Re: OT: RoHS and Lead?
- From: Al Clark <dsp@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 13 Jan 2006 01:37:17 GMT
"Martin" <0_0_0_0_@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in
news:XiBxf.287$or4.4@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx:
> Excuse the OT post, but I figured people in this group may have an
> answer for this odd question:
>
> In transitioning to RoHS, can you mix Lead-free parts into a standard
> PbSn process? The idea is to start buying RoHS parts while depleting
> the existing stock of PbSn components.
>
> Good? Bad? Ugly?
>
> Thanks,
>
You are going to have no real problems soldering leadfree parts with tin-
lead solder. The big exception to this are BGAs. The ball of a BGA is
solder. If it is leadfree, it will need to be soldered at a higher
temperature. You CM will need to know this.
Many parts have been supplied leadfree for several years. This includes
many of the passives that you probably are already using. They might not
have been labeled as such.
We have started using lead free pcbs as well. In our case we have opted for
ENIG (electroless nickel/immersion gold). They are easy to solder with PbSn
No one really knows the long term effects of moving to RoHS. I am hoping
that the EU decides that July is too soon since industry is not really
ready. Nevertheless, I think it is prudent to plan for it to happen. For
example, try buying Altera PLDs. They seem to be readily available in lead
but not available in the lead free versions (of course, Altera claims they
have both). Part of this situation is caused because everyone
(distributors, manufacturers, etc) wants to get rid of their non RoHs
inventory. It's hardest on those of us on the end of the chain, since we
have the least amount of time to transition.
I think one of the biggest problems will be for products that have
relatively long lives and small volume. I have already seen parts that were
discontinued just because the mfr didn't want to change to a lead free
process. How many designs will have to be completely redone, just to deal
with a part that has been obsoleted prematurely. Even if you could buy
enough existing material, you still couldn't ship the existing design
because there it will never be a RoHS compliant part.
I would bet that this whole RoHS (just the lead part) is going to cost many
billions of dollars, with very little improvement overall in the
environment. The amount of lead in a typical pcb is very small compared to
car batteries, old CRTs, etc.
Sorry for the rant, I'm sure most of you have heard it before (probably
coming out of your own mouth).
--
Al Clark
Danville Signal Processing, Inc.
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