Reflow Ovens for PCB Assembly: Types and Manufacturers

After a prototype PCB is made, solder paste is applied, and components are picked and placed, the next crucial step is to actually mount those components securely onto the PCB pads. This is where the reflow oven comes in.

The boards, after the steps mentioned above, are placed inside the reflow oven. The oven heats up, melting the solder paste. This molten solder allows the pins of the electronic components to adhere to the pads. As the paste cools down, it solidifies, creating a strong, reliable connection and effectively mounting the components onto the PCB.

Types of Reflow Ovens

There are primarily two types of reflow ovens:

• Manual Reflow Oven: In a manual oven, the user is responsible for setting the temperature and duration of the reflow process. The board is manually placed inside the oven, and once the timer expires, it’s manually removed.

• Automatic Reflow Oven: In an automatic oven, the environmental settings and board placement are still typically manual. However, once the reflow cycle is complete, the oven system automatically ejects the board. This can save time and reduce the risk of overheating the board.

Reflow Oven Manufacturers

Here are some well-known manufacturers of reflow ovens: