCBA cleaning, and choosing the appropriate cleaning method based on the current situation is crucial. We hope this information is helpful to you.