5 meter long LED flex strip - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: matt6ft9
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 28, 2015, 04:32:43 pm
content: I’m not an electronics manufacturing guy.How are components placed and soldered onto 5 meter long flexible LED strips? (I have failed in google searches) The typical SMT assembly process limits a board size to roughly 50x50cm. The stencil size, pick and place machine size, and reflow oven all contribute to the 50x50cm size limitation. Flex boards can be taped to carriers during these processes.One LED strip I have appears to have glued down resistors. Any pointers would be helpful.Matt

author: richard.cs
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 28, 2015, 06:09:03 pm
content: The strips I have are made in short lengths of around 0.5m then are soldered end to end, possibly by hand.

author: kjs
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 28, 2015, 09:35:56 pm
content: there are many ways to do it... One was mentioned already to make it in shorter pieces. One could also dispense solder paste dots and place the components while the strip is moved under the head.

author: Seekonk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 28, 2015, 11:24:23 pm
content: I think they are all formed in quite long strips. All the ones I buy have one, two or more splices in them making me think that the ones you get on ebay are end of reel scraps that automated machinery can't use and are pieced together by scrappers.

author: PedroDaGr8
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 28, 2015, 11:36:46 pm
content: My guess is a continuous or semi-continuous process and not a batch process. Meaning instead of placing in 3D space, a continuous roll of substate is fed through and the machine just places the solder paste and LED's at the correct intervals. The strange continues through the SMD oven to melt the solder out the other side and onto a spool.

author: mrflux
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 28, 2015, 11:54:05 pm
content: Did you see this video?And how LED SMDs are made:

author: matt6ft9
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 29, 2015, 01:13:43 pm
content: mrflux: In the first video, the only thing I see is dispensing silicon (or something like it).There is no solder paste, components being placed, or flex boards being reflowed.Another theory: adhesive is dispensed, components are placed, and then selectively soldered?

author: ajb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 29, 2015, 02:00:13 pm
content: I've never seen LED tape that wasn't spliced several times in a 5m roll--that includes cheap stuff from eBay/Amazon, as well as higher quality makers.I'm sure you COULD arrange a continuous process to manufacture it, but why bother when you could just use all of your existing fabrication and assembly plant and it probably takes a practiced technician <30 seconds to do each splice?Remember that a continuous strip would require that you etch, mask, and silkscreen the flex substrate continuously as well, which would be much trickier than assembling and soldering!

author: matt6ft9
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 01, 2015, 02:11:29 pm
content: This machine can do up to 1.5 meter long PCB's:The board looks to be rigid.Ah, it is stuffing Florescent replacement LED boards

author: David_AVD
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 01, 2015, 10:18:12 pm
content: All of the 5m RGB strips I've ever bought have a soldered joint every 500mm.