System Requirements

How many lines can be feeding product into the TOWER™?
Up to eight separate board types can be fed into a single TOWER™

Can the TOWER™ process boards in nitrogen?
The first generation TOWER™ uses air processing chambers.

Do you have to have all the chambers in place to run the TOWER™?
No. Unnecessary chambers can be shut down while others are operational. This feature allows line changeover without downtime.

How will the TOWER™ improve throughput for a given floor space?
Each TOWER™ can process the same number of boards as a 10 foot heated length in-line oven, running at 40 inches/minute conveyor speed, for an 18-inch long board, at 90% load factor (2-inch space between boards).

Since high mass boards can not be soldered 40 inches/minute for 10 feet of heated length, a much longer in-line oven is needed to match TOWER™ production rates. In addition, the TOWER™ is only 7 feet long, which means by installing 3 TOWER™ machines in a line, PCB assemblers get nearly 3 times more boards within the same factory foot print.

Smaller boards can be fixtured for even greater throughput, since the capacity of each chamber is 14"x18".

How is the underboard support system designed?
Because the board is stationary, it can be supported in any number of locations during reflow. Supporting the board by a custom designed series of pin points corresponding to non-populated board areas is possible. The standard support system provides 3-rail support and is activated after the board is inserted.

Can the elevator be sped up or does it run at a constant speed?
The speed of the elevator is set to match the throughput needs of the process. For example, running a few boards over all eight chambers or operating less than all eight chambers means the elevator is often stationary. The elevator speed cannot be adjusted.

By using the "elevator" system to load the PCBs into each chamber, how does elevator reliability compare to traditional chain conveyors?
The TOWER™ board transport elevator uses the same technique as FIFO/LIFO board storage systems. This elevator technology is proven over many years of PCB assembly use. Projected elevator reliability is better than most non-Research International reflow oven conveyors, since the elevator:

• contains fewer moving parts than conveyors
• is not exposed to reflow temperatures
• is not in constant motion

Will the TOWER™ be CE approved?
Yes, as of February 2001.