The maintenance methods for horizontal and vertical electroplating lines commonly used in printed circuit board (PCB) manufacturing are discussed here. This article examines the similarities and differences between these two types of electroplating equipment, focusing on the maintenance of their tanks, conveying mechanisms, circulating filter systems, electrical systems, and piping systems. It also covers equipment maintenance practices during extended shutdowns.
In PCB production, the quality of the plating layer has a direct impact on the subsequent etching process, making it crucial for the overall quality of the circuit board. Electroplating equipment constitutes a significant portion of a PCB manufacturer’s equipment portfolio. To ensure the smooth operation, stability, and longevity of electroplating equipment, proper maintenance is essential. This article provides a detailed overview of maintenance practices for electroplating equipment used in PCB manufacturing.
1. **Types of Equipment**
In PCB production, there are two main types of electroplating equipment: horizontal electroplating lines and vertical electroplating lines. The primary difference between these two types lies in the method of circuit board transportation, which leads to variations in the structure of the conveying equipment and, consequently, in maintenance practices.
2. **Daily Maintenance and Care**
2.1. **Maintenance of the Tank Body**
The main distinction between vertical and horizontal plating lines is their method of transporting circuit boards. Despite this difference, the maintenance and care methods for the tank body are fundamentally similar.
7d Clean the pickling tank once and replace the bath liquid. Check the spray device in the tank for any blockages and clear them promptly. For the conductive supports on the copper plating tank, tin plating tank, and the contact positions of the anode and live wire, wipe them with a rag and sandpaper during cleaning. During one inspection, replace the degraded titanium basket bag and tin strip basket, and add copper balls and tin strips. After adding copper balls and tin strips, electrolysis must be performed on both the copper and tin electroplating baths. Additionally, use high and low current methods for trial production over 7d to ensure stable performance before full production. Clean the copper ball and anode bag every 90d. Use activated carbon to filter and clean the bath every 120~150d, remove impurities from the bath, and clean the tin bath once.
2.2. Maintenance and upkeep of the vibration mechanism of the vertical electroplating line: To ensure uniform surface copper and effective hole copper deposition during vertical electroplating, the plate is vibrated and rocked by a vibration mechanism on the tank. Every 30d, check the reducer to ensure normal operation and proper tightness, and inspect the tightness of the vibration mounting motor bolts. Assess the wear of the vibration rubber and replace it if wear is significant. Every 180d, examine the power cord connections in the junction box. If any connector is loose, fasten it immediately. Replace power cords if the insulation layer is melted or aging to ensure proper insulation. All bearings on the vibrating mechanism should be inspected, and severely worn bearings should be replaced, followed by lubrication.
2.3. Maintenance and upkeep of vertical electroplating line cranes: Cranes and hangers transport circuit boards in the vertical electroplating line. Clean the crane and the hanger weekly (disassembly is not required) to keep them neat and tidy. Use a rag for wiping and sandpaper for polishing. Every 30d, check the hanger for damage and inspect and maintain the crane’s motor and reducer. Ensure that the entire transmission device operates normally. Every 180d, perform an in-depth cleaning and maintenance of the crane and the hanging equipment, removing the hanging equipment from the crane for cleaning.
2.4. Maintenance and upkeep of horizontal electroplating line conveying devices: The horizontal electroplating line uses rollers to continuously transport circuit boards into each tank. Maintenance for this device mirrors that of the vertical electroplating line, with some differences. Every 7d, clean the rollers to remove foreign matter and ensure a clean surface for the plate during conveyance. Check the coupling for any looseness. Every 180d, inspect the rollers for wear and replace any worn rollers to prevent jamming during plate conveyance. Inspect the transmission gear, shaft, and entire transmission system, and promptly repair any issues.
2.5. Maintenance and upkeep of the circulating filter system: Every 7d, check the filter cartridge for leaks. Clean or replace the filter core every 10~15d. Every 30d, replace the filter carbon core to ensure filter quality and flow rate, clean the filter pump, and clean the filter hood and screen of the air pump. Check the contact condition of the pump motor power cord connector every 30d. Tighten any loose connections immediately and replace aging wires to ensure good contact and safe insulation.
2.6. Maintenance and upkeep of other parts: Every 7d, check the output power of the power supply twice. Inspect the power supply, heat dissipation of electrical controls, and radiator for dust and clean to maintain proper heat dissipation. Every 30d, inspect electrical components for damage or corrosion and replace as needed. Check all connectors, repair poor contacts, and replace rusted or damaged ones. Inspect contactors and relays for bad or sticky contacts and replace them as necessary. Check the main parameters of capacitors, reactors, resistors, and other components. Replace any components that show abnormalities.
For the automatic feeding system, check and calibrate it every 7d. Clean scale and dirt from the electric heater every 7d to prevent excessive internal temperatures.
For each water and gas piping system, inspect it every 7d for any leaks or running issues and repair or replace any defective pipes promptly.
3. Maintenance before long-term shutdown: If the equipment is to be shut down for an extended period, perform maintenance to prevent corrosion and aging. Clean the ground, wipe away any water, and keep the ground, machine platform, tank, drive system, and hangers dry and clean. Wrap all motors in plastic for protection. Inject grease into all bearings to prevent rust. Clean all pipelines and syrups, including those in the filter barrel. Remove and clean the filter element, and clean all heaters in the tank to remove dirt and keep them dry.
