About Frank Huijsmans

Master IPC Trainer at PIEK International Education Centre (I.E.C.)

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 [...]

By |2024-11-05T11:01:06+01:005 November 2024|Categories: IPC, PIEK|Tags: , , , , |

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. [...]

By |2024-04-23T14:09:36+02:0023 April 2024|Categories: PIEK|Tags: , |

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 [...]

By |2024-03-19T09:49:02+01:0029 February 2024|Categories: PIEK|Tags: , , , |

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 [...]

By |2024-09-03T08:59:10+02:0014 February 2024|Categories: PIEK|Tags: , |

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 [...]

By |2023-10-25T11:43:57+02:0025 October 2023|Categories: IPC, PIEK|Tags: |

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 [...]

By |2023-10-10T13:53:16+02:0010 October 2023|Categories: IPC, PIEK|Tags: , |