One More PCB Dishwasher Question

From: Tothwolf <tothwolf_at_concentric.net>
Date: Fri Dec 28 11:22:59 2001

On Fri, 28 Dec 2001, Bob Shannon wrote:

> Never run boards through a dishwasher!

Oh no, not this thread again :)

> This has got to be one of the most insane ideas I've ever heard.

Well, I guess I must be insane then, as I've washed 1000s of boards over
the years without a single failure. Paper labels on the other hand, don't
like water very much.

> Commercial PCB's do get washed, but only after the water has been
> deionized with some rather expensive and high maintainance equipment.

Don't assume that.

> I'm quite sure that manufacturers don't go through the expense of
> maintaining this gear if your maytag washer could do the job.

Most manufacturers have board washers that are the equivalent of large
commercial dishwashers, often outfitted with special racks or conveyor
belts. If a typical maytag would be large enough to hold the volume of
boards produced, and hold up to 24/7 use, I bet they would use one, as the
cost would be considerably lower.

> Lots of domestic water supplies have 'hard water' and.or high mineral
> content that will dammage or destroy your boards. Maybe not while
> they are in the washer, but corrosion may set in later.

Soft water is much worse, I assure you. It usually contains salt or
alkaline additives which in large amounts can attack certain metal alloys.
(I would not wash boards from a supply with an in-line water softener, but
public water is generally ok.)

-Toth
Received on Fri Dec 28 2001 - 11:22:59 GMT