Electroplating equipment used in printed circuit board production may vary based on production processes and manufacturers, leading to differences in equipment and maintenance methods. However, timely and correct maintenance is crucial regardless of the production schedule and output. Proper and timely maintenance ensures the equipment’s normal operation, stable performance, and consistent production quality and output.
In PCB production, the quality of the plating layer has a direct impact on the subsequent etching process, making it crucial for the overall quality of the circuit board. Electroplating equipment constitutes a significant portion of a PCB manufacturer’s equipment portfolio. To ensure the smooth operation, stability, and longevity of electroplating equipment, proper maintenance is essential. This article provides a detailed overview of maintenance practices for electroplating equipment used in PCB manufacturing.
1. **Types of Equipment**
In PCB production, there are two main types of electroplating equipment: horizontal electroplating lines and vertical electroplating lines. The primary difference between these two types lies in the method of circuit board transportation, which leads to variations in the structure of the conveying equipment and, consequently, in maintenance practices.
2. **Daily Maintenance and Care**
2.1. **Maintenance of the Tank Body**
The main distinction between vertical and horizontal plating lines is their method of transporting circuit boards. Despite this difference, the maintenance and care methods for the tank body are fundamentally similar.
7d Clean the pickling tank once and replace the bath liquid. Check the spray device in the tank for any blockages and clear them promptly. For the conductive supports on the copper plating tank, tin plating tank, and the contact positions of the anode and live wire, wipe them with a rag and sandpaper during cleaning. During one inspection, replace the degraded titanium basket bag and tin strip basket, and add copper balls and tin strips. After adding copper balls and tin strips, electrolysis must be performed on both the copper and tin electroplating baths. Additionally, use high and low current methods for trial production over 7d to ensure stable performance before full production. Clean the copper ball and anode bag every 90d. Use activated carbon to filter and clean the bath every 120~150d, remove impurities from the bath, and clean the tin bath once.
2.2. Maintenance and upkeep of the vibration mechanism of the vertical electroplating line: To ensure uniform surface copper and effective hole copper deposition during vertical electroplating, the plate is vibrated and rocked by a vibration mechanism on the tank. Every 30d, check the reducer to ensure normal operation and proper tightness, and inspect the tightness of the vibration mounting motor bolts. Assess the wear of the vibration rubber and replace it if wear is significant. Every 180d, examine the power cord connections in the junction box. If any connector is loose, fasten it immediately. Replace power cords if the insulation layer is melted or aging to ensure proper insulation. All bearings on the vibrating mechanism should be inspected, and severely worn bearings should be replaced, followed by lubrication.
2.3. Maintenance and upkeep of vertical electroplating line cranes: Cranes and hangers transport circuit boards in the vertical electroplating line. Clean the crane and the hanger weekly (disassembly is not required) to keep them neat and tidy. Use a rag for wiping and sandpaper for polishing. Every 30d, check the hanger for damage and inspect and maintain the crane’s motor and reducer. Ensure that the entire transmission device operates normally. Every 180d, perform an in-depth cleaning and maintenance of the crane and the hanging equipment, removing the hanging equipment from the crane for cleaning.
2.4. Maintenance and upkeep of horizontal electroplating line conveying devices: The horizontal electroplating line uses rollers to continuously transport circuit boards into each tank. Maintenance for this device mirrors that of the vertical electroplating line, with some differences. Every 7d, clean the rollers to remove foreign matter and ensure a clean surface for the plate during conveyance. Check the coupling for any looseness. Every 180d, inspect the rollers for wear and replace any worn rollers to prevent jamming during plate conveyance. Inspect the transmission gear, shaft, and entire transmission system, and promptly repair any issues.
2.5. Maintenance and upkeep of the circulating filter system: Every 7d, check the filter cartridge for leaks. Clean or replace the filter core every 10~15d. Every 30d, replace the filter carbon core to ensure filter quality and flow rate, clean the filter pump, and clean the filter hood and screen of the air pump. Check the contact condition of the pump motor power cord connector every 30d. Tighten any loose connections immediately and replace aging wires to ensure good contact and safe insulation.
2.6. Maintenance and upkeep of other parts: Every 7d, check the output power of the power supply twice. Inspect the power supply, heat dissipation of electrical controls, and radiator for dust and clean to maintain proper heat dissipation. Every 30d, inspect electrical components for damage or corrosion and replace as needed. Check all connectors, repair poor contacts, and replace rusted or damaged ones. Inspect contactors and relays for bad or sticky contacts and replace them as necessary. Check the main parameters of capacitors, reactors, resistors, and other components. Replace any components that show abnormalities.
For the automatic feeding system, check and calibrate it every 7d. Clean scale and dirt from the electric heater every 7d to prevent excessive internal temperatures.
For each water and gas piping system, inspect it every 7d for any leaks or running issues and repair or replace any defective pipes promptly.
3. Maintenance before long-term shutdown: If the equipment is to be shut down for an extended period, perform maintenance to prevent corrosion and aging. Clean the ground, wipe away any water, and keep the ground, machine platform, tank, drive system, and hangers dry and clean. Wrap all motors in plastic for protection. Inject grease into all bearings to prevent rust. Clean all pipelines and syrups, including those in the filter barrel. Remove and clean the filter element, and clean all heaters in the tank to remove dirt and keep them dry.
Electroplating equipment used in printed circuit board production may vary based on production processes and manufacturers, leading to differences in equipment and maintenance methods. However, timely and correct maintenance is crucial regardless of the production schedule and output. Proper and timely maintenance ensures the equipment’s normal operation, stable performance, and consistent production quality and output.
