Lead-Free Test and Inspection

Industry Challenges

Ready or not, the world of printed circuit board (PCB) manufacturing is facing major upheaval with a mandated shift to lead-free processes. Effective July 1, 2006, printed circuit board assemblies (PCBAs) sold in Europe and China are required by law to be 100% lead-free.

The size of those two markets and the global nature of manufacturing means that virtually all PCBA manufacturers need to be converted to lead-free processes within two years. The shift will not be clean: some products are exempted from the 2006 deadline; some products will have a mixture of lead and lead-free for years; some components will soon be available only in lead-free.

The shift to lead-free brings challenges to PCBA manufacturing, including potentially higher defect levels, shifting defect spectra, and fewer allowed repair attempts due to higher temperatures. These and other problems are addressed with Agilent's PCB Test and Inspection Portfolio for Lead-Free Manufacturing.

Summary

Agilent's lead-free-ready solutions minimize risk when moving to lead-free

No one can make the transition worry-free, but with Agilent you can reduce risk in PCBA test and inspection with three key advantages:

• End-to-end test coverage
  Only Agilent has a complete test portfolio that includes solder paste inspection, automated optical inspection (AOI), automated X-ray test, in-circuit test (ICT), and functional test.
• Lead-free-ready today
  Agilent has long supported industry leaders who are developing new lead-free alloys and flux systems, manufacturing systems, and software and methodologies. Agilent test and inspection solutions have had years of validation with actual customers, and are already being used in lead-free processes with manufacturers worldwide.
• Expertise
  Agilent engineers understand lead-free manufacturing and test strategy, and know how to make them complement each other. Agilent can provide information, knowledge and guidance for successful lead-free test strategy implementation, and make sure you build a complete lead-free process that meets your needs.

To learn more, request additional product information.

Agilent partners can help you achieve the best possible results from your test solution. View a list of Channel Partners and Solution Providers for Electronic Manufacturing.