One small step for techs ..one giant leap etc etc

[Vipersan]

Hi friends ...
Recently went halves with a good friend of mine to purchase a dark IR re-ball / rework station
..the ACHI IR6000..
not cheap ..thats why we bought it between us ...and lots more practice runs needed before we attempt a re-ball ..
But after practicing on a couple of demick pcbs ..removing chips etc ..we eventually felt confident enough to attempt a bga re-flow on an Xbox 360 ..
Well ..it was a total success ...so hopefully ..the ACHI will one day earn its keep..
Here are some pics showing the unit and the setup ..with the 360 pcb in place an ready to go..

Temperature control is essential ..as is pcb bracing ...as is the right type of flux .
..preheating is essential ..and the ACHI has a bottom plate heater ..and the intense IR overhead..
All controlled by temperature probes ..and electronics..
Setting the ramps correcty is crucial..but can be fully controlled by the pc ...through a serial connection.
certainly not a toy...
;)

rgds
VS

 

[Lazarus]

I can't see the Petal Extensions ..................... :-crying

 

[Vipersan]

I can't see the Petal Extensions ..................... :-crying

..Sorry to disappoint Gordon ...
But the CPU _did_ have aluminium foil wings briefly ..to stop the other components from getting too toasty
rgds
VS

 

[Channel Hopper]

I thought you had perfected the solder rework on Gasmark 4.

How does the ACHI IR6000 cope with roasting pigeon/chicken/squirrel ?

 

[sonnetpete]

VS....I fear this is a giant leap too far for someone who can't even read a spectrum but......is this a way of desoldering a whole PCB? Then resoldering it, thus eliminating any dry joints? If so, things have come a long way since I spent many a merry afternoon going through all the soldered joints on a TV pcb trying to repair an elusive dry one. This was in the days where TV's had probably three or four IC's max.

 

[Channel Hopper]

VS....I fear this is a giant leap too far for someone who can't even read a spectrum but......is this a way of desoldering a whole PCB? Then resoldering it, thus eliminating any dry joints? If so, things have come a long way since I spent many a merry afternoon going through all the soldered joints on a TV pcb trying to repair an elusive dry one. This was in the days where TV's had probably three or four IC's max.

The way to do it in those days was with curtains drawn, cabinet open and TV on, and deft use of a toothbrush.

Things really haven't moed on that far, with the exception of H+S getting involved.

 

[Vipersan]

VS....I fear this is a giant leap too far for someone who can't even read a spectrum but......is this a way of desoldering a whole PCB? Then resoldering it, thus eliminating any dry joints? If so, things have come a long way since I spent many a merry afternoon going through all the soldered joints on a TV pcb trying to repair an elusive dry one. This was in the days where TV's had probably three or four IC's max.

Not really Pete ...
Its for reworking ...or resoldering dry joints on BGA chips ...
..or indeed reballing ..that is to say applying solder balls to these chips and detaching or attaching such chips ..
BGA (ball grid array)chips unlike conventional ICs have hundreds of solder ball connections _under_ the chip ...so no way to get a soldering Iron to them ..either to fix drys ,,or fit a new chip .
This ACHI unit is capable of controlled heating in ramped stages to melt the solder balls and attach /reattach chips to the pcb by pumping heat through the chip body ..and melt the solder connections underneath..
Using controlled heat in this way makes it possible without frying the chip in the process ..
5 > 10 degrees too much ..for too long a time may destroy the chip even before is connected.
This is the future and these chips are in everything from TVs ...PCs Laptops Phones ..to sat boxes..and hi-fi s etc ..
Here is a picture of a typical BGA chip underside ...
..and this one hasn't many connections
rgds
VS

 

[Topper]

Ah I see it is all a load of balls then VS I don't need to get my coat I am already wearing it


Seriously though this is a serious piece of kit VS, but no doubt necessary for the pursuance of modern day repairs