Wave Soldering Solutions

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  3. VectraElite Wave Soldering Machine

VectraElite Wave Soldering Machine

  • The DwellFlex 4.0 is the first solder nozzle designed specifically with Industry 4.0 automation in mind.  The DwellFlex 4.0 provides the highest level of soldering capability for thermally challenging and difficult solder applications.  The single wave design at maximum opening delivers the most thermal energy and longest dwell time in the industry. ​

  • The ServoJet system ensures thorough flux penetration by utilizing concentric air atomization.  

  • The ServoSonic is a reciprocating ultrasonic atomizing spray fluxing system.  It consists of an ultrasonic atomized spray nozzle and air impact nozzle with an automatic self-cleaning function.  

  • ServoSpray provides an ideal balance between system performance, functionality and low cost of ownership. 

Overview

The Electrovert® VectraElite™ wave soldering machine is ideal for medium-to-high mass board assemblies where fast changeover, process flexibility, and system reliability are required. The VectraElite combines innovative technology in an accessible, ergonomic platform with a zero-defect process at the lowest possible cost of ownership. Process width is 457mm (18 in) with optional 508mm (20 in ), short and full N2 tunnel features.

Check out Electroverts New Option!

Electrovert's new DwellFlex 4.0 variable contact wave solder nozzle. The DwellFlex 4.0 is the first nozzle designed specifically with Industry 4.0 automation in mind.  THe patent-pending design enables the wave width to be adjusted on-the-fly as variable board types are run through the weave.  This ensures solder contact time is optimized for a high-mix of board types without changing conveyor speeds. For more infomraiton see options below under the Enhanced features. 

Click here for DwellFlex 4.0 video.

 

 

 

 

Benefits and Features

Proven Performance, World Class Results

Achieving the best solder joint quality, maximum topside hole fill, and zero defects are challenges with high mass, difficult-to-solder PCBs.  The VectraElite’s features, including ServoJet™ fluxing, forced convection preheat, and DwellMax Plus™ solder nozzles, provide board assemblers the capability to process the most difficult soldering applications in the most demanding environments.

Lead-Free Process Capability

The VectraElite has been soldering lead-free applications for many years.  The cast iron solder pot and its components are resistant to the corrosive nature of lead-free solders, and are capable of withstanding temperatures of 302° C (576° F).  All stainless steel components that come into contact with the solder are composed of a special corrosion-resistant surface conversion as standard, or titanium as an option.  Features such as our Quick Change solder pot provide the flexibility to easily change alloys in a safe and timely manner. 

Reliability

Electrovert holds the industry reputation for building the most reliable and longest-lasting wave soldering systems. The VectraElite carries a lifetime warranty on the solder pot casting to the original owner (see the full explanation in terms and conditions).

Conveyor: Process Width Capability:

The robust conveyor is designed to handle the weight of thick boards and pallets; and automatic lead clearance adjustment is standard.  A soldering process width of 457 mm (18 inches) is standard while a process width of 508 mm (20 inches) is optional. 

Solder Nozzle Technologies

Electrovert’s UltraFill™, DwellMax™ Plus and DwellMax Ultra solder nozzles are designed to provide maximum top-side hole fill, provide the best hole fill quality, improve first pass yields, reduce dross , and promote easy maintenance. DwellMax Plus’ extra-wide chip nozzle and modified UltraFill nozzle are ideal for soldering thick, high thermal mass circuit boards.

Fluxing Technologies

As the complexity of board assemblies continues to increase, fluxing quality has become more of a focus to ensure soldering quality.  Electrovert offers the best fluxing technologies available.  The ServoJet fluxing system provides the ultimate in precision deposition and hole penetration (OA version available for aggressive flux applications) while ServoSonic™ and ServoSpray™ fluxing systems are available for ultrasonic and value-based solutions.

Operations and Software

Electrovert’s software and operation controls were designed with user interface in mind.  The Windows® operating system is multi-functional and easy to use.  The 3D GUI provides the user a real-time view of the complete machine modules, operation, and product being soldered.  All Electrovert systems have a customizable quick view screen that allows engineers and operators to view critical machine parameters that are important to the process or application.

Enhanced Technology

DwellFlex 4.0 Solder Nozzle with Nitrogen Tunnel

The DwellFlex 4.0 is the first solder nozzle designed specifically with Industry 4.0 automation in mind.  The patent pending design enables the length of the wave to be adjusted on-the-fly as variable board types are run through the wave.  This ensures solder contact time is optimized for a high-mix of board types without changing conveyor speeds.

The DwellFlex 4.0 provides the highest level of soldering capability for thermally challenging and difficult solder applications.  The single wave design at maximum opening delivers the most thermal energy and longest dwell time in the industry. 

