Printed Circuit Design & Fab Online Magazine - Current Issue

Current Issue

Bob Willis A lack of compression can be seen nondestructively.

This month we look at crimp connections.

FIGURES 1 and 2 show examples of simple compression connections. Figure 1 shows an excessive length of stripped wire within the crimp termination and a total lack of any compression, which should be easy to see on the wire bundle from the point of entry to the point of compression. Figure 2 lacks compression of the connector, and the stripped wire is barely within the barrel of the connector.

Read more: Incomplete Crimp Connections

Bob Willis

Tricks to eliminate exposed copper.

Read more: Solder Pad Coverage with NiAu and OSP Finishes

Bob Willis Solder paste escaping gaps in underfill can cause electrical failures.

Welcome to our latest Defect of the Month. This month we illustrate what can happen with area array packages that have been underfilled during rework.

During any rework, it is important to avoid overheating components on the opposite side of the board or adjacent to the parts being reworked. If solder joints surrounded by underfill undergo reflow, or are close to reflow temperatures, the solder will expand/extrude, then flow under pressure through any openings (FIGURE 1). (We have captured solder reflow in underfill during reflow simulation in x-ray investigations for a customer at Dage.) Voids in the underfill or gaps caused by expansion of the component can result in joints becoming intermittent. Such joints can fail at any time during the product’s life.

Read more: Post-Rework Underfill Expansion