Ken Bliss

Ken Bliss has submitted responses to the following questions.

What is Causing Solder Joint Cracking?
Although this may be caused by an actual soldering problem, I suspect it is a handling problem in your factory. ...

APEX Trade Show Feedback
Apex 2010 was fantastic. Our booth with all of our carts and handling systems on display was packed with people ...

Contamination Prior to Conformal Coating
I cannot comment on the residue issue as I am not an expert in that area, however on the non ...

Estimated SMT component placement cost
I am not aware of any standard. The best way I know of is to use the counter on most ...

How to Clamp Odd Shaped Circuit Boards
I would use or buy a vacuum plate, these are available from machine shop supply distributors. They are typically about ...

Pre-Bake Standard for Rework
I cannot answer your specific question, but I would like to point out that if you are subcontracting, you are ...

Wave Soldering Problems
Lack of Dedrossing can be a key factor in the type of defects you describe. Dross is formed on the ...

Solder Deposits on Components During Wave Soldering
The common solution is using solder pallets or solder fixtures. This is a sheet of high temperature composite material about ...

Selective Solder Considerations
Although you do not offer much detail, from an over view point of view you need to use solder fixtures ...

Pre clean boards before printing
You did not describe the environment so I am speculating here based on experience. I believe this is a material ...

Advantages of in-line-test
In-line tests help prevent using manufacturing capacity on a production line to build a product that is already defective. It ...

RFID Technology for Pick and Place feeders
This is a great question. There is a lot of misinformation out there about various technologies and RFID and the ...

Cost per placement for SMT line
I am not aware of any standard for cost per placement. However the simple method I suggest is to take ...

Removing oxidation from partially assembled boards
Tarnishing is caused by contact with the air that we breathe, or more specially oxygen. Although I am not sure ...

Problems with defect BGA connections on large BGA's and on ENIG plated boards
I have seen this type of problem before. Although you may or may not be mechanically stressing it, it is ...