Masters Abstracts (1993)

BRIGGS, DAVE
(August 1993)

Email: Not Available

Knowledge Based Profile Identification In Surface Mount PCB Assembly

Controlling the thermal profile of any Infrared (IR) radiation oven used in the assembly process of surface mount Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) is a complex problem. The understanding of the control problems, the various process factors and the relationship among them will help in the determination of the required IR oven settings for the surface mount assembly of a PCB. Prior to the determination of the IR oven's thermal settings, the temperature parameters of the IR oven's profile are required. The in-depth process knowledge required to produce this profile is not commonly available on the shop floor.

The Profile identification expert system(s) developed in this research will help a Process engineer determine the required thermal Profile for the adhesive and/or conformal coat curing of a surface mount PCB. It was developed using PROLOG. The results generated are displayed through the use of a combination of graphical and textual outputs. Developed in a modular format, this system is 'updateable' by the domain expert.