FISCHER SOLUTIONS FOR THE ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY
Determining layer thickness and the RoHS standards
Fischer and the Electronics Market
Throughout the electronic market, which includes manufacturers of printed circuit boards, household appliances and electronic devices, the demand for reasonable quality control to prevent corrosion and increase conductivity in PCB tracks is critical, so coating analyses must be carried out quickly and accurately.
In addition to quality control to avoid product failures, adherence to the RoHS directive is another topic of paramount importance to the electro-electronics market. This was adopted in February 2003 by the European Union and requires control of heavy metals in manufacturing processes. Elements such as cadmium, mercury, chromium, lead and bromine must be monitored for their maximum concentration.
Electrical connector manufacturers also benefit from layer thickness testing since connector efficiency is directly related to the material properties – so gold, silver and copper and other precious/noble metals can be analysed and process controlled by such measurement.
To aid Quality Control in all these challenges, Fischer offers several solutions.
Layer Gauge Solution
FMP series
The FMP Series, with their interchangeable probes, make it possible to take coating measurements on ferrous and non-ferrous bases using more than 70 types of high-precision probes that are ideal for
quality control in the electro-electronics market.
Applications and Market
- A gauge for measuring thickness on metal bases for household appliances such as refrigerators, air conditioning and microwaves
- A gauge for measuring zinc thickness on ferrous bases for corrosion protection on sheeting, bolts, nuts, etc.
- For measuring the thickness of Solder Mask on PCBs to prevent corrosion
- Together with the FTA3.3-5.6 HF probe, the FMP series is used for measuring the thickness of insulator coatings such as epoxy, silicone, resins and lacquers that protect printed circuits; these coatings are known as “Conformal Coatings”
Phascope® PMP Series
The PHASCOPE® PMP10 is ideal for the quality control of printed circuits boards, because this equipment uses the eddy current phase-sensitive method for measuring, which offers excellent advantages for measuring small points on electronic boards.
Applications and Market
- Complex surfaces and geometries
- Measurement of electrical coatings on printed circuit boards
- By combining this device with the ESL080B / ESL08V Probes you can measure the thickness of the copper through the holes on electronic boards with diameters from 0.8mm to 2mm as it is equipped with a small needle that reaches the most difficult points
X-Ray Fluorescence
FISCHERSCOPE® XDAL® 237 SDD
The XDAL® 237 SDD is ideal for the analysis of chemical compositions of complex alloys or elements at low concentrations and thin coatings, e.g., gold and palladium ≤ 0.1μm. Thicknesses such as these are very common on coatings that are used in electro-electronic circuit boards and connectors.
Applications and Market
- Measurement of coatings on electronic components in the semiconductor industry
The analysis of multiple coatings, such as of Au / Ni / Cu, Sn / Cu, Ag / Cu - The analysis of heavy metals for the RoHS Directive
- Manufacturers of printed circuit boards
- Manufacturers of electro-electronics
Certified Standards
For reliable measurements it is necessary to use calibration standards that meet the
requirements of the quality management system.
FISCHER offers a wide range of certified standards in accordance with the
procedure accredited by DAkkS (ISO 17025).
The portfolio includes more than 300 calibration standards and covers a large number
of applications for different industries.
