New Programmable Preheater: Lowers Soldering and Rework Temperatures, Improves Process Efficiency

The PCT-1000 also provides a thermal boost for boards that demand heat due to large ground planes, multiple layers or lead-free solders. This added heat capacity offers an additional benefit of allowing operators to use soldering, desoldering and SMT rework hand tools with lower operating temperatures, avoiding the undesirable and often damaging, high temperatures. The PCT-1000 features an “external” thermocouple input. This mode of operation can be used for precise control of output temperature based on the board or component temperature. For example, an application may require output not to exceed a specific temperature in order to prevent bottom-side reflow of components. A Type K thermocouple can be attached to a component, or PCB site, to provide target temperature feedback control to the PCT-1000 and therefore prevent exceeding the maximum temperature at the board. The thermocouple input feature can also be used as a process monitor where the temperature of up to two sites on the PCB can be displayed. This feature provides thermal data and facilities fast, efficient process set-up parameters.

The PCT-1000 has a unique heater design that creates a convection vortex, effectively concentrating heat where it is most needed. This allows the system to heat more efficiently while operating at lower wattage. The system can be operated in either manual mode, where the output temperature is held constant and the user determines the time for heating or a programmable automatic mode where the temperature and time can by independently varied creating thermal profiles. Up to 50 thermal profiles can be stored in the PCT-1000. To compliment the PCT-1000, OK International offers a new, optional board holder.

The BH-1000 Board Holder is designed for fast and easy configuration. It consists of two independent post-rail assemblies. These assemblies can be positioned as close as 15 mm or as far apart as the user desires. Each post-rail assembly is 300 mm long and has a 30 mm height adjustment. Even more, the rails can be removed from the posts and the post can be used with tapered pins that are included in a kit to function as either a board support or as stand-alone board holders. “The PCT-1000 programmable preheater is a cost-effective, technically responsible approach for high thermal demand applications,” commented Jay Boyd, OK International Global Product Manager. “If operators are struggling with a requirement for more heat from their hand tools, they should not have to resort to increasing soldering tip temperatures, trading-off process control to maintain process speed.” “The PCT-1000 provides an alternative where a greater volume of heat enables the operator to maintain process speeds at safe temperatures.”