 

The DwellFlex 4.0 benefits include:

  • Minimizes changeover downtime in high-mix applications
  • Eliminates lost production time associated with conveyor speed changes
  • Allows ability to optimize the profile through the preheat section and adjust wave contact time for an optimal soldering process
  • Change contact length between high mass pcb’s to low mass pcb’s in less than 10 seconds
  • Varying the wave length on-the-fly eliminates preheater changeover time
  • Higher solder quality results – no temperature dip associated with the gap in a typical dual wave configuration
    • Reduced defect opportunities
    • Flexibility to provide precise dwell time for any board     
  • Available on Electra and VectraElite (EC4 and VC3)
  • Compatible with full and short N2 tunnels
  • Field upgradeable

Click here to watch the DwellFlex 4.0 video

UltraFill Solder Nozzle

The patented UltraFill solder nozzle is an ideal solution for lead-free soldering.  The UltraFill nozzle is 40% wider than traditional tin-lead nozzle to increase contact time.  The nozzle placement reduces the temperature drop between nozzles and improves hole fill.  UltraFill allows either air or nitrogen operation through the same design without switching nozzles.  Nitrogen or air operation can be selected through the desired recipe, without the need to change nozzles (also available with the rotary chip nozzle).

DwellMax Plus Solder Nozzle with Nitrogen Tunnel

DwellMax Plus is a patented process solution that meets the challenges of lead-free wave soldering.  The extra-wide chip nozzle and modified UltraFill nozzle are ideal for soldering thick, high thermal mass circuit boards, increasing throughput capability and process flexibility across a wide range of products and applications.  With conventional wave soldering technology, thick multi-layer and/or high thermal mass circuit boards are often accompanied by high cost from low yields, slow production speeds, rework costs, and the collateral damage associated with a rework loop.  The innovative design of DwellMax Plus alleviates these problems and provides better PTH fill at significantly faster conveyor speeds.  The benefits of the nitrogen tunnel include improved solder wetting and reduction in dross by up to 83%.

DwellMax Plus benefits include:

  • Increased topside hole fill;
  • Reduced defect rates;
  • Higher production rates;
  • Significantly less dross;
  • Reduced solder usage;
  • Reduced flux usage.

Electrovert’s DwellMax Plus is the key to a better bottom line through fewer defects and maximized productivity.

Short Nitrogen Tunnel Feature

Electrovert’s short nitrogen tunnel utilizes patented technology that inerts at the solder wave area only.  This efficient approach maintains a very low oxygen environment of <50 ppm which is ideal for increased wetting effects and a significant reduction of dross. 

  • Available for use with UltraFill, DwellMax Plus, and DwellMax Ultra nozzles;
  • Significant reduction in dross and maintenance in the solder module area with pay-back in less than 6 months (depending on application and alloy);
  • Minimal distance between preheat and solder contact area;
  • Inerted environment allows the use of milder fluxes and/or a reduced amount of flux applied;
  • Optional O2 analyzer enables data logging of critical parameters specific to the solder wave area;
  • Simple, efficient design provides easy access to solder module;
  • Short Tunnel is field upgradable (check with factory).
Full Nitrogen Tunnel Feature

Electrovert’s full nitrogen tunnel with nitrogen inerting technology feature offers complete process capability and flexibility for all nitrogen soldering applications. The full nitrogen tunnel feature is an efficient design that maintains a very low oxygen environment of <50 ppm which is ideal for increased wetting effects and a significant reduction of dross.

Benefits of the nitrogen tunnel include:

  • Available for use with UltraFill, nozzles
  • Significant reduction in dross and maintenance in the solder module area with pay-back in less than 6 months (depending on application and alloy);
  • Complete and easy access to all preheat, fluxer, and solder pot area from rear of machine
  • Fully inerted tunnel Inerted environment allows the use of milder fluxes and/or a reduced amount of flux applied;
  • Optional O2 analyzer enables data logging of critical parameters specific to the solder wave area;
  • Full Nitrogen Tunnel is field upgradable ( check with factory).
ExactaWave Automatic Wave Height

ExactaWave is a patented, high-reliability sensor with closed-loop feedback designed to control the solder wave height relative to the board.  Its ability withstand temperatures up to 300°C (573°F) makes it perfectly suited for precision soldering applications.

The ExactaWave system compensates for changes in solder level, dross accumulation and set-up changes made during maintenance.  Thus, a set-point entered in a recipe always produces the same result.  The ExactaWave’s seamless integration into the soldering machine’s software also allows it to operate in standby mode and is a parameter that can be data logged with trending capability.

