Argus International spray technology has been proven superior to other methods of LPISM application. Our primary goal was to produce a spray system and a tack dry oven which could be linked through compatible conveyor systems to form a time and labor-efficient unit and to eliminate the handling of wet boards. A single, traversing spray head also increases efficiency by reducing setup time, and decreasing both machine cost and maintenance. HVLP-Heated Gun Technology allows use of high-solids LPISM for increased efficiency and minimized environmental impact.

Argus drying technology provides a major breakthrough in reduction of tack dry time. Typical convection systems require 35 to 45 minutes to tack dry LPISM coatings; the 9724 3 Zone Tackdry Oven reduces this to 3 or 4 minutes and 9724 5 Zone Final Cure Oven reduces final cure time to 6 or 7 minutes.

The Argus International 9000 Product Line, shown above, consists of a Double Sided LPISM Spray Application System and a 3 Zone Tackdry Oven.

The following table summarizes each:

The following contains detailed information about the above equipment including performance and facilities requirements, as well as answers to common questions regarding both the 9524 Spray Unit and the 9724 3 Zone Tack-Dry Oven and 9725 5 Zone Final Cure Oven.

If you have any questions, or would like to observe sample PCBs being processed, please contact an Argus Technical Adviser.

Thank you for considering Argus International in your production plans; our technical resources are at your disposal to help you make the proper choice.

When materials are not able to support themselves from its edges, while enduring an air pressurized force of up to 60 PSI [4.1 bar] and high temperature settings of up to 250º C, the material will sag causing it to fall out of the conveyor of the Spray System, and the material will make contact with the conveyor Flites of the Tackdry/Final Cure Oven creating undesired marks in the LPISM.

Flexible Materials range in thickness under 10 mils. A carrier has been developed to support materials unable to support themselves as mentioned in the Background equipment conditions. The carriers are a four piece assembly consisting of a 16 gauge [1.5mm] lower frame with registration pins, an 18 gauge [1.2mm] upper frame and two retaining clips which hold the two frames and the flexible material all together, and the complete carrier is made of 304 grade stainless steel. The stainless steel construction makes the carriers sturdy and easy to clean because of its chemical resistance to corrosion. These carriers can come in many sizes. The maximum overall width of the flexible material cannot exceed more than 23” [584mm], but the length of the material has no limits.

The material being used must have a minimum of a 1” [25.4mm] border around its useable area. This way the carriers have places to where they can hold this material without the material slipping out or tearing out of the carriers. The frames will be 1.25” [31.75mm] wider and longer than the overall width and length of flexible material you are processing. Four to six or more, depending on length, .125” [3.175mm] diameter holes will need to be punched into the flexible material matching the registration pins of the Lower Frame.

Thin Core Materials range in thickness between 10 - 21 mils. A carrier has been developed to support materials unable to support themselves as mentioned in the Background equipment conditions. The carriers are a four piece assembly consisting of a 16 gauge [1.5mm] lower frame with registration pins, an 18 gauge [1.2mm] upper frame and two retaining clips which hold the two frames together, and the complete carrier is made of 304 grade stainless steel. The stainless steel construction makes the carriers sturdy and easy to clean because of its chemical resistance to corrosion. These carriers can come in many sizes. The maximum overall width of the Flexible material cannot exceed more than 22” [558.8mm], but the length of the material has no limits.

The material being used must have a minimum of a ½” [12.7mm] border around its useable area. This way the carriers have places to where they can hold this material without the material slipping out or tearing out of the carriers. The frames will be 2.25” [57.15mm] wider and longer than the overall width of material you are using. Four to six or more, depending on length, .125” [3.175mm] diameter holes will need to be punched into the flexible material matching the registration pins of the Lower Frame.

The 9524S (Single-sided) or 9524D (Double-sided) HVLP Spray Units utilize advanced spray technology to apply uniform LPISM coatings to Printed Circuit Boards. This is accomplished by sweeping the heated gun across the PCB at very high speeds as the PCB passes through the spray chamber on a continuously moving edge-contact conveyor. This provides an efficient, reliable system which minimizes over-spray and produces a continuous, conveyorized throughput of LPISM-coated boards.

The 9524S deploys one spray gun for spraying a single side of the panels at a time, while the 9524D deploys two spray guns for the single-pass coating of both sides of the panels.

Key Benefits:

The 9724 IR Tackdry Oven is designed to quickly and efficiently tack-dry LPISM-coated Printed Circuit Boards. The unit consists of three individually controlled long-wave infrared heater zones, a forced-air circulation system, and a conveyor to move the boards through the oven. This highly innovative technology, developed by Argus International, provides a breakthrough in significantly reducing the tack-dry time of LPISM-coated PCBs. While convection-only ovens rely on air to transfer heat, the 9724 directly heats the board with IR radiation and provides forced air circulation. This technique lowers the normal tack-dry time from 35-45 minutes to 3-4 minutes, which represents about a 1200% improvement in drying efficiency!

Key Benefits:

The Argus 9224 Fast Cure Oven was designed to meet the requirements of the fast turn prototype PC manufacturers where the need to reduce manufacturing times is critical. Unlike the larger 9724X5 Final Cure Oven, the 9224 occupies less space on the production floor being only 110 inches long. The 9224 also has a much smaller production rate then the 9724X5, typically operating at about 2.5 fpm.

Argus International has been the leader in IR technology since the late 1960's, holding critical patents on IR fusing. No company has the experience of Argus in employing this technology to the PCB industry. Various Argus systems have utilized both short wave and long wave IR radiation, forced convection, and even UV radiation.

The 9224 has three separately controlled zones for curing. It utilizes both forced convection and long wave IR emitters. Using short wave IR emitter panels as opposed to the longer wave bulb design, there is both greater penetration and no need to replace bulbs. The panel life is typically measured in years and gives a consistent radiation over this very long lifetime. After extensive research we found only by adding forced convection to the oven, temperature disparities between the laminate and metal could be reduced. Although IR is a very uniform method of heating, circuit boards are not a uniform object to heat because of the different densities of copper and prepreg.

Key Benefits: