Are there design rules for the conformal coating dip application?
There are design guidelines that can be used to help make conformal coating of circuit boards using the dip process a lot easier.
Having these specific design rules for dipping conformal coating can help save a lot of time, money and trouble on the production line.
Click to read more on about design rules for the conformal coating dip application
Find out how we can help you with your conformal coatings now.
Contact us to discuss your needs and let us explain how conformal coatings could work for you.
How to Select a Conformal Coating Process – The Holistic Approach
Choosing a conformal coating process is a complicated and involved process usually balancing a number of trade-offs and compromises.
This is because of three major parts of the complete process that can offer different options and create difficult choices.
These parts are:
- The Conformal Coating Material Requirements
- The Application Method Selected
- The Circuit Board Design
When you consider these three points you have to balance them to create the best compromise solution that suits your requirements.
This is the Holistic Approach to conformal coating.
Designing for Selective Robotic Conformal Coating Processing: Rule 7 “Add tooling holes for the PCB if the board is not a standard shape to be supported on the fixture or conveyor”
Many PCBs can be irregular in shape or have components very close to the edge. This can make it very difficult to support the circuit board on a fixture or even worse on a moving conveyor. So, this may mean it is difficult to get the position to be repeatable. If the position is unrepeatable then the coating will go where it is not wanted.
Rule 7
Add tooling holes for the PCB if the board is not a standard shape to be supported on the fixture or conveyor.
The Rules
The Rules for Selective Conformal Coating are straightforward. Follow them and you can save money and time in your application process. However, if the Rules are not followed, the resultant circuit board design can challenge even the most sophisticated conformal coating system and its operator to achieve the finish desired.
Click Designing Circuit Boards for Selective Robotic Conformal Coating for further Rules.
Designing for Selective Robotic Conformal Coating Processing: Rule 4 “Avoiding component Collisions”
As stated before robot systems are generally not intelligent unless you pay for very sophisticated software based systems with clever sensing systems. When a robot head drives a spray valve around it does not consider the variation in the component placement. It will continue “through” the component if it is in the way and probably destroy the PCB at the same time.
Rule 4
Understand that through-hole components have a very wide range of placement orientations, and if used on a PCB, the drawing must cover all possible orientations of the devices, plus 2.5mm optional coating area. This is to ensure you coat the component leads, wherever they may be positioned.
The Rules
The Rules for Selective Conformal Coating are straightforward. Follow them and you can save money and time in your application process. However, if the Rules are not followed, the resultant circuit board design can challenge even the most sophisticated conformal coating system and its operator to achieve the finish desired.
Click Designing Circuit Boards for Selective Robotic Conformal Coating for further Rules.
Designing for Selective Robotic Conformal Coating Processing: Rule 3 “Grouping Components”
Robot systems are generally not intelligent unless you pay for very sophisticated software based systems with clever sensing systems. All of these options cost money and time. To keep costs down consider that PCBs are 3D objects and considering the layout of the components and where you want conformal coating to be applied can save considerable problems.
Rule 3
Try and group all components of similar heights within the same general area of the assembly. This minimises the changes in dispensing height, enabling the machine to run efficiently at optimum speeds and give you the best coating coverage.
The Rules
The Rules for Selective Conformal Coating are straightforward. Follow them and you can save money and time in your application process. However, if the Rules are not followed, the resultant circuit board design can challenge even the most sophisticated conformal coating system and its operator to achieve the finish desired.
Click Designing Circuit Boards for Selective Robotic Conformal Coating for further Rules.
Design your Printed Circuit Boards for Successful Conformal Coating Application using a Selective Robot
Designing Circuit Boards for Selective Robotic Coating Application is a new Technical Bulletin from SCH Technologies.
Why should you use Design Rules when considering Robotic Conformal Coating Processing?
The Rules for Selective Conformal Coating are straightforward. Follow them and you can save money and time in your application process. However, if the Rules are not followed, the resultant circuit board design can challenge even the most sophisticated conformal coating system and its operator to achieve the finish desired.
Click the link above to find out more or click Conformal Coating Technical Bulletins for more information.
Can I protect my electronics intellectual property (IP) with an epoxy potting compound?
The answer is simply yes.
A major use of black epoxies is to protect intellectual property. The fact that epoxies are extremely hard and chemical resistant means that they are very difficult to remove non-destructively. This makes them one of the preferred choices to protect proprietary electrical circuits designs.
For example, one of our customers has a very specific power supply. This power supply takes less space than their competitors which gives them a competitive advantage. Because they are keen on keeping their design as a trade secret, they pot their components in the 833FRB epoxy. Potting their components in the 833FR epoxy allows their power supply to meet UL 94 and still protect their IP.
If you would like to know more about epoxy potting compounds or other products and services offered and supported by SCH Technologies, please do not hesitate to contact us
Telephone: +44 1226 249019
Email: sales@schservices.com
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Conformal Coating 