Austin American Technology’s Mega ION® cleaning system is designed for solvent based, high reliability applications requiring product cleanliness verification (IPC ROSE Testing). It is used for final clean prior to conformal coat, encapsulation or other sealing operations used to protect electronic modules. The Mega ION® is compatible with multiple solvents including but not limited to DI water, water alcohol mixtures, pure alcohol, evaporative hydrocarbons (like cyclohexane) commercial solvent blends not requiring a water rinse.

The Mega ION® has three programmable cycle choices. The first choice is “Wash Only” and would be used for cleaning where a ROSE Test is not required. The second choice is a “Wash” with a ROSE Test following a wash and rinse cycle. The final choice is “Test Only” which allows the operator to run a cleanliness test only which is the standard IPC ROSE Test. All cycles include a drying cycle at the end.

Wash and rinse cycles incorporate a highly effective spray under immersion process with strategically located venturi nozzles for maximum cleaning efficiency. Agitation can be controlled to handle sensitive wire-bonded substrates or difficult to clean, tightly-spaced flip chip technology.

Safety is designed into the Mega ION ® series. The process chamber is always empty when not in use and must be closed and latched before the cleaning cycle begins. Solvent replenishment is automated so the operator is never in contact with wash fluid during normal operational. At the end of the cleaning cycle, the process tank drains into an integrated holding tank at a controlled rate to minimize drag-out. At the end of the dry cycle, the process chamber is clean, dry and free of solvent.

Ionic testing is based on “ROSE”, allowing the system to quantify ionic contamination of the circuit board after or before cleaning. This allows the operator to clean and test the circuit boards within one system.