Practical Components and Aim Solder Offer Updated Solutions to Printing Challenges

Practical Components and Aim Solder announce they have updated their offering with a new AIM print test board and kit that is designed to include many printing challenges commonly found in manufacturers’ assemblies.

According to the companies, the updated version includes new and challenging component technologies that mirror real-life production environments. Added in the updated version are 0.4 and 0.5mm pitch FusionQuad components, DualRow MLF, 01005 and 0201 resistors as well as other new components.

Additionally, the kit contains BGA and microBGA pads, both having circular and square pad designs to test paste release. AIM has included the standard IPC slump test pattern in order to further challenge the properties of any product tested. This print pattern is more real life and can more accurately predict slump since individual pads are used as opposed to one pad that is common in the thermometer method. There is a number on the board indicating the distances between pads, ensuring that a hard number can be used for paste evaluations.

Common pad sizes were incorporated into the layout including 1206, 0805, 0402, 01005 and 0201 rectangular pads for discrete components. These pads have varying distances between them, allowing users to determine paste solder beading. Four 250 x 250 mil pads are available for use with various aperture styles to allow for wetting tests. There are also several fine-pitch QFP pads designed to check for the propensity of any given product to cause bridging, and to confirm the existence of torn prints, peaking (dog ears) or bridging.

Board material is S-410 with a standard ENIG finish. Digitized Gerber files are provided by Aegis Software. Additionally, the kit is available with either lead free or tin-lead components.

Practical Components said it maintains strong working relationships with leading industry suppliers and is able to supply cutting edge products such as this because of these relationships.

www.aimsolder.com
www.practicalcomponents.com