Wave Soldering and Reflow Oven: Maintenance & Tips for Cleaning

Q: Can I clean at an ambient temperature?

A: Yes, but it will take a much longer time compared to a heated bath. Temperature is a simple way to speed up cleaning.

Q: Can I just soak the parts?

A: The answer to this question is also yes, but it will take a much longer time compared one with additional energy. Air sparging and especially ultrasonic significantly shortens the cleaning time.

Q: Do I need to rinse the parts after washing?

A: As flux residue dissolves in the bath, a very small amount of residue will remain on the part if it is not rinsed. This is not very significant, and you can do away with it. But if you want a very clean part, then rinsing is the answer.

Q: How often should maintenance be done?

A: There is no defined time to do maintenance because each process has different characteristics. It all depends on the number of hours your equipment works as well as the conditions in which they are working.