How SmartHeat^® PowerTips^TM Works

SmartHeat^® PowerTips^TM Meet Pb-Free Requirements Without High Tip Idle Temperatures

OK International is pleased to introduce a series of SmartHeat^® PowerTips^TM especially designed to address the high thermal demands of lead free alloys and other high thermal demand applications. In concert with our proprietary SmartHeat^® technology, OKi has enhanced both the heater efficiency and thermal transfer characteristics of our tip designs to deliver a significant increase in thermal performance without resorting to the conventional approach of increasing tip idle temperatures.

Successful conduction soldering involves the optimum delivery of thermal energy from the soldering iron heater to the pad. While the board and component characteristics establish the thermal energy demand, the tip is the "thermal highway" for the transfer of heater energy.

Sn-Pb and other moderate demands can be easily met with current technology however the increased thermal demand of lead-free alloys or other high thermal demand applications will not be satisfied.

OKi's SmartHeat^® PowerTips^TM technology has been developed to exceed the demands of lead-Free and other high thermal demand applications by dramatically improving both heater efficiency and thermal energy transfer along the path from heater to pad. Combined with Smartheat^® thermal energy management technology, OKi SmartHeat^® PowerTips^TM deliver the industry's leading thermal performance and process control.

Raising Tip Idle Temperature is Not a Solution

Unlike Sn-Pb alloys, increasing tip idle temperature to increase thermal performance is largely ineffective at lead-Free alloy temperatures. Additionally, higher tip idle temperatures severely degrade tip life and increase the risk of component thermal shock. Alternatively, increasing tip conductivity is significantly more effective in delivering the thermal energy from the heater to the pad.