Electronic assembly remanufacturing system and method

Abstract

A method for remanufacturing an electronic assembly includes removing a first portion of an assembly housing to expose an underside of an enclosed circuit assembly. One or more solder joints on the underside of the circuit assembly are associated with at least one component that is also affixed to a portion of the housing. The opened electronic assembly is lowered onto a desoldering fixture having a plurality of solder pots configured to encompass, and thus desolder, the solder joints associated with the component that is affixed to a portion of the housing. Once the affected solder joints are melted, the remaining portion of the housing and the component affixed thereto may be lifted away, exposing the top surface of the circuit assembly for analysis, repair, and or adjustment.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates generally to the remanufacturing of electronic circuits, and more particularly to systems and methods for the remanufacturing of electronic assemblies having one or more components secured to separate housings. Background technique [0002] With the advent of integrated electronics, mechanical and electromechanical features have been largely eliminated from electrical circuits in many applications, reducing the maintenance and adjustment chores associated with these applications. However, these electrical circuits, as well as the mechanical features of the circuit housings, connection points, etc., still require repair, adjustment or even replacement from time to time. For example, the power circuit may overheat and deteriorate. Vibration and other mechanical forces can affect the circuit and / or its housing or its connections to other circuit components. However, due to the relative permanence of integrated circuit compo...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

However, in addition to the need to provide a pool of molten solder as large as the entire PCB, the '820 method requires the design, manufacture, application and removal of solder mask, with all the attendant expense and complexity

Additionally, regardless of whether the '820 soldermask will work properly in a given application, it does not appear to be a robust, cost-effective solution for providing repeated desoldering soldermasks.

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