Stereo viewers expose lead-free process faults: News from Vision Engineering

Note: A free brochure or catalogue is available from Vision Engineering on the products in this news release. Click here to request a copy.

The latest range of Mantis is ideally suited for the inspection of lead free PCBs, partly due to their accuracy, clarity and bright white LED lighting with patented eyepieceless optics providing bright, clear stereo viewing. Flexibility is also provided by the counterbalance universal arm allowing the head to be pushed to one side when not in use. Objective lenses and protective caps are available from x4 to x15 and with the interchangeable turret, the Mantis quickly allows the operator to switch between inspection and rework.

The inspection of printed circuit boards, components, screen printing, reflow soldering, wave soldering or hand soldering are all affected by lead free.

With continued emphasis on the production quality of PCBs, inspection has become a significant process in detecting joints that are likely to fail due to problems associated with lead free.

Solder wicking, cracked plastic components, poor paste alignment, popcorn cracking and fillet lifting and tearing are all defects that can be caused by lead free solder.

This is where the latest range of Mantis, with its clear optical image allows the quality technician to identify these defects quickly, accurately and easily.

Vision Engineering has commissioned an independent 36 page report on lead free production.

The report highlights the issues raised with the move over to lead free solder including the optical inspection issues involved.

Explanations of what will change and what needs to be done also be included.

The report is free and available online. Request a free brochure from Vision Engineering....

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Stereo viewers expose lead-free process faults

The latest generation of Mantis low magnification stereo viewers is claimed to be ideal for the inspection of lead free PCBs.