As the electronics industry evolves, the heating technology used in rework systems must adapt. Component footprints are shrinking and require lighter thermal demands while throughput requirements increase. At the same time, thermally massive power management components, connectors, heat sinks, RF shields, and surface mounted devices (SMDs) on heavy ground planes remain. The ability to have multiple heating technologies available in a single system directly increases productivity. Most rework systems only offer one type of heating technology, even though versatility is the common denominator in modern PCB rework. A single heating technology will never fit every application even though operators struggle to make it work.

The MBT 350 (Figure 5-1) is the first real “dual technology” system that delivers the most preferred heating technology to the application without limitation. Other systems have tried to offer the best of both worlds in the past by assigning one type of heating technology to a specific handpiece channel. This limits the number and type of handpieces that can be connected to the system at a given time.

The MBT 350 allows either SensaTemp or TempWise technology handpieces to be plugged into any of three, continuously active, handpiece channels. PACE’s SensaTemp technology is well known for its temperature stability and ability to handle high mass applications. For smaller components – and when throughput is important – TempWise is a patented technology that boasts the best response time for high volume applications and easily keeps up in a fast paced environment.

The MBT 350 is loaded with features to improve quality, increase throughput, extend tip life, and protect your process. The system is fully programmable and can be password protected from unauthorized changes. An approved operating range can be programmed allowing operators the flexibility to do their work, while eliminating the risks associated with giving techs access to the entire temperature range of the system. Operators can be given a 5 to 450 degrees C range to operate. When high-mass tips are required, an offset can be programmed for each of the three channels, individually. To maximize tip life and reduce operating costs, “Setback” and “Auto-Off” features are included. The system will automatically reduce the set temperature by 50% then turn off after a user defined period of inactivity, from 10 to 90 minutes. To protect your more expensive tip-heater cartridge and fine point tips from oxidation, the TD-100 can be used with the new “Instant-Setback Cubby”. The cubby puts the iron’s channel into setback if it’s in the cubby for more than 45 seconds.

The new dual purpose vacuum/pressure pump and delivery system with PACE’s patented SNAP-VAC Technology, provides the most vacuum available for desoldering applications. When used with an air pencil, the high resolution, pressure control valve allows for precise airflow adjustment when working on the smallest components such as 0201s. The new backlit, digital, LCD screen can display the temperature of one, all three, or can cycle through the handpiece channels one at a time. The backlight and character contrast on the display can be adjusted to meet individual preferences. And finally, the system can be programmed with the name of the operator or company which is displayed when the system is turned on.

There are some disadvantages to the rework tools available in our industry today, but the MBT 350 system from PACE tackles them while leaving the operator with superior tools to do the job. The EMPF Learning Center uses the MBT 350 from PACE as the rework tool in our classroom.

For additional information on this article or to schedule a demonstration of the PACE rework station located at the EMPF,
contact Ken Friedman, 610.362.1200 extension 279 or via email at kfriedman@aciusa.org.