With the Vision TripleX, Rehm Thermal Systems has developed a system in which three soldering processes are possible
It is not just the growing trend towards miniaturisation, but also the increasing share of power electronics that is leading to new challenges in electronic assembly processing. These range from the design of the PCBs to the selection of a suitable solder and printing process right through to the soldering process. On the one hand, overheating the ever smaller components must be avoided, while on the other hand, high thermal masses, such as those found in power electronics, also need to be heated efficiently. In order to meet all these requirements in a single system, Rehm Thermal Systems has designed the Vision TripleX. This one system enables convection soldering with or without vacuum as well as vapour phase soldering.
The newly developed Vision TripleX stands out due to its process diversity as well as the possibility to carry out safe soldering processes even with more complex boards or assemblies with high thermal masses. It is based on Rehm Thermal System’s VisionXP+ Vac convection soldering system, which has become well established in the market for many years now. Its vacuum chamber enables a supporting condensation step for homogeneous heating up to peak temperature for the Vision TripleX. In this way, it is possible to heat beyond the solder’s liquidus temperature by convection or condensation (vapour phase) and, if required, benefit from the technological advantages of vapour phase soldering.
One advantage of vapour phase soldering is that high thermal masses can be heated efficiently. This is due to the high heat transfer during the phase transition of the PFPE (perfluoropolyether) medium Galden®, which also results in a high temperature homogeneity across the PCB. The assembly’s maximum possible temperature is limited by the boiling point of the medium used. This means that the components, some of which are very sensitive, cannot be overheated, which significantly reduces the failure rate compared to other processes. The medium is inert and so oxidation of the assembly can be avoided even during the condensation step. All these advantages offered by condensation soldering open up a wide range of possibilities for safe process design with the Vision TripleX – even when the assemblies to be soldered are increasingly complex or the assemblies have high thermal masses.
In addition to the advantages of vapour phase soldering, the Vision TripleX also offers the advantages of a “normal” convection soldering system, such as the VisionXP+ Vac. The convection soldering systems’ high throughput enables high-volume production. It is also possible to achieve a high degree of profiling flexibility using zone-specific temperature control. With maximum temperatures of up to 300 °C, a wide range of solders can also be used.
The Vision TripleX combines the various different advantages of both soldering processes. The flexible choice of operating modes enables both safe soldering of complex assemblies with the support of the condensation step and the high-volume production of standard products.
As a specialist in the field of thermal system solutions for the electronics and photovoltaics industries, Rehm is a technology and innovation leader in the modern and economical production of electronic modules. As a globally operating manufacturer of reflow soldering systems with convection, condensation or vacuum, drying and coating systems, functional test systems, equipment for the metallisation of solar cells as well as numerous customer-specific special systems, we are represented in all relevant growth markets and, as a partner with more than 30 years of industry experience, we implement innovative manufacturing solutions that set standards.