ServoJet Fluxing Application System

The ServoJet system ensures thorough flux penetration by utilizing concentric air atomization.  It offers a programmable method of applying flux that results in consistent flux deposition and reduced flux usage.  The ServoJet utilizes air atomized multiple jet technology that is 100% integrated into the wave soldering system software. 

High end fluxer capabilities include:

  • Precision selective fluxing capability that applies different flux volumes to individual sections of the board;
  • OA version available for aggressive water soluble type fluxes;
  • Optional Dual Flux capability;
  • User-defined automatic self-clean;
  • Field upgradable.

ServoJet benefits include:

  • Accurate flux control that reduces bridging;
  • Improved hole penetration;
  • Reduced flux consumption;
  • Precision selective fluxing (standard ServoJet version);
  • Optional dual flux capability for recipe-dependant conversion to a second flux for quick product change-over;
  • 100% integrated into machine software providing data logging and trending capability;
  • Applies to a wide range of fluxes.
ServoSpray Flux Application System

ServoSpray provides an ideal balance between system performance, functionality and low cost of ownership.  ServoSpray has the ability to spray in one or both directions, includes self-clean capability, and features a pressure tank flux supply system.  ServoSpray utilizes atomized air delivery technology and is 100% integrated into the wave solder machine software. 

ServoSpray benefits include:

  • Ability to spray in one or both directions;
  • Improved top side hole penetration;
  • Reduced flux consumption;
  • Reduced maintenance costs;
  • Selective flux capability;
  • Optional dual flux capability for recipe-dependant conversion to a second flux for quick product change-over;
  • 100% integrated into machine software providing data logging and trending capability;
  • Applies to a wide range of fluxes.
ServoSonic Flux Application System

The ServoSonic is a reciprocating ultrasonic atomizing spray fluxing system. It consists of an ultrasonic atomized spray nozzle and air impact nozzle with an automatic self-cleaning function. The titanium nozzle and horn assemblies make the ServoSonic an ideal solution for high solids and aggressive water soluble fluxes.

The ServoSonic benefits include:

  • Ultrasonic atomized air delivery system;
  • Ability to spray in one or both directions;
  • Reduced flux consumption;
  • Reduced maintenance costs;
  • Selective flux capability;
  • 100% integrated into wave solder machine software providing data logging and trending capability;
  • Applies to a wide range of fluxes.
Preheat Features

The VectraElite is capable of up to 1.8 meters (6 feet) of bottom side preheat and up to 1.2 meters (4 feet) of topside preheat. Multiple forms of preheat are offered for complete process flexibility (IsoThermal forced convection, Fast response IR, and Infrared radiant types).  The optional quick plug feature allows ‘plug and play’ preheat configurations that are easy to change.

Quick Change Solder Pot

Electrovert’s quick change solder pot allows the use of two or more alloys with easy change-over of interchangeable solder pots.  This feature is designed for safety, beginning with a robust cart that includes locking devices and safety bars to secure the pot.  The quick-change electrical and nitrogen utilities simplify change-over while the warming station (included) significantly reduces changeover time.

Quick-change pot benefits include:

  • Use of multiple alloys;
  • Easy changeover;
  • Built-in safety features;
  • All critical process features of the wave solder machine remain integrated between the multiple solder pots:
    • Standard wave features such as FloLift, stand-by-mode, RPM control, alarms, and data logging;
    • Auto-lead clearance;
    • Optional ExactaWave (auto wave-height control);
  • One pot/cart can be used on multiple machines of the same model and vintage (check with factory);
  • Field upgradable (confirm with factory);
Features for Value in Wave Soldering

Electrovert’s Electra, VectraElite, and VectraES offer a wide range of features and capabilities that increase the value of the wave solder process.  The value is achieved through reliability, features that provide process flexibility, maximize process control, and ultimately save time and money.

  • Lifetime warranty on solder pot casting (applies to original owner);
  • Recipe-driven automatic lead clearance;
  • FloLift™ technology increases the upward force of the waves just as the PCB passes over the wave.  This feature promotes maximum topside hole fill;
  • Stand-by-mode of solder waves that reduces the rpm of the solder wave just until the PCB is near the solder pot.  This feature reduces dross generation when no PCBs are being soldered;
  • Combination 2d/1d bar code reader can be combined with data logging for complete process control and automation;
  • Data-logging and trending of critical machine parameters;
  • Common Windows® based operating system and common GUI software across all Electrovert products (Wave, Reflow, and Cleaning).  This is a significant time saver to operators and engineers.  Minimal training is required when shifting from one product to another.
  • Common I/O interface across all Electrovert products (Wave, Reflow, and Cleaning).  This is significant to maintenance personnel and significant in that common spare parts can be used from one product to another.