Just out of curiosity, is anyone using an ultrasonic cleaner to clean =

assembled PCBs?

Specifically, I'm after something that can remove rosin-based fluxes, and =

general muck, without damaging the components on the PCB. We're talking mix=
ed =

through-hole and SMD -- a few TQFPs, but no BGAs. The boards are typically =

around Eurocard size (160x100mm) or smaller.

At the moment, my cleaning "procedure" (if you can call it that) involves =

about 1/8th of a can of >90% isopropyl (Servisol IPA170), a stiff toothbrus=
h =

and a large amount of scrubbing, followed by a water rinse, then another IP=
A =

rinse to get rid of the water. Total time about 15 minutes for a densely =

populated Eurocard...

Maplin are advertising this thing: =

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=3D225671
at =A325, and they claim it'll do PCBs, among other things. What I'm worrie=
d =

about is if it'll damage the board or components, or (like a fair bit of =

Maplin overpriced import junk) just plain not work at all...

Has anyone used one of these, or something similar, to clean PCBs? Did it =

break anything?

I have heard they're good for regenerating old solder paste -- put some wat=
er =

in the tank, throw the paste (syringe, needle and all) into the tank and hi=
t =

"start". Sounds like this might be useful, especially seeing as the shelf l=
ife =

on the stuff isn't exactly stellar (the last batch I got had an expiry date=
 of =

the 27th of November -- the order arrived on the 12th). I'd be interested t=
o =

hear if that trick actually works...

Thanks,
-- =

Phil.
piclist@philpem.me.uk
http://www.philpem.me.uk/

-- =

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