Blog Content - September 2011

Well first of all no company is going to say they do a poor quality repair. So what does a ‘quality’ repair mean?

We hear many companies talk about repairs to ISO9001 but that is a quality management system not a judge of repair and rework quality. All our electronics and servo engineers are trained and certified to IPC7711/21 repair and rework quality standards. This ensures all our repair and rework is carried out to a recognised quality standard. Why risk sending repairs to companies who do not follow a repair standard? Your PCB’s are expensive and critical to your operation and productivity, yet they can so easily become damaged beyond a repair by an inadequately trained repair engineer. Take a look at the example below -

We received an inverter drive from a customer who was experiencing a repeat intermittent failure on an exhaust fan. The inverter had been to a competitor on numerous occasions only to fail in service. We were able to find the cause of the intermittent operation. An 8 pin SMD device had been replaced which had not been soldered properly causing the drive to fail.

Soldering techniques and equipment for through-hole and SMD devices differ. The success or failure of a repair can depend on the competence of the repair engineer. A repair company needs to have the right equipment and understanding of different techniques. After all, you wouldn’t use the same soldering iron to solder this component as you would to remove a power device from a heavy solder plane. (ok, it’s evident some companies do!)

In further posts we will discuss the diagnosis of faults on electronic equipment and PCB’s but this post will be kept to rework and repair.

Whenever we have a PCB or any electronic item for repair, we make sure that as part of the repair process we carry out a full overhaul/service. It gives us piece of mind that the repair will last, in most cases longer than an OEM repair and in some cases longer than a new unit. (our philosophy is that repairs are to be as-good-as-if-not-better-than-new) We do this by identifying components that are aged, becoming weak and are nearing the end of their operational life, then replacing them with equivalent or better components.

When we carry out a repair we will also carry out the following steps to extend the life of the electronic equipment. (very much like an oil and filter change, tyre pressure check and water level check when servicing a car)

Replace all electrolytic capacitors with low ESR 105 Degree C types (these become weak over time)

Replace all opto-isolators (performance can be degraded with age)

Replace all relays (performance can be degraded with age)

Replace all potentiometers (dirty wipers can cause intermittent operation)

Replace any heat damaged or physically damaged components (regardless of their electrical condition)

Service all connectors and pins (these can become loose or tarnished)

Reflow solder joints (these can become dry and resistive)

Replace identified hard fault components (we will discuss this in a later post)

Use the right technique, equipment and process to carry out the above in accordance with IPC7711/21

To help us maintain our rework quality levels we have invested in the latest ERSA soldering stations, LCD microscope inspection and stereo vision inspection devices.

Each and every repair we complete is to be of the highest quality standard, we believe you need to know repair and rework standards to achieve this.

Does your current electronic repair company work to known repair and rework standards?

If not, come and talk to us and enjoy longer lasting, more reliable repairs.

Call 01782 411021 to find out more.

The latest soldering rework stations

LCD 450x zoom inspection microscope

What makes a quality electronic repair ?