FEATURES

• Flex Assembly
  Installing Flash LEDs on Flex
  Recommendations on soldering and bending processes when components are mounted on a flex circuit.
  Shereen Lim

• Pb-Free Soldering Profiles
  Processes and Their Parameters
  Although many important aspects required to establish the “ultimate” profile for wave or reflow soldering have not yet been investigated, several can be used as a starting point.
  Markus Walter

• Cover Story
  Use of Closed-Loop Process Controls in Dispensing
  Tests show that a two-component epoxy adhesive will change in viscosity over time and cause a direct change in the amount being deposited. Yet a simple weight measurement can be used to calibrate a dispensing process.
  James Klocke

• Encapsulant Materials
  Low Pressure Molding: A Primer
  Low pressure molding reduces the process steps required by conventional potting techniques and is now in use for complete encapsulation of PCBs.
  Frank Ongkiehong and Steven Dufresne

• Productronica Recap
  Still the King of Shows
  Three standout products made royal debuts at the world’s largest electronics equipment fair.
  Mike Buetow

• Pb-Free Rework
  Hand Solder Rework of Pb-Free PTH and SMT Packages
  A study of over 1300 Pb-free components proves Pb-free hand solder rework can be performed reliably. The top variable: Operator experience.
  Alan Donaldson

FIRST PERSON

• Caveat Lector
  A manager worth remembering.
  Mike Buetow

• Talking Heads
  Motorola’s Aroon Tungare.
  Mike Buetow

MONEY MATTERS

• Focus on Business
  Locating EMS operations.
  Susan Mucha

• Global Sourcing
  Evaluating a Pb-free line.
  Guy Martindale and H.R. Chai

TECH TALK

• On the Forefront
  From tragedy comes opportunity.
  E. Jan Vardaman

• Screen Printing
  Chip attachment and encapsulation.
  Clive Ashmore

• Soldering Tips
  Nondestructive BGA inspection.
  American Competitiveness Institute

• Wave Soldering
  Warm up to ‘frosty’ joints.
  Gerjan Diepstraten

• Test and Inspection
  Adjustments for Pb-free parts.
  Jens Kokott

• Countdown to Pb-Free
  Tin whisker management, part 2.
  Joe Smetana and Ron Gedney

• Process Doctor
  Debunking white residues.
  Terry Munson

• Software Advances
  Mentor’s Expedition Enterprise.

• Technical Abstracts

DEPARTMENTS

Industry News
Market Watch
Assembly Insider
Ad Index
Apex Product Preview
Classifieds

On the cover: Closed-loop dispensing made easy. (Photo of XyFlex Pro+ courtesy Speedline Technologies)