HAND SOLDERING AND SOLDER POTS
Solder Fume Extractors
With the move to lead free solders, this need has become even greater due to the higher content of flues used in solder wire. When using solder wick and flux during BGA clean up, the volumes increase exponentially.
When working with solder pots or small table top waves, many customers may create enclosures and utilize fume extraction to keep those fumes completely contained.
IP Systems can not only provide the fume extraction but we also can provide enclosures specifically designed with these applications in mind.
Fume Extraction Systems
Whether it be fumes generated by just one or two operators, a large group, robotic soldering or solder pots, IP Systems has a fume extraction unit that can handle your application and protect your employees
To request more information on solder fume extraction, please e-mail us at info@ipsystemsusa.com.
Why You Need a Solder Fume Extraction System
The process of hand soldering produces fumes that can be hazardous to the worker. These fumes are created due to the combination of the high heat of the soldering iron and the flux used. Soldering irons create heat which expands the air, allowing for fumes to fill the surrounding space. The fumes come from the combination of the metal being soldered and the flux used.
Fumes contain both gaseous and particulate matter that could have serious health hazards to humans. Not only do they produce foul odors, but the heavy metals and chemical compounds present in the fumes can cause respiratory problems, organ damage, skin damage, and potentially cancer.
OSHA has permissible exposure limits (PELs) for heavy metals, chemicals, volatile organic compounds, and other types of harmful matter to make sure that all workers are kept safe. Meeting these PELs is much easier when you have a solder fume extractor installed for your workspaces.
Fume extraction removes the fumes from the air immediately around the workspace. The fumes are sucked up into the fume extractor, taken through the ducting, and filtered through a combination filter media. This combination filter uses both a HEPA filter and an activated carbon base to deal with both particulate and gaseous matter. Then, the cleaned air is recirculated back into the shop. Click here to know to know more about why having a fume extraction system is important.
Call us for more information and pricing on solder fume extractors!
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FAQs about Solder Fume Extraction Systems
How do solder fume extractors work?
- Solder fume extractors intake fumes that are created in the process of soldering and filter the gaseous and particulate matter out to recirculate the air. These systems are essentially vacuum and filtering systems made specifically for hand soldering applications.
- These extractors come in several different forms, generally made for different types of soldering. Sizing is an important consideration, as soldering fume extraction systems that are too small will not be able to effectively capture all the fumes.
- Solder fume extractors capture fumes at the source, typically very close to the SMT line. As the worker solders, the fumes that get produced by the worker go into the solder fume extraction system. The fumes then travel through the ducting and through filter media, made of a combination of a HEPA filter and an activated carbon base. The filter media removes the dust and other particles from the fumes. This particulate matter is then collected into a storage drum where it is kept until it is time to safely dispose of them.
How do I choose the best solder fume extractor?
- Before purchasing a solder fume extractor, you need to consider several factors. The first is the filter: if the filter does not have a high efficiency rating, it won’t be useful as a solder fume extractor. Our solder fume extractors have an efficiency rating of 99.97% at 0.3 micron. You also want a filter with a large surface area. Our filters are made with mini-pleat construction, effectively increasing the surface area of the filter.
- Most solder fume extractors are smaller than other types of fume extractors, so we recommend using a system that is properly sized to a single-person soldering workstation. The F1020 series helps greatly with this.
- For solder fume extraction systems, we recommend the F1020 series and the F1800 series. Call us for more information on these solder fume extractors!
What type of fume extraction system is ideal for soldering applications?
- Although all types of fume extraction systems work more or less the same way, hand soldering requires the worker to be up close to the PCB. For this reason, they’re much closer to fumes than many other workers are. Not only that, but it’s important to keep the fumes created by hand soldering contained to the workspace.
- Solder fume extraction systems require fume collection right at the workspace so that the worker is exposed to as few harmful particles as possible. It’s also important as OSHA has permissible exposure limits and going above them can cause your workplace to become non-compliant.
- You also want a fume extraction system that can filter as much of the dangerous particles out of the air as possible. For this reason, we at IP Systems USA produce solder fume extraction systems that have both a HEPA filter and an activated carbon base.
What is the proper positioning of a solder fume extraction arm?
- The solder fume extraction arm should be positioned in a way so that it captures as much of the fumes as possible. Extraction arms only work within a defined area, so positioning is important.
- Position the extraction arm close enough to the soldering iron so that it’s able to visibly take in the fumes. However, place it far enough away so that it’s not a hindrance to operation.
- Although every application is different, we recommend choosing your capture source based on the work that your workers will be doing. The safest way is to use a tip extraction source, and it’s also the most economical solution as it doesn’t suck up large volumes of air to then be recirculated. However, it’s not suitable for heavy soldering, in which case we’d recommend using an extraction arm.
