In the wake of the popular SMT reflow oven introduced in late 2008, Elektor now presents a new SMT oven, developed in cooperation with EuroCircuits, that is even more precise, has more room for PCBs, and can even be operated from a PC. In short, it is a truly professional machine that deserves a place in every electronics lab or shop where SMD boards are assembled on a regular basis.

 

The eC-reflow-mate is ideal for assembling prototypes and small production batches of PCBs with SMD components. This SMT oven has a very large heating compartment, which provides plenty of space for several PCBs. Two built-in sensors and IR lamps with non-linear profiles, specially developed for this machine, help keep the temperature inside the entire oven compartment very uniform and constant. An additional sensor can be connected separately to measure the surface temperature of a component or the PCB.

 

The oven is supplied as standard with five preconfigured heating profiles, which can easily be adapted to your own wishes. The accompanying PC software allows you to monitor the temperature curves of all sensors precisely during the soldering process, and it enables you to modify existing temperature/time profiles or create new ones. This can be done very easily by using the mouse to move corner points on the screen in order to adjust times and temperatures. A glass front panel lets you keep an eye on what’s happening inside the oven at all times.

 

eC-reflow-mate specifications

Supply voltage: 230 V / 50 Hz only

Power: 3500 W

Weight: approx. 29 kg

Dimensions:      620 x 245 x  520 mm  (W ´ H ´ D)

Heating method: Combined IR radiation and hot air

Operation:

 - Directly using menu buttons and LCD on oven

 - Remotely using PC software and USB connection

Temperature range: 25 to 300 °C

Maximum PCB size: 400 x 285 mm

Temperature sensors: 2 internal and 1 external (included)

Special features:

 - Optimal temperature distribution thanks to special IR lamps

  - Drawer opens automatically at end of soldering process

  - Glass front for easy viewing

 

The eC-reflow-pilot software for the eC-reflow-mate, which is compatible with Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7, enables full remote control of the oven over a USB link. The screen provides a simultaneous display of the selected (configured) temperature/time profile and the actual temperature/time profile inside the oven. The individual temperatures of all sensors in the oven (2 or 3) are displayed constantly.

 

Temperature/time profiles can be adjusted by using the mouse to drag one or more corner points of the curve in the horizontal or vertical direction to change the time or temperature, respectively. The screen also has buttons for saving new or modified temperature/time profiles or opening existing profiles. The oven can even be switched on or off from the PC.

 

Notice. E-weekly readers the USA or other countries with 110 VAC electricity networks should note that the oven requires 230 VAC, 50 Hz to operate at a power consumption of up to 3,500 watts.