By: Jorge Quijano (Territory Manager)

In the past, PCB soldering was a manual process, requiring the application of tin solder with a soldering iron on components and boards. While this method was effective at the time, it had limitations in speed, precision, and consistency. The introduction of automation in PCB soldering has helped overcome these challenges, improving quality and efficiency in electronics manufacturing.

Automation in Laser Soldering

Laser soldering has become a key technique in the electronics industry, offering high precision, speed, and quality in soldering connections. Automation in this process has brought significant benefits:

• Contactless Soldering: Laser soldering is a non-contact process, meaning no tool wear or physical distortion of the material. Automated laser systems accurately focus the laser beam on the soldering area, ensuring precise energy application.
• High Speed and Precision: Automated laser soldering systems can operate at high speeds without compromising precision, enabling faster production and greater consistency in soldering quality.
• Ideal for Small and Delicate Components: Laser soldering automation is particularly beneficial for assembling small and delicate PCB components. Laser robots can precisely maneuver around sensitive parts without causing damage, essential in high-density electronics.
• Controlled Environments: Automated laser soldering systems are ideal for controlled production environments, such as clean rooms, ensuring the integrity and purity of soldering connections, which is critical in sensitive electronics applications.
• Flexibility and Customization: Automated laser soldering systems can be programmed to meet specific product requirements. Laser robots can perform soldering in various shapes and sizes, enhancing production flexibility.
• Real-Time Monitoring and Control: Laser soldering automation enables real-time monitoring of soldering parameters such as laser intensity and travel speed. Any deviation from the preset parameters can be quickly detected and corrected.

Automated laser soldering is essential for efficient PCB and electronics manufacturing, offering greater speed, precision, and quality compared to manual methods. Additionally, the versatility of this technique makes it suitable for a wide range of applications, from SMT component soldering to high-density assemblies.

J-Cat Star Gate: Precision and Efficiency in Automated PCB Soldering

In conventional laser soldering, the entire laser power is used as a base to establish the required temperature. However, factors such as the material type and surrounding components can cause temperature variations, leading to overheating or insufficient soldering, which can damage the product.

Apollo Seiko's STAR GATE laser head solves this issue by controlling the soldering process based on actual temperature. The user does not need to manually adjust the laser power, as it automatically adapts based on temperature.

Thanks to its infrared pyrometer and coaxial laser beam, STAR GATE enables real-time control and precise temperature regulation during the soldering process, with a sampling cycle of 0.0001 seconds.

This system is designed for contactless soldering applications, ensuring precise and efficient soldering without direct PCB contact, while also reducing tip consumption.