What Is Hot Air Solder Leveling?

Hot air solder leveling is a popular type of finish for printed circuit boards (PCBs).

In practice is a solder mask ( think of the green material that covers a PCB) composed of 

  • 63% tin
  • 37% lead 

The way to apply this solder mask (hot air solder leveling) on a PCB is by dipping the PCB into a pot of molten tin/lead alloy.

Then a hot air leveling removes the excess of alloy.

Table of Contents

ADVANTAGES OF HOT AIR SOLDER LEVELING

  • Low cost
  • Widely available
  • Provides reliable solder joints
  • Excellent shelf life
  • Easy to re-work

DISADVANTAGES OF HOT AIR SOLDER LEVELING

  • Uneven surface
  • Not suitable for fine pitch components 
  • Not suitable plated through-hole 
  • Poor wetting

CONTINUE READING HOT AIR SOLDER LEVELING

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