Solbraze solder pots sweep dross away for perfect tinning

Citation

(2006), "Solbraze solder pots sweep dross away for perfect tinning", Soldering & Surface Mount Technology, Vol. 18 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/ssmt.2006.21918bad.002

Solbraze solder pots sweep dross away for perfect tinning

Solbraze solder pots sweep dross away for perfecttinning

Keywords: Soldering, Manufacturing

The UK's leading exponent in the field of soldering, brazing and bonding technologies, Solbraze, has introduced a range of solder pots that automatically create a dross-free zone for fast, reliable and efficient soldering with lead-free solders (Plate 1).

Plate 1 The new Solbraze solder pot

The new solder pots will be marketed under the RotaDip banner and comprise a circular temperature controlled, rotating solder pot. The pots are manufactured from either close grained grey cast iron or meehanite spheroidal graphite close grain cast iron, extremely tough materials necessary to withstand higher temperature requirements when working with lead-free solders.

Whilst lead-free solders were introduced for both environmental and safety reasons, the elevated operational temperatures means that dross (an oxide deposit often contaminated by other impurities on the surface of molten metal) forms more quickly and prohibits perfect tinning operations due to the contamination. Effective dross removal is therefore paramount.

With the Solbraze RotaDip range, the company has designed a solution with a solder pot that rotates against a fixed blade. This collects the dross and automatically deposits it in an outer annular tray, during pot rotation an additional sweeper blade pushes the dross to a discharge chute, where it can be recovered for safe disposal.

At its Kent-based factory the company has developed and manufactures a number of variants to suit the wide industrial needs with different temperature capabilities – up to 550°C controlled using precision controllers.

RotaDip solder pots are expected to appeal to diverse industrial sectors such as automotive, coil-winding and general electronics for typical applications including bobbin dipping, enamel removal and component tinning.

Adjustable depth plates can be fitted to control dipping depths when used in manualsoldering operations plus there are options for automatic solder feed and level control, as well as integration into low cost dipping stations and automatic dipping stations.

Solbraze can also supply leaded and lead free solders, as well as specialist fluxes for use with these solder pots and other applications.

For further details, please visit the web site: www.solbraze.com