The Role of Pre-heating in Electronics Rework

This article is based on an original publication by PACE Worldwide.

Like any other industry, the field of electronics production is constantly evolving. Early on, rework and repair jobs were relatively simple, with single- or double-sided boards and thru-hole components. Essential equipment such as soldering irons easily had the power and heat capacity to accomplish the necessary tasks.

As the industry progressed, consumer demand began to increase for enhanced functionality with the introduction of multi-layered assemblies and larger, higher-density components. The same soldering irons and extractors that had performed so well in the past now struggled to meet the power requirements of everyday tasks. Assembly pre-heating became necessary for many applications and the basic hot plate evolved into a more sophisticated, temperature-controlled device.