PCB Processing

Why Preheat a PCB Before Soldering or Component Rework

September 10, 2026

Why Preheat a PCB Before Soldering or Component Rework? Preheating is useful when it reduces the temperature difference between a solder joint and the rest of the assembly without pushing another part beyond its limit. It is not necessary for every …

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Dark Packages Metal Shields and Shadowing in PCB IR Heating

August 20, 2026

Dark Packages, Metal Shields and Shadowing in PCB IR Heating Dark packages, shield cans and tall components can distort an IR temperature map, but their appearance alone does not identify the cause. Determine whether the pattern moves with the PCB …

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Bottom Side IR Preheat vs Hot Plate for PCB Rework

August 20, 2026

Bottom-Side IR Preheat vs Hot Plate for PCB Rework Choose bottom-side IR when non-contact access and controllable radiant zones suit the assembly. Choose a hot plate when a stable conductive path can be established without damaging features on the …

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Thermocouple Placement for PCB Infrared Preheat Profiling

August 20, 2026

Thermocouple Placement for PCB Infrared Preheat Profiling Place thermocouples where the process is most likely to fail, not simply where the wires are easiest to attach. At a minimum, the profile should cover a likely cold joint, a likely hot …

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PCB Thermal Mass Predicting and Measuring IR Preheat Response

August 20, 2026

PCB Thermal Mass: Predicting and Measuring IR Preheat Response Board weight may indicate that one assembly requires more energy than another, but it cannot predict the IR preheat time on its own. Use prediction to rank the risks; use measurements to …

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