Blog Post: Reduce Time Spent Masking PCB's During Wave Solder Process
A lot of valuable time can be wasted masking off a circuit board prior to wave soldering. Liquid masks are messy and take time to peel off. It is also time-consuming to cut individual strips of polyimide film to apply to the board.
Today, companies like UltraTape Industries are manufacturing customized polyimide masks designed to protect flat surface areas such as “gold fingers” and edge connectors on the circuit board during the wave solder application. The masks are easily removable, even after long heat cycles at 260°C. These cost effective, easy-to-apply masks reduce the amount of time spent preparing and cleaning the circuit board. Unlike both liquid and standard tape masks, these custom shapes ensure that all critical areas of the PCB are covered, which helps reduce scrap and rework.