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Moving to Lead-Free Solder for Medical Electronics Microelectronics manufacturing worldwide is in a state of transition: from lead-based solder to lead-free solder. Over the next several years, microelectronics manufacturing will shift from the use of familiar lead-based solders to the use of lead-free solders. Although driven by legislation in Europe, the transition in the United States will likely be propelled by market forces—namely, the desire to claim that a product or system is environmentally friendly. This transition will create significant problems for the designers and assemblers of medical electronics systems. A year or two ago, these problems appeared perhaps even more ominous than they really are, because so little was known about the varieties of lead-free solder and their manufacturability. But real data are beginning to emerge from early users of lead-free solders and from a study conducted by the National Electronics Manufacturers Initiative (NEMI). For all solders, the critical point in manufacturing is the reflow process. For tin lead, which is typically 63% Sn and 37% Pb and has a melting point of about 183°C (361°F), reflow solder-joint temperatures commonly reach
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Products & Services
Solder
Solders include low melting point metal alloys usually in wire, powder, preform or paste forms. Solders are metal alloys with low melting points that are used to join metals together.
Lead, Tin, and Low Melting Alloys
Lead, tin, and low melting alloys are non-ferrous alloys that are easily meltable with relatively low melting temperatures. They are used in the manufacture of solders, semiconductors, batteries, optical, and decorative products.
Soldering Irons, Stations, and Accessories
Soldering irons, stations and accessories bond two or more metallic surfaces together with a low melting alloy solder such as tin/lead or Sn/Cu/Ni/Ge alloys, which is melted, wets the surface and resolidifies forming a soldered joint.
SMT Manufacturing Equipment
Surface mount technology (SMT) manufacturing equipment is used to populate printed circuit boards (PCB). This includes soldering machines, ovens, component placement, paste depositors and screen and stencils.
Thermal Profilers
Thermal profilers are temperature instruments or recorders that provide temperature profiles for furnaces, kilns, or other continuous thermal processes.
Product Announcements
Advanced Manufacturing Service, Inc. (AMS) - Advanced Manufacturing Services' Equipment List
One Source for all your Electronic Contract Manufacturing Services needs for manufacturers of industrial controls, medical devices and equipment for laboratories, surveillance and communication. (read more)
Linear Integrated Systems, Inc. - Linear Integrated Systems Lead-Free / RoHS Info
The following is provided to address some of the more commonly asked questions regarding how LIS is meeting customer demand to supply product which is compliant to the RoHS and WEEE Directives. (read more)
Interplex Industries, Inc. - A different solderless interconnect solution
Interplex Industries' innovative solder bearing leads and flux bearing leads were developed to help overcome significant challenges in circuit assembly eliminating costly and secondary soldering... (read more)
 
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