ESD audits
Over the past decades PIEK has become known in all of Europe and far beyond as the prominent IPC training center. But unfortunately, not everyone knows that we also offer other services. One of these services that we offer [...]
Solder mask – gloss or no gloss (that’s the question)
When electronic assemblies are inspected with the aid of an AOI-system (Automated Optical Inspection), it sometimes happens that products are rejected based on deviating colour or degree of gloss. Often the bare board supplier gets the blame or there is [...]
Replacing BGA-components, is it really that difficult?
This question we hear at our trainings from time to time. We sometimes even encounter “artists” that have already tried to replace BGA’s (Ball Grid Arrays) with common household appliances and tools. This includes tools such as paint strippers etc. [...]
Rework, Repair, Touch-up; Do you know the difference?
In practice, many people do not seem to be clear about what is meant when they talk about rework, repair and touch-up. In this article we will try to provide some clarity. A wire in a wiring harness is [...]
Qualified Rework of Ball Grid Array (BGA)
The qualified rework of a Ball Grid Array (BGA) involves the reworking of a BGA component on a circuit board, i.e. replacing a defective BGA or removing and properly replacing an incorrectly positioned BGA. What are BGA‘s? BGAs are microprocessors/components [...]
Solder balls on the PCB, are they allowed?
Example of Mid-Chip solder balls (beads) The IPC-A-610H states that solder balls are acceptable for all product classes provided they are entrapped or encapsulated e.g. in no-clean flux residue, under conformal coating, soldered to a metal surface, [...]
Why is it important to test your solder baths for contamination?
During the immersion, wave or selective soldering processes and in the HASL finish application processes, metals will dissolve in the liquid solder. The degree of dissolution depends on the base materials used (finishes on tracks and component leads/metallization’s), solder [...]
Wire harnesses reveal their secrets with IPC/WHMA-A-620, IPC-D-620 and IPC-HDBK-620
Wires and wire harnesses have become indispensable in the electronic connection industry. In each and every appliance, no matter how small, we find wires. Wires and the way they are attached with the other parts of the electronic products [...]
What if Just-In-Time just gets too late?
Recent developments have once again confronted us with the facts. Entire car factories came to a standstill because there were no parts and the new cars could not be finished due to the lack of a few components. Necessary microchips [...]
QFP components
One of the Gull-Wing (*) style components are called QFP components. It is a component from the Gull-Wing family of SMD components, other Gull-Wing family styles are SOT, SOD and SOIC components. The specific property of the QFP or Quad [...]
