Soldering 1000 plastic FPC connectors - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Koen
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 10, 2020, 05:03:22 pm
content: Hello,if you had all components on the top side and one single FPC connector with melty-plastic on the bottom side, how would you solder it ? 1000 to do.I usually use Galden but I'm unsure about reflowing things twice. Could I do it in one pass by glueing or taping the connector ?Or is there a miracle rework solution for these connectors ?Thank you,Koen

author: rea5245
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 10, 2020, 05:05:46 pm
content: Soldering 1000 FPCs? Isn't that what bad electronic engineers are forced to do as their punishment in the afterlife?- Bob

author: SMTech
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 10, 2020, 10:05:28 pm
content: I think reflowing twice is your best option, its never ideal to have to add a whole extra process for one part, but for that part in that volume I'm not sure what choice you have.Given your Vapor Phase reflowing anyway there is basically no risk of overheating/damage unless that part has any specific warnings

author: ANTALIFE
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 10, 2020, 10:47:37 pm
content: Do a test to see if current connector can withstand two reflow cycles, if not then pick a new part that canSometimes saving a penny on parts can cause you to spend double in manufacturing ;^)

author: donotdespisethesnake
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2020, 10:31:39 am
content: Quote from: Koen on February 10, 2020, 05:03:22 pmInteresting, I have a similar problem. So the question is, how to redesign so that the 24 way PFC connector is on the top side of a user interface board? I'm not aware of bottom entry FPC connectors, so either a slot or gap is required for the flexi to pass through to top side. Not sure how that works with minimum bend radius.It was not my design, I'm inclined to redesign the board for regular IDC connector. I suspect it would reduce unit cost to replace the parallel interface with a micro and a serial bus, then only 6 or so connections are needed.

author: KL27x
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2020, 08:24:28 pm
content: Iron soldering is how I have done FPC connectors in batches. Stereomicroscope, flux, and a big TFO bevel tip. Takes some seconds per connector. I shall have to time myself, but I would venture 150-200 an hour, at a reasonable, sustainable pace, including all the pcb handling/setup/cleanup, with some adjustment for the size of the pcbs. Large, bulky boards that don't stack nicely would add some time. I'm working with panels of smaller PCBs, which makes it way, way more efficient. Working with single/large boards, it would take 4-5x as much time and effort.If you can stencil paste and place the FPC, easily, perhaps hot air reflow might be an option to prevent oxidizing the other side too badly. Or tacking down the anchor pads with an iron. Or applying some dot of glue. Then doing the other side and getting it in the oven before the paste dries out. But if you are going to do that, it might be easier just to hand solder the whole thing and be done with inspection at the same time. Depends how good you can get at it, and you don't know without trying, spending a few bucks on trying new tips if you are still in chisel-land.