When it comes to double-sided PCB assembly, soldadura por ola selectiva offers both advantages and disadvantages compared to traditional through-hole wave soldering. Let’s explore them:
Ventajas:
- By applying flux selectively on specific areas rather than the entire surface, it’s unnecessary to cover all components, and it avoids soldering over test points.
- Surface-mounted components can be soldered without the need for adhesive (which is necessary to hold components in place during reflow).
- Since the nozzle size is adjustable, different parameters can be set for each component or location based on contact time and required solder volume.
- Due to the lesser amount of flux and solder required by selective soldering machines, running costs are typically lower.
Additionally, selective soldering can handle circuit boards that cannot be wave soldered, such as those with high-PTH components on both sides. This is a highly beneficial feature as, previously, the only alternative was manual soldering, which is more prone to errors.
Desventajas:
- For selective soldering, a unique program must be created for each PCB produced, similar to the programs used by surface mount technology machines. Creating and fine-tuning these programs can increase the time and cost of the PCB assembly process.
- In theory, selective soldering allows for different treatments for each component, making it less susceptible to processing errors. However, this customization also adds complexity to the programming and setup process.
In summary, while selective soldering offers several advantages, including precise soldering of specific areas and the ability to handle complex PCBs, it requires careful programming and setup, which can increase production time and costs.
