The circuit boards pass through the system continuously, increasing throughput by 20 to 40% in most applications. With comparable transport and soldering times, even higher increases are possible.
Due to the minimal movement of the pot and flux in the conveyor direction, all Synchro systems reduce the footprint of the system, with the Synchro 5 reducing the footprint by up to 60% compared to conventional multi-station systems.
Process single- and double-sided through-hole and mixed technology applications. Choose the Synchro 3 or 5 for PCBs up to 2500 mm in length and 460 mm in width, or the Synchro 5 XL for PCBs up to 2500 mm in length and 680 mm in width.
Depending on the system, the device supports up to three or five solder pots, each of which can accommodate different nozzle sizes—without the need to change nozzles.
Non-stop soldering: The innovative continuous soldering process significantly increases throughput by soldering the PCBs while they are moving on the conveyor belt, eliminating the need to stop at individual stations for registration mark alignment, flux application, preheating, deformation measurement, and soldering. Refilling the solder pot, tinning and identifying the nozzles, and correcting the wave height are carefully integrated to neutralize the impact on cycle time as much as possible. The flexible and adaptable SELECT Synchro system offers fast and efficient processing without compromising quality, making it an attractive option for manufacturers working with a variety of PCB sizes.
Flexible board length: The continuous motion process is not subject to any restrictions in terms of board length, thus offering greater production flexibility. Although the system is designed for applications up to 2.5 meters for optimal performance, it can also process longer boards without any problems, with the program and workload optimized for the most efficient throughput possible. It can work with a wide range of PCB sizes.
Space-saving footprint: The compact design of the SELECT Synchro reduces space requirements by up to 60% compared to conventional selective soldering systems, as there are no stop and positioning mechanisms. With its streamlined and space-saving design, the SELECT Synchro maximizes valuable production space, simplifies integration into various production environments, and optimizes system layout. In most cases, the SELECT Synchro increases throughput compared to conventional selective soldering systems with the same or fewer solder pots.
Lower operating costs: The combination of higher throughput, space-saving design, and flexibility with different PCB sizes results in lower operating costs. Manufacturers can achieve greater efficiency without having to use large and complex equipment, which leads to cost savings in both production and maintenance.
The SELECT Synchro utilizes a unique in-motion feature that enables real-time detection of fiducial marks and automatic position adjustment as PCBs pass through the system.
The In-Motion function offers several key advantages:
The SELECT Synchro is equipped with the SolderWorks Editor offline software to customize the fiducial recognition program for each process.
Fiducials are detected and offsets measured by using a known “golden sample” image for each program as a reference. The system can refer to unique features of the PCB layout instead of relying solely on standardized fiducial marks. This allows pallets to be processed even if a fiducial mark is obscured—a common scenario in selective soldering.
Overcome the limitations of traditional, purely parallel soldering systems, where fixed solder pots and nozzles limit flexibility. With Synchro, each solder pot is mounted on its own axis, allowing each nozzle to rotate and align independently in the X and Y directions. This enables precise compensation for each flux and solder position, increases efficiency, and ensures consistently high-quality solder joints.
When a circuit board or pallet enters the system, it is picked up by specially designed transport clamps and moved along. Before fluxing begins, the SELECT Synchro System recognizes the fiducial mark. If there is a positional deviation, the system automatically compensates for it in the XY axis or in the rotation. This adjustment takes place while the circuit board or pallet continues to move along the conveyor belt.
The fiducial system can process individual PCBs, panels, or multiple PCBs in a pallet—it measures and compensates as needed to ensure precise soldering processes at all times.
The SELECT Synchro system detects incorrectly inserted PCBs. If a PCB is identified as incorrectly inserted, the system assigns it the status “X-Out.” This means that the PCB passes through the machine without being fluxed or soldered.
This protective function prevents incorrectly inserted products from being processed further, thereby helping to save time, costs, and material waste.
Warpage often occurs in various manufacturing processes. For example, printed circuit boards can warp during the reflow soldering process because uneven thermal cycles cause the inner copper layers of the PCB to deform while surface-mounted components (SMDs) are soldered in the reflow oven.
Selective soldering can also cause PCB warping, which affects the quality and functionality of the final product. Several factors contribute to PCB warping when heat is applied, including:
The SELECT Synchro uses unique in-motion technology to measure warping of the PCB in both the vertical and horizontal directions. Based on these measurements, Z-axis corrections are made in real time while the PCB continuously runs through the system. Warping is measured selectively: measurement points are defined in the SolderWorks Editor offline software and customized for each individual process.
When a printed circuit board or pallet enters the system, it is picked up by specially designed transport clamps and transported further. The laser measurements are performed immediately after preheating and before soldering the first components.
If a warp is detected, the system automatically corrects the Z-axis to ensure that the soldering nozzles always maintain the correct distance from the printed circuit board. This adjustment is made while the printed circuit board continues to move on the conveyor belt.
Depending on the SELECT Synchro model, Z-axis compensation is applied to three or five solder nozzles (Synchro 3 or Synchro 5). The system can process individual PCBs, panels, or multiple PCBs in a pallet, with continuous measurement and compensation to ensure precise soldering processes despite warping.
By integrating advanced warpage measurement and compensation functions, SELECT Synchro offers an extremely efficient and reliable selective soldering process—even when PCBs are warped. This results in several significant advantages:
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