Ersa has now been successfully active in the repair of electronic assemblies for more than 20 years. Since the introduction of the first units in 1997, several thousand rework systems and stations have been delivered and installed worldwide. With the presentation of the most recent family member at productronica 2019, Ersa is underlining its strong position.
Cover story | published in: productronic 11/2019
Author: Jörg Nolte
Ersa has now been successfully active in the repair of electronic assemblies for more than 20 years. Since the introduction of the first units in 1997, several thousand rework systems and stations have been delivered and installed worldwide. With the presentation of the most recent family member at productronica 2019, Ersa is underlining its strong position which is based on customer focus and consistent further development of the technology for the benefit of users. Today, Ersa Rework Systems are used in electronics production, product development, testing and analysis. Wherever they are used, they preserve the added value for customers.
More developments, more systems
New rework time calculation: automatic – flexible – reproducible
LED light dome of the HR 600 XL with large metallic BGA ready for fully automatic placementContinuous further development of the technology is reflected in even more efficient heating systems and in the preparation of the connection surfaces. The component connections – for example in the case of BGA, QFP – are automatically immersed in flux or solder paste before soldering. Alternatively, components such as LGA or MLF can also be printed with paste. This results in defined soldered joints which are equal to production quality. In addition to desoldering and soldering processes, the precise placement of multiple-pole components is a fundamental process step. Only minor deviations from the ideal position are permissible. Ersa systems feature automatic placement with image processing or optical systems with excellent image quality for manual alignment. In both cases, the operating software provides practical support for the user while the component is being aligned.
HRSoft 2: Unified platform for new rework systems
The software package for rework systems has also been further developed and technologically updated. The current HRSoft 2 provides a unified platform for all new rework systems. Easy operation and clear user guidance are just as much a focus as the small amount of familiarization need to use different Ersa units. New features, like a “Minimap” and the “Click in the image”, shorten the time needed to find the working position in very large assemblies. Scaled crosshairs help to grip components exactly in the middle during the desoldering process. In HRSoft 2, all process steps and system states are transparent for the user at all times and are extensively documented. Archiving of the process data makes it possible at any time to verify which parameters have been used to process an assembly. Of course, HRSoft 2 also provides the basis for connecting the units to Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES).
HRSoft 2 screenshot – HR 600 XL process visualization with display of the 25 IR matrix radiators for segmented, perfectly coordinated heat output
Screenshot display of a 01005 component in HRSoft 2 after automatic alignmentMany manufacturers have now seen for themselves that reworking and repair are part of the manufacturing process. As a result, all process data associated with these steps are just as important as line production data. Consequently, it is logical to connect rework systems to the existing MES infrastructure. HRSoft 2 can provide the process parameters required by the customer and establish the link to the relevant order.
Overview: Ersa Hybrid Rework family
The best-selling Ersa IR 550 and the hybrid rework stations HR 100 and HR 200 have already been on the market for many years and have a large fan base. The first automated rework system HR 600/2 and the HR 550 are also already permanent fixtures in the industry. At productonica 2019, Ersa is presenting three brand-new systems for component repair, thus expanding the successful Rework product line.
- (top) Overview of the Ersa Rework family – the sizes S to XL refer to the board size that can be processed.
- With the semi-automatic systems, component alignment is carried out by the operator using a vision box, in the case of fully automatic systems, image processing calculates the set-down position and an axis system places the component.
The most recent family members are again characterized by technologically interesting aspects in the field of heating and placement technology and now offer customers an even wider choice.
- With its large IR matrix bottom heating, the HR 600 XL features the most innovative heating technology available today. All heating zones of the matrix can be adjusted individually and thus the assembly can be preheated perfectly. The system, equipped with an extra-large heating head, enables the automatic repair of very large circuit boards (up to 625 x 625 mm) and component sizes up to approx. 120 x 120 mm. Applications in the field of telecommunications (5G) are the focus here.
- If you are looking for a system with the highest demands on precision, the HR 600/3P automatically repairs fine pitch components such as µBGA and the smallest chip components (01005). The high-precision axis system and 5-MPix cameras offer the most precise desoldering and placement technology in rework available today.
Advantages of Ersa Rework:
- Successful repair from the first assembly onwards
- No component-specific nozzles required
- Homogeneous and material-friendly heating technology
- Stable automatic placement and soldering processes
- Easy to operate due to user guidance and uniform software
The semi-automatic HR 550 XL is a real powerhouse with eight bottom radiator heating zones and motorized X/Y fine adjustment as well as motorized component rotation. The system is suitable for industrial and power electronics as well as large-format boards up to 530 x 530 mm and is particularly attractive for service providers
The new HR 500 offers full Ersa Hybrid Rework technology for budget oriented users. The HR 550’s little brother allows flexible repair of standard assemblies up to 380 x 300 mm and 50 x 50 mm component size
The Ersa HR 600/3P Hybrid Rework System performs automated assembly repair with the highest accuracy. It is particularly suitable for very fine components (pitch 0,3 mm and finer) as well as chip components of the designs 0402, 0201 and 01005
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