NPL ensure success of the "Hands-On Lead-Free Experience" at Nepcon show
NPL ensure success of the "Hands-On Lead-Free Experience" at Nepcon show
Keywords: NPL, Nepcon
At the SMART Group feature area at Nepcon in Brighton, the National Physical Laboratory was tasked with co-ordinating the technical back up support within the lead-free area, a separate self contained facility within the show. All delegates needed to pre-register for this 3½ h event, where 19 exhibitors showed working equipment processing lead-free assemblies.
NPL's Alan Brewin co-ordinated the technical papers and invited two large EMS providers to represent the users and share their lead-free experience. Stephen Mainwaring, responsible for implementation of lead-free manufacturing at Solectron's Dunfermline plant, plus volume roll- out to Solectron's European facilities, was present, as was Sue Knight, who works for the Global Technology Solutions Group of Sanmina- SCI.
The presentations in the area included the following.
Reflow soldering – Sue Knight
Wave soldering – Steve Mainwaring
Reliability (joints) – Alan Brewin
Design for excellence – Sue Knight
Printing – Steve Mainwaring
Reliability (Flux) – Alan Brewin
Component issues – Sue Knight
Rework – Steve Mainwaring
Laminate issues – Alan Brewin
All delegates were presented with a CD-ROM containing all the presentations,other useful lead- free process information including a defect guide and inspection criteria and material supplied by all the exhibitors.
For the best question asked at the event, NPL are providing a free NPL Health Check. In announcing the winner as Mark Greenwood, Engineering Director of Prosol Electronics, Alan Brewin stated "Mark's question on the reliability implications of re-tinning conventional tin-lead components prior to lead-free processing prompted a lot of discussion and debate". The responses made by NPL to this, and the other questions posed are now part of the "Frequently Asked Lead-Free Questions" document available for free at www.npl.co.uk/ei/news/faqs.html
For more information, contact: Alan Brewin. Tel: 020 8943 6805.
