'Dross Grabber' helps save money and improve process
31 July 2002Manufacturing / Production Technology, Hardware & Services
Wave and selective soldering systems users unintentionally throw away tons of valuable good, usable solder each year in 'dross', the film of oxides and contaminants skimmed regularly from the surface of their solder pots. This is because up to 70% of all dross removed is actually good solder, mixed in with the waste. According to Vitronics Soltec, with the advent of more expensive lead-free solders and their required higher temperatures, the losses associated with dross removal are even more wasteful.
The company has developed a new Dross Grabber that separates good solder from real dross, and returns the usable solder to the pot, while pulverising and isolating the real waste material for easy handling and disposal or recycling.
Dross is formed not only by metal oxides and contaminants of chemical agents, but also from nonoxidised solder. During oxidation, nuclei of solder form and are consequently enveloped by oxides. These clusters of such units form in the dross. When the dross is manually scooped away, not only are metal oxides and contaminants removed, but also a considerable amount of usable solder. This results in the waste of a large quantity of solder. Generally, 50-75% of the material usually thrown away as dross is actually good solder. Lead-free solders require higher temperatures, so oxidation/dross formation is more rapid. Costs/losses due to throwing away more expensive lead-free solder material are thus multiplied.
The Vitronics Soltec standard 'Dross Management' system funnels or directs all dross to the front of the solder pot, and prevents dross from entering the pumps and solder nozzles. As an addition to this Dross Management system, 'Dross Grabber' is a technology that automatically cuts, reduces and removes dross from the system during operation. It automatically pulverises dross in a separate dross compartment, using special (user-adjustable frequency) cutters that cut into the nuclei of good solder and dross, destroying the oxide envelope and allowing the usable solder to rejoin the reserve of solder in the solder pot. The remaining dross is powdered and disposed of.
The ultimate range for design and repair RS South Africa
Manufacturing / Production Technology, Hardware & Services
Whether adapting existing systems or maintaining essential equipment, design and repair play a crucial role in ensuring efficiency and longevity.
Read more...Next-generation SPI and AOI series Techmet
Manufacturing / Production Technology, Hardware & Services
Saki Corporation has launched its next-gen series for SPI and AOI featuring a modular design for enhanced inspection efficiency and automation.
Read more...Yamaha’s Advanced Safety Package eases factory-safety Truth Electronic Manufacturing
Manufacturing / Production Technology, Hardware & Services
Yamaha Robotics SMT Section has extended availability of the Advanced Safety Package, which contains optional features to elevate printer and mounter safety above and beyond mandatory levels.
Read more...Case Study: Siemens Valor automation solution ASIC Design Services
Editor's Choice Manufacturing / Production Technology, Hardware & Services
Electronics manufacturer BMK used Siemens Valor to enhance accuracy and speed up bill-of-materials quotations.
Read more...The factory beat Electronic Industry Supplies
Manufacturing / Production Technology, Hardware & Services
Change is the only constant across today’s complex manufacturing landscape. The surge of digital transformation, spearheaded by Industry 4.0, has redefined how factories operate, build, and evolve.
Read more...Reliable X-ray inspection system MyKay Tronics
Manufacturing / Production Technology, Hardware & Services
Inspecting long PCBs that are often used in sectors like telecommunications, automotive, and energy, where high reliability is required, presents several unique challenges.
Read more...G-Tera high-speed SMT printer Techmet
Manufacturing / Production Technology, Hardware & Services
The new generation of automatic printing presses from GKG, the all-new G-Tera, is equipped with a 3,0-megapixel LIGHT-Bolt CCD camera, an upgraded conveyor system, and an enhanced printing system.
Read more...Extending AI assistance in AOI Yamaha Motor Europe N.V.
Manufacturing / Production Technology, Hardware & Services
Artificial Intelligence is renowned for image recognition and classification skills, suggesting a great fit with the objectives of automatic optical inspection.
Read more...Design & Repair range from RS Pro RS South Africa
Manufacturing / Production Technology, Hardware & Services
The launch of the new RS PRO Design & Repair range caters to a wide array of industries, including discrete and process manufacturing, energy & utilities, facilities management, and intralogistics.
Read more...The successful development of PCBWay’s 24-layer, 6-order arbitrary interconnection HDI PCB
Manufacturing / Production Technology, Hardware & Services
[Sponsored] The so-called interposer PCB is a highly precise, high-layer arbitrary interconnection HDI PCB that serves not only as a critical component for connecting and integrating different electronic components, but also acts as an intermediary layer for chip connections.
printer friendly version