Importance of Pre-heating PCBs

When it comes to reworking a Printed Circuit Board (PCB), a heating tool such as a reflow oven or heat gun is needed to reflow the current solder joints of the electronic components. This allows the solder to melt and easily remove the components from the board.

However, increased temperatures and prolonged exposure to heat may potentially damage sensitive components on the PCB. To combat this issue, pre-heating of the board before starting the rework process becomes important. 

Using pre-heaters can help reduce thermal stress and achieve reflow at the same time. Hakko has different pre-heaters suitable for different sizing of PCB. Check out the products below!

Hakko Pre-heaters

FR870B	FR872
Infrared carbon pre-heater Non-contact system allows pre-heating of double-sided boards. Different types of thermal modes to choose from (auto, power & T/C). Emergency stop feature to monitor the rate of the heating of the PCB. Board attachment system allows setting up of PCB conveniently.	High-efficiency carbon heater Larger heating area for large size boards. Four-zone heating area that allows heating for only necessary areas. Different types of thermal modes to choose from (auto, power & T/C). Emergency stop feature to monitor the rate of the heating of the PCB. Board attachment system allows setting up of PCB conveniently.

FR830	FR811
Compact pre-heater Ideal for small boards with 4 to 6 layers. Suitable for multi-layer board pre-heating. Improved and larger hot air outlet shorten pre-heating time. Temperature range 150°C-300°C Automatic cool-down function by pushing the “START/STOP” button at the end of work.	Integrated pre-heater that ensures controlled heating process. Full-scale thermal profiles with 6-zone hot air and a bottom heater. Able to measure and record temperature of PCB components with type K thermocouple. Software to link the station to the computer for easy settings. Convenient data transfer through an USB cable.